Weekend Race Round Up: Track, Road and Ultra

WSU vs UW Dual Meet(Pullman) 4/28- The WSU Men beat the Huskies 87-76 and were fueled by an impressive sweep of the 3000 by Andrew Kimpel, Drew Jordan and Jono Lafler. Kimpel, a Sophomore from Spokane, led the sweep with a time of 8:18:10. On the Women’s side the Huskies scored 89 points to outdistanced the Cougars by 15 points, as Megan Goethals was a double winner in taking the 1500 and 3000 with times of 4:29.86 and 9:31.91. Both teams will be spend the next two weekends at the Pac-12 Championships in Eugene with the Multi Events on May 5^th and 6^th  and the rest of the team competition on May 12^th and 13^th.

Capitol Peak 50 miler/55k(Capital State Forest-Olympia) 4/28- The 50 Miler was won by Nicholas Triolo in 7:06:57 on the men’s side, while Jennifer Edwards of Olympia won the women’s race in 8:55:47. In the shorter race Rod Bien, 39, and Kathleen Eagan of Seattle ran 4:18:08 and 5:45:59 to capture the 55k titles.  The Capitol Peak course known for being rocky and rolling, has a section that climbs close to 1,000 feet in less than a mile. On Saturday morning, 150 brave souls conquered that climb!!!!

Top Pot 5K: Grimes Wins, Heuer Oh-So Close, Crowd Stays

If you think running and doughnuts don’t mix, there were about 2,800 Top Pot 5k runners this morning at Green Lake in Seattle that would disagree with you. It was a magical morning with a slight sprinkle of sunshine, tons of kids running about and even some tasty souls dressed as, you guessed it, doughnuts. Let's not forget about the two crowd favorites:  the Maple Bar guy and the speedster with doughnuts stuffed in her bikini(over running attire of course). 

Though the morning seemed laid back and fun, Bennett Grimes, a former WWU multiple All American, wasted no time in going to the front of a large contingent of fast runners looking to pickup free airlines tickets from sponsor Alaska Airlines. Grimes, who was literally flying over the last 400 meters, ran 15:03 to beat out Eric Garner(15:19) and Mark Mandi(15:30) for the top spot. Equally impressive was the fact that 7 runners, in places 5 thru 12, led by Evan Blanshan in 15:53, finished within 10 seconds of each other.

Crazy Fast: On the Road with Rose Wetzel

Rose Wetzel, 30, of Seattle was very busy last weekend. Armed with a cooler full of food and all her Brooks/Club NW racing gear, Wetzel and her fiancé Tim, boogied down I-5 on Friday to get to Eugene where she would race at the Oregon Relays. After racing at historic Hayward Field, the duo who are set to be married this year, grabbed some food and boogied back up the highway to Tacoma where Wetzel would race Saturday morning at the 1st Annual Ruston Way 5k.

Wednesday Night Trio Takes the Stage in Eugene

Don’t be misled, the Wednesday Night Trio is not a band; however, if they were, they would be ready to rock and roll this Sunday. Instead, the trio, who are part of a training group in Seattle that meets on Wednesday nights called the Wednesday Night Runners, are ready to take to the streets and set the tempo at the 2012 Eugene Marathon.

Phil Olson, Teshome Kokebe and Spencer Walsh, who are all members of Club Northwest, are each accomplished runners in their own right and have a solid base of training and recent marathon specific racing under their belts. In February, Kokebe, who is from Ethiopia, pulled Olson along at the FSRC Resolution 15 Miler in Steilacoom as the two finished 1^st and 2^nd. Their times of 1:18:36 and 1:19:10 for 15 miles, which were just off the state record at the distance, point towards marathon times in the low 2:20’s. Walsh, the youngest of the trio at 28, was 4^th in the same race in 1:22:23, but more recently lowered his half marathon personal best to 1:10:03 at the Mercer Island Half Marathon where he was 2^nd behind Uli Steidl.

