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EDITOR'S NOTE: The below is a first person narrative by masters great Shirley Matson, 59, of Larkspur, California about her experiences and second victory at the 90th Dipsea Race on Sunday, June 11. Dipsea, first run in 1905, is renowned for its challenging 7.1 mile course (mainly on trails including the famous 676 steps) from Mill Valley to Stinson Beach in Marin County (just north of San Francisco) and for its head-start handicapping system based on age and gender.

MILL VALLEY, Calif.--Going into Dipsea, physically I felt "OK". No major injuries, just a left knee that started acting up Friday evening after being on my hands and knees for three hours cleaning up a gallon of spilled green paint all over my kitchen! How's that for last minute training? I was a little tentative about the knee, but fortunately it didn't flare up.

I was not at all confident about my ability. My training has been flat, I've been racing "personal worsts" and I knew that my time would not be impressive. I was more concerned that I run a "respectable" time than I was concerned about winning. Of course winning would be nice, but it was NOT a reasonable expectation. I knew Melody Anne Schultz, local top master and last year's champion, was extremely fit, fast and determined. Even though I knew she had a potential problem with her leg, I still expected her to overcome any adversity. I expected her to power up the mountain and probably catch me right about Cardiac.

I was pleased with my splits at the beginning of the race (see below)...right on target. Passing some of the first group of runners heading to Old Mill Park, I reached the first step in 2:44. Up the first and second flight of stairs, passing all the other head-start runners, I reached the top of the stairs in 7:49. Now I was in the lead with only the mountain in front of me.

All alone, no one in sight. Am I really in a race? Oh yes you are, so get going. On to the One Mile Tree in 11:05, Windy Gap in 13:05, down to the mailboxes in 17:00, Suicide in 17:46 and Muir Woods in 19:49. I was happy. And then I hit Dynamite. Heading up Dynamite I began to feel the fatigue in my quads. Knowing that I hadn't done enough hill work. I was now paying the price. I jogged and walked and walked more than I wanted to. And I said to myself, "I bet Melody won't be walking!" I tried to run off and on, but I knew that I didn't have the power I needed. I was getting depressed....and vowed that "next year I'm going to..." Meanwhile, "You're here now, so you better gut it out and get going." After Dynamite, I ran the whole way until Cardiac, then it was a struggle as always.

After I crested Cardiac in 44:54 I was devastated. I was hoping for perhaps a minute quicker. I figured that Melody would make it in 42:00 or 43:00 minutes, so I was going to be gobbled up like the Thanksgiving Turkey. When oh when will she come flying by? I was definitely running scared plus it was getting a little warm.

And then there's local legend and past champion Russ Kiernan. Oh my gosh, he could catch me too. I know he's capable of running 60 or 61 minutes. First it will be Melody, then Russ. Oh well, I'm just doing the best I can and that's all I can ask of myself. And so I prepared myself, but I didn't give up.

And then I started to feel better. Instead of running the downhill's with caution, I was comfortable and had a nice rhythm going. I had no aches or pains, felt loose and free and was enjoying the downhill ride. I was going as fast as I could and still maintaining my control and safety. Still, no Melody. WHERE WAS SHE!!

At the top of Insult, I asked the volunteers, "Can you see anybody coming?" "Nobody in sight" came the reply. As I ran down Panoramic to the first cut-off I thought I had at least a 30 or 40 second lead. At the second cut-off, same question, same answer. Now I was thinking, "Oh my gosh, I could win this thing. Just don't do anything stupid. If you maintain your pace, no one will catch you. Stay on your feet."

As I rounded the corner heading toward the finish, I could see the crowd beginning to cheer. Now I knew I was going to run down the finish line all alone, like entering the Olympic Stadium...I felt like Joan Benoit at the first Women's Olympic Marathon in Los Angeles. My moment of glory, I'm winning the Dipsea for the second time. Unbelievable to me. Where's Melody? I could feel the emotion begin to rise in my throat and eyes, and as I broke the tape I almost broke into tears.

Even though I "won", I still didn't feel I "deserved" it because Melody actually ran 1 1/2 minutes quicker. But then I realized that I didn't write the rules, I just played the game. And today, I played it well and I was proud.

The Dipsea, for me and others, is such a special event. You have to experience it to understand. There is so much history, so much love for this race and so many exciting stories to share. The course is exceptionally beautiful and tough. It has everything. It is unique in its handicap head-start system that gives all runners an "equal chance" at winning and thus, younger and older runners have captured many victories. Sal Vasquez, a world class masters runner, has won a record seven titles.

And so, that was Dipsea Day, Sunday, June 11, 2000. Perhaps this victory is a little sweeter than 1993 because I wasn't favored to win. Although my time was a lot slower this year, for me, running the Dipsea was facing a new challenge head on. I overcame a series of injuries and raced on minimal mileage, I proved to myself that you can't give in or give up. I learned to "never say never." Don't be afraid of failure. Be afraid of "not doing" and "not trying."

Through our sport of running we learn a lot about ourselves...how we handle stress, competition, mental toughness, defeats and victories. I've learned that if I give it my best shot when I race, I'm already a "winner." That is all we can ask of ourselves. If you take second, third or 300th, your victory is relative to your expectation. The only person who really cares if you "win" is yourself.

--Shirley Matson

Shirley's winning time was 43:59 (gun time 1:05:59) and she became the second female to win Dipsea more than once. Megan McGowan, at age 9 and 10, won two Dipseas (1991 and 1992). The top 35 finishers receive coveted black Dipsea T-shirts.

  Shirley's Splits: Dipsea 2000

To the first step  2:44
Top of stairs      7:49
1 Mile Tree       11:05
Windy Gap         13:05
Mailboxes         17:00
Suicide           17:46
Muir Woods        19:49
Cardiac           44:54
Finish            65:59

90th DIPSEA RACE
Mill Valley to Stinson Beach, California, June 11, 2000

Place/Name/Sex/Age/Clock Time/Handicap
(head-start in minutes)/Actual Time
(clock time plus handicap)

TOP RESULTS
1) Shirley Matson        F   59   43:59   22   1:05:59
2) Melody Anne Schultz   F   58   45:33   19   1:04:33
3) Russ Kiernan          M   62   48:27   13   1:01:27
4) Mike McManus          M   34   49:01    1     50:01
5) Elizabeth Ottenheimer F   12   49:13   12   1:01:13
6) Roger Daniels         M   64   49:38   16   1:05:38
7) Sissel Berntsen-Heber F   38   49:51    8     57:51
8) Stephen Lyons         M   59   50:08   11   1:01:08
9) Cliff Lentz           M   35   50:18    1     51:18
10) Rosemarie Lagunas    F   38   50:22    8     58:22
11) Brian Purcell        M   44   50:26    3     53:26
12) Christopher Phipps   M   30   50:40    0     50:40
13) Diana Fitzpatrick    F   42   50:41   10   1:00:41
14) Bruce Mace           M   41   50:54    2     52:54
15) Mike Durrie          M   62   50:55   14   1:04:55


  

Special thanks to 
Ryan Lamppa, Running USA Media Coordinator for providing us this press release.
USATF Road Running Information Center
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