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When one thinks of marathoning in Massachusetts, the Boston Marathon comes to mind. However, there is another marathon, small by comparison, that is a delight to experience. This is the Cape Cod Marathon that I ran on October 29, 2000, at Falmouth, MA, site of the famous Falmouth Road Race.

After running the Marine Corps Marathon a week earlier, Lenore and I went to New England for the week for family visits (Mom at Worcester, MA, and brother Don and Elayne near Providence, RI,) for touring Cape Cod, and for running the marathon.

Our friend Marty Wanless, sports marketer from Vancouver, BC, joined us at Cape Cod to promote races at the Expo there. He had been at the Chicago Marathon the week before and was on his way to the New York City Marathon. He included our YAKIMA RIVER CANYON MARATHON brochures on his race information rack.

At the 8:00 a.m. start of the marathon in downtown Falmouth, there were 1,200 marathon runners (capped entry level) and 138 relay teams (2-5 runners per team.) It was partly cloudy with an air temperature of 38 degrees and a strong 30 mph wind (flags fully extended.)

The course was laid out in a counter-clockwise rectangle over flat or rolling terrain through suburbs, beachside, and rural settings. It was a grand tour of the picturesque Cape Cod landscape. The beachside was a treat to run as we could admire offshore boats and see Martha's Vineyard Island in the distance.

As I ran, I was surrounded by runners whom I didn't know. Therefore, I was really surprised when a male spectator yelled, "Hi, Bob Dolphin. We talked at the Marine Corps Marathon last week." It was Bob Lehew, race director of the Oklahoma Marathon. He had run the Marine Corps Marathon in 3:54:57.

At 10K in the suburbs I had a 52:40 and observed that I had a chance at a sub-four hour marathon. Later, after passing a cranberry bog at mile 10, I had a time of 1:26. I was feeling dubious about my goal as hills and wind were slowing my time.

At the half marathon point I had a time of 1:55:40, not a sub-four time for me. The course then headed for Woods Hole, MA, on a narrow, rolling, wooded road with striking fall colors and roadside asters.

At 20 miles, I punched my split at 2:59:34. Since I can't run my last 10K in an hour any more, I figured it was a lost cause. At mile 21 we came to Woods Hole on the coast and headed to Falmouth, running by the sea or over wooded hills. The temperature held at a runner-friendly 42 degrees.

Even though there was a 30 mph side wind in the closing miles, I apeared to be in contention again for a sub-four. At mile 25 my watch read 3:46:44. There was time to spare!

Then the course took a 90 degree turn directly into the wind, and I slowed markedly. I keyed on runners to the front and ran through the suburbs to the finish area in downtown Falmouth. I crossed the finish line at 3:58:05 (9:05)....happy to have squeaked under 4 hours one more time. I finished in 351st position of 795 and first of two in the 70+M division. Needless to say, I was happy to beat the clock on this wintry day.

Danny Gough, 32, of Newport, RI, ran unchallenged in the second half of the race to win with a time of 2:24:29. The women's race was not decided until the last half mile when Molly Tabir, 27, of Chicago pulled away to finish in 2:54:26, a 12 second edge over Jill Gaitenby, 33, of Boston.

After the race, Lenore and I talked with Ben Ezra and his family at the race expo area. Ben had guided his daughter Amy, 20+, in her first marathon to run to a 4:04:29 finish. I had seen them on the course often in the second half and appreciated the opportunity to talk with them after the race.

At the post race meal in the school cafeteria, we became acquainted with five women who had run the Cape Cod Marathon in 1999, finishing just under four hours. This year they ran as the CCAC Women's Masters Team of south Dennis, MA. Their time was a commendable 3:28:43, 54th team of 138 and first in the women's master's division.

My medley of five October marathons (Portland, Royal Victoria, Spokane, Marine Corps, and Cape Cod) is over without mishap. My running times ranged from 3:48:17 to 4:05:27, and the average was 3:57:21 (9:04 pace.) One marathon was a Boston qualifier, and four were under 4 hours.

This marathon is rated among the 10 most scenic in the United States by "Runners World," an assessment with which I heartily agree.

Race director Courtney Bird, his helpful committee, and the volunteers made the Cape Cod Marathon a very special event.

Written by Bob Dolphin

Bob & Lenore Dolphin

Special thanks to  The Dolphin Marathon Team  for providing us this report !