Bob Dolphin's report re May 22nd run

Here's Bob Dolphin's Report from our last run, which was May 22nd:


FIRST CALL SPRING RUN OFF MARATHON
May 22, 2010

For the fifth time in the last two years, I’ve run an Adrian Call marathon. As usual, the marathon, 50K and half marathon started and finished at the Bothell Landing Park. The First Call Spring Run Off Marathon course was on the Sammamish River Trail on May 22, 2010, at Bothell.

As we arrived, we checked in at the start/finish station, picked up a personalized bib and made optional contributions. It was a time to greet friends and share running news. I enjoyed visiting with 11 year old Steele Spangler of Port Orchard who was there with his dad Scott to run another marathon.

The starting times for the marathon and ultra fields were 7:00 a.m. for those of us who left early and 8:00 a.m. for the regular time starters. The half marathoners had a 9:00 a.m. start.

The marathon course was a double out-and-back that took us south beyond Woodinville approaching Redmond. After 6.55 miles, we turned around and returned to Bothell Landing to be timed for the half marathon point. It was great to have hot and cold food served to us before we “did it all over again!”

The layout of this flat course made it ideal to modify my usual run/walk plan from running the flats and downhills and walking up steep hills, and then shifting to solely walking later in the race. Jeff Galloway, a renowned running author, speaker and coach, advocates early walking, so I gave it a test.

At early daylight about 30 runners in the 50K and marathon began our run at 7:00 a.m. At that time there was light rain with temperatures in the 50’s and no wind. Several hours later it became partially cloudy and then sunlit with some wind.

After we left the park, we crossed the arched footbridge over the river to make a left turn southward onto the river trail and I began my first 10 minute brisk walk. When that ended, I shifted to a 10 minute run. I kept alternating this pattern to the first turn-around at the ¼ marathon point with a time of 1:30:46. At the ½ marathon point I added another 1:31:51 to my time. In the second half I couldn’t maintain 10 minute runs, so I reverted to brisk walking to finish out the marathon. My finishing time of 6:32:47, 35th of 35 participants, was one of my better 2010 marathon times.

On the course I enjoyed exchanging greetings with friendly runners, the bikers who were riding for the American Diabetes Foundation charity and others who were out for a walk or run.

I always enjoy the flora and fauna on each course. This time there were five Canada Geese guarding a flock of 20+ goslings as they fed on new grass. During the times that it rained there were attractive, tan to brown-banded terrestrial snails that I hadn’t seen before on this trail.

On August 7, 2010, at Adrian Call’s First Call Running Club Marathon, I’ll experiment with my run/walk formula to find a better combination.

Thanks to Adrian and his volunteers for putting on another successful race.

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