Roads and Bicycle Paths

 1.     Jim Kerby, 35                   6:35:11 !
 2.     Glenn Tachiyama, 41             7:23:11
 3.     Don McLane, 36                  7:25:28
 4.     Andrew Matulionis, 32, MT       8:01:43
 5.     Scott Krell, 38                 8:15:29
 6.     Steve Boyenger, 28              8:16:11
 7.     Dave Dutton, 41                 8:18:27
 8.     John Bauer, 56                  8:33:12
 9.     Mark Barnett, 32                8:38:55
10.     Larry Axmaker, 57, OR           8:50:31
11.     Ron Warner, 54                  8:53:33
12.     Steven Pierce, 36, ID           8:54:05
13.     Ron Nicholl, 55                 9:03:15
14.     Lynne Werner, 46            F   9:04:35
15.     Allen Moore, 51                 9:08:35
16.     Steve Collins, 49               9:23:22
17.     Ted Clelland, 54                9:25:55
18.     John Bandur, 60                 9:51:02
19.     Ray Gruenewald, 37              9:53:07
20.     Phyllis Sund, 39            F  10:32:59
21.     Phil Weiser, 41                10:37:20
22.     Todd Byers, 34                 10:40:43
23.     Catherine Grunenfelder, 43  F  10:49:40
24.     Larry McCaw, 49                11:54:11

        25 Starters

The 15th running of the Falls to Gas Works Race was won by Jim Kerby in 6:35:11. Jim's win is his 3rd in a row and sets a course record for the new 83 Km course. Jim has now eclipsed Frank Bozanich's string of wins established during the mid eighties. Lynne Werner captured first from the small field of three women finishers with her 9:04:35.

The Falls to Gas Works is run in conjunction with a Relay that starts at Mt. Si High School in Snoqualmie and finishes at Gas Works Park in Seattle, 83 Km later. The original course was an uncommon 75 Km, in 1994 this was changed to 76 Km, and three years ago the 83 Km course was established. The solo runners always thought the 75 Km was an odd distance, but 83 Km is really unique. The extra distance does get us off of the busier roads and into a picturesque hilly back road area between stages II and III.

The weather this year was near ideal. Cool at the start in the foothills of the Cascade Mountains and sunny on the bike path leading to the finish at Gas Works Park. The leaders caught up with the tail end of an MS Walk. Kerby commented that "It made for a fun finish dodging the walkers." He did feel, however, that they provided great support and encouragement as he ran by. By the time the middle of the pack (which included me) finished, the walkers were off the course. There went another excuse for a slow time.

Falls to Gas Works is run on roads and bicycle paths, by no means a race for trail aficionados. However, the course scenery exemplifies Western Washington. Snoqualmie Falls and rural farms at the start, some suburban sprawl, rivers, more suburbs, and then some scenic views of Lake Washington as we head for the finish at a park in the midst of Seattle. In summary, the race is just an 83 Km jaunt from a rural setting to the urban.

submitted by Ron Nicholl
-- ronn@wolfenet.com
ronn@gocougs.wsu.edu