NEWSLETTER
NUMBER SIX – November 18, 2003
WELCOME to these new members who have joined the 100 Marathon Club North America in the past few months: Mike Brooks, Danville, Maine; Bill Fornoff, Jarrettsville, Maryland; Gayle Godfrey, Louisville, Kentucky; Don Lang, Glendale, California; Pam Reed, Tucson, Arizona; Michael Wakabayashi, Spokane, Washington; Dale and Sandra Zanchi, Louisville, Kentucky.
Mike Brooks, 58, is to be congratulated on reaching two milestones within a few months. On June 21, 2003, he became a 50 States & DC finisher at the Midnight Sun Marathon in Alaska. Three months later on September 20, 2003, he ran his 100th marathon at the U.S. Air Force Marathon in Ohio…..only eight years after running his first marathon! This retired firefighter turned to running to get fit, and it really worked for him.
Pam Reed, race director of the Tucson Marathon is a new member whose fame preceded her. On July 31, 2003, she appeared on the David Letterman Show on CBS for her running achievements. For the second consecutive year Pam was the overall winner of the Badwater 135 Mile Race in Death Valley, California. This year on race day, July 22, 2003, the air temperature peaked at an unbelievable 133 degrees Fahrenheit. A picture of her running in the desert appeared on the cover of the October 2003 issue of UltraRunning magazine. In October she led the American women’s team to a 4th place finish at the World 24 Hour in the Netherlands with 136+ miles. Only four weeks later on November 8-9, 2003, she won the women’s division of the San Diego 1-Day Race with a total of 138.96 miles to break the 12-year-old U.S. track record. She finished 4th overall….only the top three men accumulated more miles!!
Don Lang, 68, has run more marathon/ultras than anyone else in the Western United States. The last total that we had was 340, but this figure changes upward almost every weekend. His record is impressive as he runs 35-40 marathons each year. He has an elevation record for running at the lowest elevation (Death Valley Marathon) to the highest (100 miles, five-day stage race…termed the Mount Everest Challenge). Since he started marathoning in 1992, he has run marathons in all of the 50 States & DC, the Canadian provinces, 26 of the 35 European countries plus those on other continents. He never repeats a marathon and constantly seeks out new ones to run.
Michael Wakabayashi, 55, ran his 100th marathon at Portland, Oregon, on October 5, 2003, in a time of 3:14:48 and placed first in the 55-59M division. The first time I saw Michael was at the Skagit Flats Marathon (WA) on September 8, 1990, when he passed me in the last mile. He finished in 3:04:55, while I finished in 3:05:16 (first 60 year old male). Now 13 years later as senility catches up with me, I am running my marathons one hour slower than Michael.
Bill Fornoff, 60, has a PR of 2:56 and has completed Western States (1994) and Comrades (1999). Gayle Godfrey and Dale & Sandra Zanchi share Louisville, KY, as their home town. They also share the special date of September 27, 2003, when they completed their 100th marathon/ultra at the Walker North Country Marathon in Minnesota.
Dale and Sandra are the third set of husband/wife memberships. Gunhild and Jack Swanson of Spokane, Washington, are charter members. Paula Boone of Humble, Texas, joined her husband Steve Boone as a member after she completed her 100th marathon on March 23, 2003. We also boast a grandmother/grandson membership of Betty Mae Burrell and Brenton Floyd of Harrison, Tennessee.
San Diego Marathon, January 18, 2004: This marathon is offering a $5.00 discount to our club members. Just put “100 Marathon club -- $5.00 Discount” on the hard copy application and make sure they receive it by January 5, 1004. Their on-line system will not accept entries with the discount.
WE ALL GET AROUND: It’s always great to see the local members at the marathons, and it’s exciting to meet others from all parts of the world. This is where we recently saw other members……In June at the San Juan Island and North Olympic Discovery Marathons….Don Lang; at the Walk with Me Marathon….Carol Westerman, Louisville, Kentucky. October 5, 2003, at the Portland Race Directors Conference and Marathon….Pam Reed, Dan Archambeau, Sebring, Florida, and from the United Kingdom Roger Biggs, Peter Graham, Jack Brooks (a wannabe who will soon become a member) and Big Dave Carter. See page 44 of the 28th Marine Corps Marathon booklet for a picture of Big Dave. October 12, 2003, at the Royal Victoria Marathon….Virginia Farneman, Powell, Ohio, Evan Fagan and Janet Green of Victoria, BC. October 18, 2003, at the Baltimore Marathon….Stan Neumann, Timonium, Maryland, and Steve Kruse, Platte City, Missouri (a new wannabe who will run his 100th in 2004). October 26th, at the Marine Corps Marathon….Todd Byers, Long Beach, California, and Ray Scharenbrock, South Milwaukee, Wisconsin. At age 70, Ray has completed 7 cycles of 50 States & DC and is nearing his 8th completion. This marathon was #485! November 2, 2003, City of Trees Marathon, Henry Rueden, De Pere, Wisconsin, John Bozung, Orem, Utah, Rich DeCample, Renton, Washington, and Bill Whipp, Cincinnati, Ohio. Rich has finished his second 50 States & DC cycle and will run his 150th marathon in Seattle on November 30. Bill has completed 152 marathons with his left knee while his artificial right knee has participated in a total of 126! We look forward to seeing Cathy Troisi in Hawaii in December.
To find out information for the only certified marathon in Delaware for 2004, go to www.50statesmarathonclub.com and look for the link to the Delaware Marathon under Reunions or contact Steve & Paula Boone at STEVEBOONE@aol.com.
WE GOT LETTERS (mail and e-mail) – (1) Sharon Kerson of Culver City, California, has completed the 50 States & DC twice and has run marathons on four continents in her quest to do all of them. She and Edson Sanches of New York City ran the Racife Marathon in Brazil in July. Edson ran his 300th marathon almost two years ago and has completed the 50 States & DC for the third time. (2) Alan Morton, 72, of Twyn-Gwyness, Wales, completed his 300th marathon at the New York City Marathon on November 2, 2003….and celebrated his birthday three days later. (3) Ed Burnham, 83, of Kansas City, Missouri, participated in the Show-Me State Senior Games at Columbia, MO, on June 21, 2003. He ran the 5K and 10K road races in 36:42 and 1:25:37 for first in his age class. (4) Del Scharffenberg, 58, of Portland, Oregon, competed with three other Oregonians in the Paris-Brest-Paris cycling race August 19-22, 2003. (5) According to a report from Wally Herman, he has recently seen members Jerry Herndon, Don McNelly and Norm Frank.
Do you want to run the Boston Marathon? Consider running the Yakima River Canyon Marathon as a qualifier and/or a preparatory race. Every year many runners qualify on our USATF certified course. It’s a point-to-point course that loses 300 feet in elevation from start to finish….downhill all of the way. Well, not quite! We do have two major hills, but these are followed by restful downhills. The date for our fourth annual race is Saturday, April 3, 2004. As in the past, Lenore and I direct this marathon where our goal is to put on a great event for all who attend. 100 Marathon Club members, 50 Staters and first time marathoners get recognition….but all runners and walkers get special treatment!!
The holiday season is fast approaching, so we wish all of you a Happy Thanksgiving, Merry Christmas and lots of good running in the New Year….2004!!!
Bob and Lenore Dolphin
10519 126th Avenue S.E.
Renton, WA 98056
(425)226-1518 (Renton), (509)966-0188 (Yakima)
e-mail: dolphinmteam@earthlink.net