CHRISTMAS MARATHON
December 16, 2007

After the 65 mile drive from Renton to Olympia, Maytown and Millersylvania State Park for the Christmas Marathon on Sunday, December 16, 2007, I arrived in time to say, “Hi,” to Mel Preedy as he began his early, early start. Later I enjoyed talking with Jim Boyd, Ron Fowler and Jim Kunz as we waited for race director Bob Green to begin the 9:30 a.m. early start. Bob announced to the 20-25 runners that they should carry their own food and drink because the aid stations would probably not be set up.

The first aid station I came to was being assembled at Mile 6.5, the half marathon turn-around. Cara Escul, 36, of Tigard, Oregon, who took an early start and finished in 3:44:37 reported in the Runners Comments at www.MarathonGuide.com that she came to her first aid station at the Mile 13.1 turn-around.

I carried my own provisions to help make this a good day to run. The temperature was in the low 40’s under overcast skies with variable, intermittent winds from calm to 20+ mph. Most of the time I ran alone with few or no runners in sight. This was fine with me because I enjoyed the solitude and the scenery of the wooded, rural course.

Even so, there is a lot of runner contact as I saw all of the runners and aid station volunteers once or twice. In this simple out-and-back course, I was passed often by runners going in the same or opposite direction. Friends, acquaintances and strangers extended greetings and words of encouragement to me.

I enjoyed talking with Leslie Miller, 27, a Marathon Maniac from Bellevue, as she briefly walked with me. She was running her 47th marathon/ultra of the year. Quite a running feat!

My 20th marathon of 2007 went well, and I finished in 5:50:39, 84th of 87 finishers and first 75-79 Male.

I really enjoyed the hot chili that Bob Green provided in the finish shelter. It hit the spot on a cool day!

Thanks to Bob and his friendly volunteers who do a great job of providing a good running event for marathoners and others. I’ll return for his Valentine Marathon on Sunday, February 10, 2008.

Written by Bob Dolphin
Edited, Typed and Distributed by Lenore Dolphin

 
Christmas Marathon Results – December 16, 2007

3:02:12  Jack McDermott, 38, Tallahassee, FL
3:06:45  Kasey Lawson, 29 Portland, OR
3:10:30  Ruslan Tkebachara, 27, Vancouver, WA
3:12:33  Gregg Walchli, 45, Seattle, Marathon Maniac (MM)
3:14:03  Joseph Tompkins, 37, Mt. Vernon, MM
3:14:31  Keith Thaxter, 45, Whitehorse, Yukon
3:18:32  Kevin Berg, 42, Vancouver, WA
3:20:43  Shawna Wilskey, 35, Burlington
3:28:54  Scott Turner, 41, West Linn, OR
3:30:06  Brian Pendleton, 53, Suburn, MM
3:33:31  Hannah Palmer, 19, Providence, RI
3:37:31  Andre O’Donnelly, 29, Seattle
3:44:30  Steve Walters, 27, Tigard, OR, MM
3:44:37  Cara Escul, 36, Tigard, OR
3:46:57  Leanne Langer, 39, Ridgefield
3:46:59  David Jones, 61, Seattle, MM
3:46:59  Elizabeth Jones, 46, Bellevue
3:47:52  Anthony Maples, 38, Mrufreesboro, TN
3:48:30  Warren Reeser, 47  Portland, OR
3:50:02  Jeffrey Zobrist, 45, Sprague
3:50:17  Arthur Chan, 33, Redmond
3:50:58  Kevin Babbitt, 32, Lynnwood, MM
3:51:16  Brian Carter, 39, Sammamish
3:51:36  Faye Britt, 32, Everett, MM
3:52:56  Robert Lopez, 41, Seattle, MM
3:53:50  Erika Van Flein, 48, Fairbanks, AK, MM
3:55:27  Tom Stolz, 33, Kent
3:55:27  Michelle Cunningham, 46, Sammammish
3:56:42  Max Bennett, 44 Rogue River, OR
3:57:10 Martha Pfanschmitt, 53, Portland, OR
3:57:12  Chris Warren, 40, Renton, MM
3:57:17  Peter Cordvan, 48, Portland, OR
3:57:58  Phillip Smith, 53, Newberg, OR
3:58:34  Sea Legs Elliott, 21, Bremerton
3:59:33  Ashley Kuhlmann, 21, Lakewood
4:00:24  Dave Conger, 54, Port Orchard
4:00:25  Bruce Quam, 52, Manchester, MM
4:03:41 Barbara Rush, 50, Seattle
4:05:43  Alvis Gustaro, 27, Olympia
4:05:45  Silerio Rivas, 50, Rancho Cucamonga, CA, MM
4:05:47  Andy Fritz, 41, Olympia, MM
4:05:55  Elizabeth Model, 48, New Westminster, BC
4:07:45  Ken VanLieu, 41, Tigard, OR
4:11:46  Steven White, 54, Seattle
4:11:47  Kelby Marks, 38, Bogata, BC
4:12:55  Ron Fowler, 60, Seattle
4:12:55  Jim Kunz, 59, Seattle
4:14:57  Raymond Shaw, 49, Seattle, MM
4:15:21  Susie Ro, 36, Seattle
4:18:01  Andrea Paradish, 39, Tacoma
4:18:01  Julie Cassata, 26, Tacoma
4:18:03  Jim Boyd, 65, Seattle, MM
4:19:51  Sarah Duncan, 43, Portland, OR, MM
4:20:33  Karl Wilfring, 46, Independence, KY
4:24:06  Gilles Barbeau, 52, Vancouver, BC, MM
4:24:29  Sheila Johnson, 40, Tacoma
4:25:30  Liz Margulis, 45, Seattle
4:28:50  Brian Hach, 36, Puyallup
4:29:12  Bret Henry, 48, Seattle, MM
4:32:04  Mark Hirsh, 31, Los Angeles, CA
4:34:57  Bill Herzog, 41, Tumwater
4:36:53  David Hamilton, 53, Seattle, MM
4:37:15  Larry Stice, 55, Kansas City, MO
4:37:32  Leslie Miller, 27, Bellevue, MM
4:38:49  Hiroshi Nishide, 51, Sammamish
4:39:05  Gary Marr, 56, Monroe, MM
4:44:35  Richard Cockrell, 43, Sumner
4:45:16  Monte Pascual, 47, Federal Way, MM
4:55:50  Mike Kuhlmann, 57, Lakewood, MM
4:59:55  Jeanette Quintana, 30, Seattle, MM
5:02:47  Scott Schuetzler, 30, Seattle
5:03:33  Fenny Roberts, 55, Salem, OR, MM
5:03:33  Jim Sheer, 65, Vancouver, WA, MM
5:03:35  Valerie Allison, 56, Centralia
5:03:39  Geralyn Reed, 52, Seattle
5:05:56  Bruce McCollum, 54, Vancouver
5:09:11  Loren Hutsell, 43, Lakewood
5:11:02  Gary Circosta, 60, Rutland, MA
5:11:02  Jason Houser, 32, Ridgefield
5:11:40  Tom Rogers, 62, Bellevue, MM
5:11:40  Tory Klementsen, 42, Marysville
5:19:46  Mel Preedy, 74, Ravensdale, MM
5:21:30  Kent Margulis, 53, Seattle
5:50:39  Bob Dolphin, 78, Renton/Yakima, MM
5:54:20  Angela Ivory, 39, Nashville, TN, MM
5:55:23  Richard Dant, 43, Hood River, OR
6:09:20  Russell Cheney, 66, Torrance, CA

© Bob Dolphin

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