Yakima River Canyon Marathon
Selah, Washington
Saturday, March 31, 2007

I traveled to Washington to race walk the Seventh Annual Yakima River Canyon Marathon held on Saturday, March 31, 2007. The race started outside Ellenburg, proceeded 4.5 miles through farm country, and then followed the Yakima River through the canyon. The course was very tough on me as it had nearly 22 miles of downhill. There were also two challenging uphill sections --- one of a half mile and one of nearly two miles from mile 21 to mile 23. The race is very well organized with plenty of volunteers. Water stations were separated every 2 to 3.5 miles apart. There were a record number of entries, around 520 up from 420 last year, because the Marathon Maniacs, of which I am a member, had a reunion there. Almost 100 of the 450 members came. In appreciation of choosing this site for a reunion, the race director gave each Maniac a souvenir cup and a commemorative pin made especially for us.
The race directors, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Dolphin, are both 77 years old and Bob ran the race, which was his 400th marathon. His wife is the main race director even though she has never been a runner. They have made the Yakima River Canyon Marathon one of the best marathons anywhere. Every first time marathoner received a certificate in addition to the finished medal. John “The Penguin” Bingham was the speaker at both the delicious pre-race and post-race dinner and was also at the finish line. There were at least 50 door prizes given away at each of the meals. Transportation was provided from the race headquarters to the starting line and from the finishing line to the race headquarters. There was a shower facility available for everyone. The event was as first class as first class can be.
I really enjoyed being able to meet and spend time with the other Marathon Maniacs. I had met several of them at various races. There were at least 25 Maniacs present who have completed 100 or more marathons and ultra marathons. One has done more than 700. A man from Tokyo, Japan, who I’ve talked to at several races, has 527 all over the world. His next race is in Jordan. I met the three founders of the Marathon Maniacs. They gave out awards to the most maniac of the Maniacs in 2006. The man did 87 marathons and the woman did 65 ultra marathons.
I also spent time viewing the Cascade Mountains, which still had an abundance of snow. Pictures from the trip will follow in later postings.