2012 RESULTS ISSUE - Seattle Marathon

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6 2012 AMICA INSURANCe SeATTle MARAThoN: The ReTURN oF UlI BY MARTIN RUDoW, eDIToR, NoRThWeST RUNNeR MAGAzINe Two things are always foremost in the minds of runners, walkers, spectators and volunteers as dawn breaks the morning of the Amica Insurance Seattle Marathon. First: what kind of weather will we have? Second: who will show up to challenge for the leads in the four featured events of the day: men and women’s divisions, full and half. Who the leaders will be is a question that affects just a few of the runners, most of us are content to slog along and maybe even do well in our age division, just to finish a full or half marathon is satisfaction enough. But all of us are going to be affected by the weather. Seattle Marathon weather is (surprise) usually pretty darn good for running; a little drizzle and cool temperatures keep runners comfortable and it is rarely worse than that. Certainly an average Seattle Marathon day is better for running than the condition you’ll find in many other marathons around the country throughout the year (hint: New York two weeks earlier). The weather this year on the morning of November 25th was something different. Neither rain nor shine. The previous day’s brilliant sun had been replaced by low overhanging clouds and fog—thick fog, like really thick fog, something we don’t get much of around these parts. The starters at the 7:15 a.m. departure of the full marathon walk were almost ghostly in the wan commercial lights of the morning. The nearly 100 or so walkers loomed out of the fog and as mysteriously disappeared back into it as they headed down 5th Avenue. We all knew, though, that such a fog meant that there would be no rain and that the sun would break through eventually. It did soon enough, just in time to warm the hearts as well as the heads of the three-hour-plus marathoners and slower half marathoners. So much for the weather question. The other question, who would show up to challenge for the lead, was more in doubt. except in the case of the full marathon, at least for those in the know. The day before, a lucky few (including this writer) had encountered Uli and Trish Steidl at the Amica Insurance Seattle Marathon health & Fitness expo and been told that Uli had made a last-minute decision to run this year. Great news indeed, since Uli can always be counted on for a quality time, whether he is pressed (a rare occurrence) or easily in control the whole way (which is the usual outcome). Uli had won The AMICA INSURANCe SeATTle MARAThoN 2012 ReSUlTS ISSUe no less than eight straight Seattle Marathons from 1999 through 2006, but had been conspicuously absent from the last few. he has not run this event without winning it. So when Uli showed up the morning of the race, most of his competitors were not even aware that he was entered, and when they became aware, most started thinking of racing for second. on the women’s side, a real battle was shaping up, and the three contenders had known for weeks about each other’s race intentions. Proving that an ill wind blows no good, Susan empey, lauren Mathews and Kristen Carter, three of the area’s 2012 olympic Trial finalists were on hand. The three had been prepared for the cancelled New York Marathon, and had shifted their emphasis to the Seattle 26-mile event, which was only two weeks later. Thus the women’s division, which had seen a slide toward winning times above the three-hour mark, was poised for a fast and competitive race. Uli was accompanied for the early miles of the race by a few contenders, but none had anywhere near the credentials of the now 40+ Uli, who had run a 2:20 earlier in the year and taken the master’s titles at Boston and Twin Cities (the official U.S. Master’s race). No one expected anyone to be with him by 18 miles, a prediction which held
true as Uli went on to win by about two minutes over even Blanshan, 2:28.26 to 2:30.18. The three women contenders kept in a pack a bit longer, but shortly after 15 miles the youngest of the three, Kristen Carter, made a move and left empey and Matthews in her dust. As the leading marathon runners thundered up and down lake Washington Boulevard, the half events were finishing back at Memorial Stadium. The lesser attention given to the half marathon really shows how important a full marathon is. Although the half featured more then double the amount of full marathoners, by far the bulk of media attention went to the full. Female half marathoners were led by Rachel Jaten, who had a fairly comfortable 45-second lead over Sarah. MacKay at the end. At 37, Jaten was still three years younger than Steidl. She was another olympic Marathon Trials qualifier from earlier this year. Jaten in fact qualified for the trials so late that she missed our editorial preview of state runners at that event. She ran a strong 2:53+ at houston and is still running strong, as evidenced by the results here. The first runner to actually cross the line marathon day was half Marathon winner Jonathan lafler, former distance star at nearby Tahoma high and WSU. For a crosscountry ace like lafler, the half marathon is really an ideal distance. Slower half marathoners were dribbling in when Uli Steidl made his triumphant entrance into the stadium. This was the ninth win at Seattle for the modest Uli, who was too polite to say how easy this was for him, so we’ll guess: it was not really that tough. he looked much the same as he did when he won that first marathon here in 1999, Uli’s trim body and efficient style are really made for distance running. Women’s winner Carter looked a little more stressed at the end, but soon was conducting an almost frenetic interview, which left us little doubt that faster marathons are on tap for her, if that is what she wants. The slower finishers were treated to bright sunshine and almost warm conditions, making for a comfortable end to a long day of running. The Seattle Marathon weekend is not just the full and half marathon distance. Saturday, a really glorious day of Seattle sunshine, also saw a 5K Race and Kid’s Marathon. Friday and Saturday saw thousands of runners and walkers entertained at the healthe & Fitness expo, certainly one of the very finest in all of marathoning — and that is saying a lot. overall, 13,812 participated in one or more of the events of the three days. As usual the half marathon saw the biggest field, 7,582, followed by the full with 2,744. Most will be back next year, and for years to come. The AMICA INSURANCe SeATTle MARAThoN 2012 ReSUlTS ISSUe 7
Page 1: Male First Place: Uli Steidl Full M
Page 4 and 5: Congratulations to the nearly 14,00
Page 8 and 9: 8 Male First Place: Uli Steidl Full
Page 10 and 11: Full Marathon Run Name City/state C
Page 12 and 13: Full Marathon Run Name City/State C
Page 14 and 15: Full Marathon Run MALE AGE GROUP: 8
Page 16 and 17: Full Marathon Run Name City/State C
Page 18 and 19: half Marathon Run Name 145 ChRIS VU
Page 20 and 21: half Marathon Run Name City/State C
Page 40 and 41: half Marathon Walk Name City/State
Page 42 and 43: Military Division Name City/State C
Page 44 and 45: 5K Race Name City/State Chiptime of
Page 47: Photo by George Ross Preparation. C

2012 RESULTS ISSUE - Seattle Marathon

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