Ultra Runner Ron Nicholls

Bellingham, WA Bellingham has often had a Canadian dominance, including last year's record holder. Not this year. A pair of Oregonians set new course records. Dave Terry of Portland set a new men's course record with a 4:15:02, bettering Jim Swadling's last year's record by 9 minutes. Janet Mendel-Hartvig also broke last year's women's record with her 5:17:11. Both Dave and Janet maintained a ten-minute lead over their nearest competitor.

The Chuckanut 50K this year not only had record times, but a record number of entrants. What started out as an organized fun run seven years ago, has matured into a very popular race. The old Interurban rail bed, representing the first and the last 10 Km, is fairly flat and fast. The adjacent 7 Km of logging road ascends and then later descends from Chuckanut Mountain. The balance of the course is fairly technical trail running. The trail along the summit ridge provides some very spectacular marine and mountain views. The variety of trail types and the scenic aspects of Chuckanut Mountain all contribute to the popularity of this race.

In spite of this winter's late snow and virtually non-stop rain, we had excellent weather for race day. There was snow overnight on the nearby coastal range providing some beautiful vistas. The recent, ever present, rains did however help to preserve the muddier portions of the trail and the softer footing that we have come to expect. If one could take their eyes off the mud and look to the right they would see great high rock walls, some with water sheeting or trickling over them. Overall, the trail was well marked and without the rain, the chalk markings even lasted until the finish of the race. As popular as this race has become, apparently one individual didn't appreciate the finer aspects of trail running. After dropping out and getting a ride back to the parking lot, he tore off his shoes and in disgust, marched off muttering that he didn't want to see those shoes or another muddy running trail again. The shoes in the parking lot were like a monument symbolizing the Chuckanut 99 race. No one was eager to claim the muddy, though apparently new shoes. The comment was heard "they must have bad karma."

Richard West and Doug McKeever, as Co-Race Directors, have done an excellent job of establishing this great little 50K here in the NW corner of Washington State. Thanks to the Greater Bellingham Running Club for all their volunteer support as well as the many individuals that volunteered their time. A special thanks to Montrail, Patagonia and UltraRunning Magazine for the items they provided for the random draw prizes. Unlike the fellow, who walked away from his shoes in the parking lot, several runners walked away with new trail shoes, new clothing or a year's subscription to UltraRunning.

Chuckanut Mountain 50 Km
Bellingham, WA
March 27, 1999

Trails and dirt roads
4,800' Elevation Gain

  1. Dave Terry, 36, OR                            4:15:02 !
  2. Scott Boettcher, 33                            4:24:05
  3. Ferg Hawke, 41, B.C.                        4:25:27
  4. James Kerby, 35                                4:29:23
  5. Steve Roguski, 40                              4:51:15
  6. Scott McCoubrey, 36                         4:52:16
  7. Peter Villella, 38, B.C.                        4:54:00
  8. Jim Swadling, 52, B.C.                      4:59:50
  9. Murray Lancaster, 30                         5:00:48
10. Neil MacDonald, 34, B.C.                 5:03:29
11. Mike Burke, 48, OR                           5:07:54
12. Janet Mendel-Hartvig, 39, OR   F     5:17:11 !
13. Gene Trahern, 38                               5:20:36
14. Maria Vellieux, 38, B.C.             F     5:27:45
15. Andy Lyle, 45                                     5:31:00
16. Dave Dutton, 42                                 5:33:51
17. Mark Barnett, 37                                 5:36:10
18. Curt Ringstad, 48, OR                        5:37:56
       Lee Heffren                                     5:37:56
       Stewart Dutfield, 44                           5:37:56
21. Scott Krell, 38                                     5:38:44
22. Scott Piper, 53                                    5:44:47
23. Steve Collins, 50                                 5:46:28
24. Brian, Vanoene, 44, B.C.                   5:47:43
25. Mike Moser, 31                                   5:47:44
26. Rusty Hibbert, 29                                5:49:06
27. Karen King, 42                            F     5:50:06
28. Earl Preeper, 41, B.C.                       5:51:15
29. Ron Adams, 50, B.C.                         5:56:55
30. Sven Koehler, 28                                5:58:23
31. Karl Jensen, 49, B.C.                         5:59:26
32. Fred Stafford, 42                                5:59:50
33. Rebecca Wallick, 42                  F     6:02:52
34. Catherine Mather, 41, B.C.        F     6:04:08
       Lorraine Lees, 40, B.C.             F     6:04:08
36. Dave Leahy, 29                                  6:06:10
37. Laura Baird, 29                                  6:06:22
      Glenn Tachiyama, 42                         6:06:22
39. Bill Beatty, 52, B.C.                            6:10:18
40. Tim Schultz, 24                                   6:15:22
41. Jamshid Khajavi, 45                           6:16:26
      Ron Nicholl, 56                                    6:16:26
43. Brent Spilsbury, 51                             6:19:03
44. Joakim Nilsson, 38                            6:19:38
45. Al Moore, 52                                     6:20:00
46. Terry Sayyari, 48, B.C.                      6:22:17
47. Jesse Parent, 23                                6:24:12
48. John Bandur, 61                                 6:28:28
49. William Leitch, 55, B.C.                     6:29:06
50. Steve Frederickson, 52                     6:29:11
51. Kelley Jackson, 36 F                          6:29:36
      Mary Felling, 32                           F     6:29:36
53. Mel Preedy, 66                                   6:30:28
54. Gail Snyder, 40, OR                   F     6:30:46
55. Stephen Brettl, 39, B.C.                    6:31:55
56. Dimitri Kieffer, 33                              6:34:20
57. Dennis Halpin, 45, TX                       6:34:39
58. Lynne Werner, 47                       F     6:36:50
59. Ray Gruenewald, 38                          6:37:34
60. Frank Fleetham, 55                           6:41:39
61. Stan Nakashima, 47                          6:42:43
62. Cheri Gillis, 46 F                                6:43:37
63. Michael Britt, 48                                 6:44:21
64. Lester Soule, 52                                6:53:03
65. Tom Slining, 53                                  6:53:04
66. Leon Draxler, 55                                6:57:10
67. John Little, 58, B.C.                           6:59:59
68. Steve Smith, 51                                 7:00:00
69. Randy Lantrip, 35                              7:03:36
70. Tracy Preston, 29, B.C.             F     7:09:04
       Brent Bagnall, 38, B.C.                     7:09:04
72. Steve Loitz, 43                                   7:15:03
73. Risa Greenwood, 34, B.C.       F      7:16:29
74. Kristin Kissell, 31                       F      7:19:25
       Tristie Thirsk, 32                       F      7:19:25
       Val Landicho, 37                               7:19:25
77. Gary Wright, 48                                 7:40:30
78. Marion Murphy, 45, B.C.           F     7:45:08
79. Jill Hanna, 33                             F      8:01:00
      Sanford Wick, 38                               8:01:00
81. Pam Naugle, 46, MT                 F      8:10:04
82. Lance Bishop, 35, B.C.                     8:34:09
      Sid Snyder, 48, OR                            8:34:09

 99 Starters




Ron Nicholl, ronn@wolfenet.com
Cheri Gillis, cherig@wolfenet.com

Submitted by
Ron Nicholl

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