2012 Ruston Way 5k: Fast As Expected

A few weeks ago I listed the Ruston Way 5k in Tacoma as one of a few races this spring that should be fast. It was pure speculation, as the race is in its first year, but I reviewed the course maps and knew that they were doing some serious recruiting to attract regional elites(open and masters). In the end the race was a hit and got a bunch of things right the first time. A few people that raced on Saturday said they wouldn't be surprised if the Ruston Way 5k becomes the premiere 5k of the spring in the next few years. With the results listed below, it may have already done just that.

Mt. Si 50k: Kerr Wins and Thiessen Adds Another Title

Clear skies and maybe a little bit too much sun(mid 70’s) greeted hundreds of runners early Sunday morning at the Mt. Si Relay and UltraRuns. In taking to the trails below Mt Si, participants were treated to a beautiful day that was appropriate for embracing the celebration of Earth Day. Though the weather did cause some early exits in both the 50k and 50 miler, several top runners took advantage of the day and posted some impressive performances.

Mark Kerr, 49, who trains on Galbraith and Chuckanut Mountains in Bellingham, used a newly found focus period this winter/spring to get in great shape and race to a personal best in the 50k on Sunday.

Morrison and Sunderlage Pick Up Wins at Run with The Fuzz

The Run with the Fuzz in Bellingham has grown into more than just another 5k on the schedule. The downtown race, which supports families of fallen police officers through the Behind the Badge Foundation, has grown to over 1000 finishers, a cash purse and some fast times on both the men’s and women’s sides in just 3 short years.

On Saturday the women’s race was won by Amber Morrison of Bellingham in  around 18:15(some results are missing and will be updated later) which allowed her to claim $500 as the top female. It was incorrectly reported earlier today that Ariana Lee won on Saturday. Lee, who was stepping down in distance as she recently was 3^rd Overall at the Ft. Ebey Trail Marathon and 13^th on the women’s side at the annually epic Chuckanut 50k, was 2nd behind Morrison in a time of 18:51. The women's race was very competitive as the Top 6 finishers broke 20:00.

Uli Steidl Wins Boston Marathon Masters Title

In a race that saw temperatures in the 80’s and various warnings from doctors for runners to pass on Monday's 2012 Boston Marathon, Seattle runner Uli Steidl, who just recently turned 40, rose to the occasion and finished 15^th overall. His time of 2:23:08 claimed the top spot in the Masters Division, as he edged out Franklin Tenorio, 42, of Boulder, Colorado by just under a minute. In addition to winning dozens of races a year from the 5k to the marathon, the Seattle Running Club member has been known to jump on the trails and continue his winning ways at top ultra events. In the last several years Steidl has won titles at the White River 50 Miler, the Chuckanut 50k, the American River 50 Miler and most notably the 2009 North Face Endurance Challenge 50 Mile Championships in San Francisco, California.

2012 Mt. Si 50k: A Chat with Returning Champion Jay Sloane

In 2011, long time Bellingham-area resident Jay Sloane took a journey into the unknown. He ran an ultra marathon. Sloane, who has been running for over 30 years and is a veteran of many marathons and hundreds of shorter races, didn’t take the journey lightly as he logged over 1000 miles in the ten weeks leading up to his first ultra, the Mt. Si 50k. Obviously, unknown didn’t equal unprepared as Sloane, who was 48 at the time, won the race in a 3:45:05.

This year Sloane, who is sponsored by Klick’s Running in Bellingham(formerly known as RunningShoes.com), will be returning to the Mt. Si 50k with a little more knowledge and a little more experience as he ran the Transcendence 12 Hour last August in Olympia. Running 71.6 in 12 Hours, he placed 4^th in a very competitive field that was led by Jesse Stevick(5x Capital City Marathon Champ). In addition to a little more knowledge and a little more experience, Sloane brings a balanced set of goals into this weekend’s race: have fun, be competitive, and run faster. 

