With the successful finish of my 500th marathon behind me, I can be reflective on reaching a thirty-year goal.
I would be remiss if I didn’t thank all of our friends who came to the 12th Annual Yakima River Canyon Marathon
(YRCM) on March 31, 2012, to participate in our joyful event.
On National Trails Day, Saturday June 2, 2012, runners, walkers, and ultras will take on the tenth annual Rainier to Ruston Rail-Trail Relay and Ultra. The course follows the Foothills Trail from the shoulders of Mt. Rainier to the shores of Puget Sound
Photos from the 2012 Capital City Marathon held on May 20, 2012 in Olympia WA. Look for full results and more race day photos at: http://capitalcitymarathon.org/
Race attracts more than 11,000 finishers to become the largest inaugural half-marathon in U.S. this year
By: Dan Cruz, Competitor Group
PORTLAND, Ore. - (May 20, 2012) - At the first ever Rock 'n' Roll Portland Half Marathon, it was an Oregon sweep Sunday as two in-state residents took home titles. Ryan Bak of Bend and U.S. marathon star and Olympian Kara Goucher, who trains locally with the Oregon Track Club, each prevailed in dramatically different fashions.
Olympia WA , May 20, 2012 -Cool overcast skies with light drizzle greeted all the runners at the 2012 Capital City Marathon in Olympia WA today. Husband and wife Jesse and Jenny Stevick were the big winners of the day! Jesse was the top male with a finish time of 2:35:33 and his wife Jenny was top female with a winning time
Inaugural event kicks off city's annual Rose Festival; sold out race attracts nearly 14,000 entrants; Kevin Rudolf to headline finish line concert at Tom McCall Waterfront Park
PORTLAND, Ore. - (May 16, 2012) - Olympian Kara Goucher will lead a sold out field of nearly 14,000 runners though the streets of East Portland for the first running of the Rock 'n' Roll Portland Half Marathon on Sunday, May 20. The inaugural event will kick off Portland's celebrated Rose Festival, with 20 live bands performing on 14 entertainment stages positioned along the route.
VANCOUVER, BC, May 6, 2012 – Today under spectacular sunshine, the 41st annual BMO Vancouver Marathon wowed runners with two new world-class point-to-point routes. Runners experienced coastal mountain views, the coveted Stanley Park Seawall, iconic landmarks and were cheered on by spectators lining both courses.
Spokane, Washington—Mamitu Daska made it clear early on that it wasn't
going to be a dawdle and kick race, as the Ethiopian broke from the
field before the three-mile mark and never looked back, winning the
36th annual Lilac Bloomsday Run in the third fastest women's time ever
run on the course. Allan Kiprono, meanwhile, was nearly as dominant in
the men's race, though he waited until the infamous Doomsday Hill
before doing a similar number on a talented pack of mostly fellow
Kenyans, emerging at the top with a 10 meter lead and never being
challenged from there to the finish.
Marathon Male Participants 1. Michael Lynes 2:44:54 2. Andy Henshaw 2:44:54 3. Eric John 2:54:29 4. John Lafayette 2:57:23 5. Gregory Wolfe 2:59:19 Female Participants 1. Allison Linnell 2:48:04 2. Sabine Pullins 3:14:25 3. Merita Trohimovich 3:18:09 4. Katja Schulze 3:20:42 5. Ginger Gruber 3:22:46
Half Marathon Male Participants 1. Phil Rock 1:16:31 2. Brennan Wallin 1:19:38 3. David Miller 1:20:06 4. Arthur Dunn 1:21:56 5. Kenn Clark 1:23:31 Female Participants 1. Kate Bradshaw 1:19:49 2. Julianne Stricherz 1:27:08 3. Nicole Solana 1:28:20 4. Gretchen Van Dyke 1:28:22 5. Cheree Royster 1:34:54
5k Male Participants 1. Mark Vaneycke 16:48 2. Kelvin Whipple 17:41 3. Bryan Portman 17:55 4. Lance Docken 18:11 5. Pat Kenworthy 19:25 Female Participants 1. Jade Garrison 21:04 2. Sue Strout 22:23 3. Sierra Docken 23:23 4. Heather Stewart 24:09 5. Kimberly Faltisco 24:23
Contact: Don Kardong, Race Director—(509) 838-1579
Spokane, Washington—Last year Misiker Mekonnin of Ethiopia emerged from a tactical women's race and unleashed a blazing sprint on the homestretch to capture the women's crown, and this year she's back to try to make it two in a row in the 36 th running of the Lilac Bloomsday Run. The men's contest, meanwhile, is wide open, as last year's winner Simon Ndirangu won't return to defend his title, opening the way for any one of a talented international field to capture top honors on the challenging 12-kilometer course.
Mekonnin's victory last year wasn't sealed until the final 300 meters, when she was able to outduel five other women in a blazing sprint down Monroe Street. If she hopes to duplicate her victory this year, she'll have to deal with Mamitu Daska, also of Ethiopia, whose time of 38:25 in the 2010 Bloomsday Run was the second fastest in event history, and Jelliah Tinega of Kenya, recent champion of the Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10 Mile in Washington, DC. American Janet Cherobon-Bawcon also figures to be in the hunt, along with 2012 Crescent City champion Genoveva Kigen.
"Expect some early surges in this year's field to get some separation on the hills," said Elite Athlete Coordinator Jon Neill. "Neither Daska nor Kigen has a sit and kick style."
In the men's race, Kenya's Allan Kiprono, who ran the sixth fastest time in Bloomsday history last year while being edged by winner Simon Ndirangu, figures to be the odds-on favorite.
"Not only did Kiprono win this year's Cherry Blossom 10 Mile," said Neill, "But he won it by a jaw-dropping 70 seconds and obliterated the course record in the process."
Kiprono may be the favorite, but fellow Kenyans Stephen Muange and MacDonard Ondara, who have both been top five at Bloomsday, are sure to give Kiprono a serious challenge. And three-time champion John Korir may surprise them all, as his devastating kick has proven decisive on the homestretch in many a road race in the United States, and his third-place showing at this year's Cherry Blossom shows that he's in good form. A superb international field will also give chase, while top American from 2011, Josh Moen of Eden Prairie, Minnesota, is also expected to be amongst the leaders.
In the elite wheelchair division, Aaron Pike, Craig Blanchette and Scott Parson—fourth, fifth and sixth last year—are the top returners, while Spokane native Tyler Byers is expected to vie for the victory. For the women, Amanda McGrory of Illinois is the clear favorite after winning the last five Bloomsdays, although Shirley Reilly of Tucson, Arizona, is expected give her the same kind of serious chase she did last year.
Nearly $100,000 in prize money is offered in the 2012 Lilac Bloomsday Run, including a $10,000 purse ($5,000 - $2,500 - $1,250 - $750 - $500) for the top male and female Americans who finish in the top 25.
A field of nearly 54,000 runners, joggers and walkers are expected to have entered by the time registration closes on Saturday evening. Procrastinators will have until 6:30 on Saturday to enter.
