It's been said that the most scenic marathons are the hardest ones to run, After running the inaugural Columbia River Gorge Marathon on May 31, 1998, I can report that this marathon is one of the most scenic courses that I have had the pleasure to run! There were great views of snow-covered Mt. Hood and Mt. Adams, the Columbia River and the Gorge. Douglas fir and ponderosa pine forests were up close and in the distance beyond roadside cliffs.

At 8:00 a.m. on May 31, 1998, there were 260 marathoners who left the Columbia River waterfront at Hood River, Oregon, ran through town, and ascended narrow, steep, winding roads through orchards. We continued upward and eastward on gravel roads in open forest and fields. It took nine miles and a climb of 1,500 feet before the summit was reached. The course proceeded downhill for seven miles on steep roads that were rocky and rutted or graveled. Just before reaching the river town of Mosier, Oregon, at sixteen miles, the running surface became pavement once again.

As we left Mosier, we began another long climb eastward to the gorge rim. This segment in a rural setting was seven miles long with a climb of 500 feet. The run/walk was under clear skies with temperatures of 75-80' and few winds--not comfortable conditions!! The front runners may have been running, but in mid-pack where I was there was a lot of walking taking place.

At 23 miles, we crested and then ran a steep downgrade on switchbacked roads to a frontage road along I-84, After a mile of out-and-back running, we ran into Mayer State Park by the Columbia River to finish. My wife, Lenore, who had been handling the food and drink station at the finish line was told by all the runners that this was the toughest marathon they had run. I agree!!! For sure, it was tougher than the Crater Lake Marathon and comparable in scenic beauty.

The race was won by Tom Moritz, 28, of Portland, OR, with a commanding lead to finish in 2:45:21. Our friend, Gunhild Swanson, 53, of Spokane, WA, was the women's winner in 3:36:53. She finished 35th overall, was the first masters woman, and passed many women 20-30 years her junior along the course.

Chuck Cammack, 52, a friend and Marathon Achiever from Salem, OR, ran a good race and finished in 18th position with a time of 3:21:59, first for 51-55M group. His wife, Sue Cammack, 54, ran well also and was first in her age division with a 4:13:14 race.

There were four of us who ran a half hour slower in this marathon than we had run last week at the Coeur d' Alene Marathon, Gunhild Swanson and Mel Preedy, 65, of Ravensdale, WA, were exceptions. Gunhild was sixteen minutes slower and Mel was only ten minutes slower. Both must have run most of the way. Mel ran a 3:50:26 for first place in the 64+M division.

Wiley Hurst, 61, from Yakima, WA, continues to run well. His time of 4:14:48 placed him second in the 59-63M Division. Jack Swanson, 64, Gunhild's husband, ran his 100th MARATHON in about 4:35, a good race for a third place in the 64+M division, The race course and weather hit many of my weak points, and I struggled to a 4:26:14 finish, 117th of 259 finishers and second of four in the 64+M group. It was amazing that only one runner of 260 starters did not finish. Hamstring problems caused her to drop out at mile 16.

The race was well organized for a first marathon to the credit of the race directors and the Red Lizard Club of Portland, Oregon. They shared some interesting "statistics" and "cool facts." of the 260 participants 65% were men and 35% were women, and they came from sixteen different states. Four states provided over 100 volunteers. Seven participants had run more than 100 marathons each, while 44 chose the Columbia River Gorge Marathon as their first marathon!

Rick Worley from Kingwood, TX, tied the World Record for consecutive weekly marathons by completing his 74th. Some weekends he ran multiple marathons and amassed an impressive total of 85 marathons in 74 weekends!! We met Rick and his friend, Dee Stone, last fall at the Skagit Flats Marathon in Burlington, WA, and were happy to see them again.

Next year the course will be run at a lower elevation when some current road repairs are completed. And that is GOOD NEWS!!

Other friends and acquaintances on hand were:

  3:32:42  Mike Donahue, 56, lst 56-58M
  3:44:00  Steve Pierce, 36
  3:48:00  Dave Olsho, 47
  3:49:27 Greg Judge, 49
  4:05:04  Ron Fowler, 50
  4:07:00  Todd Byers, 34
  4:11:34  Ron Warner, 54, 3rd 51-55M
  4:20:57  Glenn Tachiyama, 41
  4:20:59  Laura Baird, 28
  4:25:36  Lynne Werner, 46
           Don Brooks, 57
           Ed Galiger, 59
           Jimmy Smith, 57
           Don Benberg, 61

Thanks Bob Dolphin for sharing your report with us !

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