2012 Mt. Si Relay and Ultra Runs

This Sunday, the 2012 Mt. Si Relay and Ultra Runs will celebrate its 29th year, which makes it one of the oldest Relays in the state. The race itself, which now has ultra runs of 50k and 50 miles, started in the early 80’s as the aptly named Falls to Gasworks Relay, running from Mt. Si High School near Snoqualmie Falls and ending at Gasworks Park in Seattle. Though the name and the course have changed, the Eastside Runners have been at the helm for 29 years.

“We get great support from our club to put on the race, and we try to make it fun for the local running community,” stated Race Director John Dickson, who is also happy to give something back to the community as the race supports club designated charities-Hopelink, Girls on the Run and Mountains to Sound Greenway.

Ravenna Weeknight Trail Series Kicks Off Tonight in Seattle

Tonight trail runners will have 3 course options at the 1^st of 3 trail races to be held at Ravenna Park in Seattle. There will be trail runs of 4.1 km(2.6 miles), 8.2 km(5.1 miles) and 12.3 km(7.7 miles), all of which use the same course 4.1 km loop. Race day registration and check in will be open from 5:30-6:30 pm at the picnic shelter next to the south parking lot off of 20^th Ave NW and NE 58^th St. Also on tap tonight is a Dynamic Stretching warm-up that starts at 6:15, the runs begin at 6:45 and the courses close at 8:30. The Ravenna Series is being put on by Northwest Trail Runs who also produce the local XTERRA events and the popular Cougar Mountain Series. The 2^nd and 3^rd races of this series will be on 5/24 and 6/21.

Location Map

Ravenna Trail Run Info

Carter and Khalsa Top Finishers at the Whidbey Island Marathon

Kristin Carter, 25, from Bellingham and Tahoma Khalsa(Club NW), 27, from Seattle were the top finishers at the 2012 Whidbey Island Marathon. Both winners ran faster than last year’s winning times and picked up $1000 checks for their efforts.

Carter, a Bellingham High School graduate, qualified for and ran in the 2012 US Olympic Trials Marathon that was held in January, when she ran a 2:45:27 at the 2011 California International Marathon. On Sunday Carter ran 3:01:31 and won by over 7 minutes. Elizabeth Abbey of Spokane and Melissa Cox of Portland rounded out the Top 3 spots and received $500 and $250 prizes for their 2^nd and 3^rd place finishes.

Boston Athletic Association 5k: Former WWU Star Sarah Porter 6th Place in 15:50

The 2012 Edition of the Boston Marathon kick-off event, the BAA 5K, saw two course records and a slew of top level runners flaunt their speed before the marathoners take the stage on Monday. Former Western Washington University superstar Sarah Porter was right in the mix of a truly world class field as she finished in 6^th place with a time of 15:50. Porter’s time Sunday was under the previous course record of 15:51 and placed her a few spots behind Kim Smith from New Zealand(Reebok) and few spots ahead of Desiree Davila(Brooks/Hansons), both of whom will be contenders in 2012 Olympic Marathon in London. While at WWU porter earned 13 All American honors and is now sponsored by Zap Fitness/Reebok.

2012 Whidbey Island Half Marathon: US 50k Champion Joseph Gray Set to Race

Many years ago Joseph Gray visited Whidbey Island. He didn’t have on running shoes, he didn’t run a race and he didn’t see much of the island. Gray, who now returns as the 2012 US Road 50K Champion, was a basketball player way back then and “plans to see a bit more of the island this time around.”

2012 Whidbey Island Marathon Weekend: Cash Prizes, Hills and Perfect Weather

The weather forecast for Sunday(50’s, sunny, with a little cloud cover), should encourage close to 2,000 eager racers that will be toeing the line at 7^th Annual Whidbey Island Marathon this weekend. Though the marathon course is a little different than last year’s race, it is an improvement as it returns to giving marathon participants the chance to experience one of kind views of the Puget Sound from the Deception Pass Bridge. The change also removes a long grinding hill from the opening mile of the race, which should receive thumbs up from past participants.

The WIM has three races slated for this weekend, with the 5k taking off on Saturday from the Oak Harbor waterfront and weaves runners through portions of a revitalized downtown district. The marathon and half marathon will kick off on Sunday morning at different locations and different times; however, everyone will be able to experience the vast hills that make Whidbey Island both a fun and challenging place to run. Having lived on Whidbey Island and run a former version of the half marathon course, my best advice would be run steady, hydrate early and save a lot for the hills in the closing miles.

Last year, top honors in the marathon went to Wyatt Golding of Seattle on the men’s side with a time of 2:52:05 and Amy Frazier of East Amherst, NY claimed the women’s title in 3:12:17. The half marathon titles in 2011 were claimed by Carre Joyce-Heineck in the women’s race in a time of 1:21:25, while local runner Andy Wyman of Oak Harbor picked up the men’s title on his home turf in 1:15:34. Two Oak Harbor runners, Jeffrey Graves and Emily Breck, picked up victories in the 5k with times of 19:12 and 22:03.

In addition to being a Boston Marathon Qualifier, the WIM is offering over $5000 in cash prizes to top finishers in the half and full marathon. With online registration closed, those wishing to jump in and experience Whidbey Island at its best can still register on Saturday from 11am to 7pm at the Expo which will be held at North Whidbey Middle School(67 NE IZETT ST, OAK HARBOR). Packet pick up will be available at the Expo during the same hours and will have numerous vendors along with information about Sunday’s races.

More information can be found here: 2012 Whidbey Island Marathon

WSU, Club Northwest and Felnagle Run Fast at the Stanford Invitational

Every April hundreds of top notch Collegiate and Post-Collegiate Athletes from all over the country show up in Palo Alto, CA to race the clock at the Stanford Invitational(April 6-7). This meet is unique in the sense that there is no crowning honor for winning your race or finishing first in your heat, the only thing that matters is running fast.

Washington was well represented this past weekend as several runners from Washington State University and Club Northwest posted fast times; however, the best performance from a local athlete came from Brie Felnagle(adidas) who was 3^rd in a super competitive Women’s 5000 meters. Felnagle ran 15:22.39 which was a massive 21 second PR and beat the Olympic Trails Qualifying “A” Standard by over 10 seconds. Brie graduated from Bellarmine Prep in Tacoma and enjoyed a successful career at the University of North Carolina, where she was a 12-time All American.

Mike Sayenko(10,000) and Rose Wetzel(1500), both of Club Northwest, had superb outings and are getting close to the “A” Standard for the Olympic Trials in June. Sayenko’s time of 28:45.31 is a provisional qualifier as it beats the “B” Standard of 29:00.

After an outstanding Cross Country season in 2011, it is no secret that WSU is building a very strong distance program out in Pullman. Well represented in both the men’s and women’s 1500, Joe Abbot ran 3:44.22 and Ruby Roberts clocked 4:28.45 to lead the Cougars.

Other notable performances:

M1500-Lee George(WSU) 3:47.54 M3000-Steeple John Ricardi(CNW) 8:59.99 M5000-Drew Jordan(WSU) 13:59.26, Colton Tully-Doyle(Una) 14:07.01, Andrew Kimpel(WSU) 14:08.9, Kyle King(EWU) 14:10.42 W1500-Caroline Austin(WSU) 4:29.37, Courtney Zalud(WSU) 4:37.43 W5000-Lois Ricardi Keller(CNW) 16:36.77, Jane Larson(CNW) 16:39.42 W10000-Claudia Copeland(CNW) 34:00.86

Spring Fling: A Few Fast 5k's

With spring in the air, plenty of soggy winter miles logged and a need for speed, many runners will seek out a 5k over the next few months. In the Seattle area alone, there are almost a few 5ks every weekend for the next several months, add in the numerous races in the Tacoma area and a few superb races in Bellingham and one could really become confused about where and when to race. Below are a few 5k's that are worth checking out.

Ruston Way 5k Tacoma-April 21st

Being billed as the “fastest, flattest and most scenic in Tacoma” can’t be a bad thing. The race itself will highlight the grand re-opening of Ruston Way and will offer great views of Commencement Bay, a ribbon cutting ceremony and a very nice point to point course that will beg you to try to set a personal best. As a new race, the Ruston Way 5k is trying to attract the best of the best by offering prize money to the Top 3 Overall and the Top 2 Masters finishers for men and women. Once you are done racing, the 702 Acres of Point Defiance Park await you for a relaxing afternoon. The race will benefit the Tacoma Waterfront Association and the Pierce County YWCA.

Top Pot 5k Green Lake/Seattle-April 29th

If you like donuts and racing, like 1870 finishers did last year, than the Top Pot 5k is for you. The race starts and finishes at the Green Lake Community Center and in addition to offering a fast and flat course, there will be a kid’s dash, plenty of spectators, roller bladders, and dog walkers and a healthy helping of Seattle. This is a great race for a post-race Starbucks visit and a browse at Super Jock n Jill or Road Runner Sports, which are all a short cool down walk from the finish. Net proceeds from the event will support Childhaven.

Haggen to Haggen 5k Bellingham-May 6^th

The Greater Bellingham Running Club does a great job annually with this speedy 5K. Everybody loves Bellingham and everybody loves a downhill, so grab some friends and go run, race or walk this course. The first 2 miles are blisteringly fast, with a slight uphill over the last 1.1 miles which requires you to save a little for the end. Starting and finishing at two different Haggen stores, finishers are treated to a bountiful post-race buffet that is hard to beat. A free shuttle bus will be available to take participants back to the starting area. Over 1000 walkers and runners finishing annually, many have discovered that if you register early(by April 30^th) it’s only $7 for the run or $5 for the walk.

West Seattle 5k Alki Beach/Seattle-May 20^th

First and foremost Alki Beach is a wonderful place to spend the day. You can hangout by the water, people watch, fly a kite, worship the sun, shop, eat and on this particular Sunday, run a 5k. The race is a 100% flat out and back course that starts and finishes at the Alki Beach Bath House and is part of a Car-free Sunday on Alki. Given the course layout, the West Seattle 5k is very stroller-friendly; they just ask that you start towards the back of the pack. If you can’t race and have the time, this would be a great race to volunteer at. Race funds will be used to improve math, science, music and drama programs and communications at West Seattle High School.

Tulip Festival 5 & 2 Mile Runs- Burlington, WA

The 27^th Annual Skagit Valley Tulip Run and more than 800 upbeat competitors were greeted on Saturday by sunny skies and a pleasant absence of rain. As a mainstay on the early spring racing calendar in Western Washington, runners and walkers alike are treated to a fun and fast blend of road, trails and holiday weekend spirit that is rivaled by very few races.

With a fun local feel, the Skagit Runners manage to offer racers a reasonably priced, no frills and environmentally friendly event. This year the Skagit Runners were proud to announce that they were piloting a “Zero Waste” program that will be certain to set the standard for future races and outdoor event stewardship.

The 5 miler which is highlighted by a very fast first mile is followed by a cross country like middle section and a gradual, yet grueling 1.1 mile trail run up to the finish. Eric Sofen(Seattle Running Club), 26, of Seattle was the official winner with a speedy time of 27:05 and was followed by Carl Newton (Fairhaven Runners) and John Collins(Club NW) at 27:20 and 27:33 for second and third places. The women’s race saw Sarah MacKay from Seattle who runs for Osielle(Women’s Running Apparel), run away with the win in a time of 29:47. Megan Lyle(Club NW) and Andrea Eiseman rounded out the top 3 and completed a Seattle sweep of the toP3 places with times of 31:13 and 31:45 respectively.

In a twist from most races, the Tulip Run does not offer chip timing for race day registrants. Unofficially Connor Whan(University of Portland), who was a prep standout at Burling-Edison High School and David McCulloch(Club NW) led the field with the fastest times, as both were under 27:00.

Though the 2 mile results are not yet available, 5 mile results and archived results can be found at the link below.

Tulip Run Results