North Olympic Discovery Marathon - June 7, 2009

June 7 was the seventh annual North Olympic Discovery Marathon, that goes point-to-point from Sequim, WA to Port Angeles, WA. It is named for the North Olympic Discovery Trail system that is the second half of the race course, ending at Port Angeles at the city pier.

The Olympic Peninsula is the NW corner of Washington, where it’s rain forest on the ocean side, but Sequim is in a rain shadow. They get the overcast skies, but not nearly the crazy rainfall as on the ocean side. It’s still very, very green! And humid, but the marine kind of humid, not the hot and humid that inland sometimes gets. We got to Port Angeles late Saturday afternoon, in time for me to pick up my bib and goody bag at the hotel expo after we got checked in. Turns out I’d reserved the last room available for the marathon. I opted for Red Lion, for all the hotels/motels up there are horribly expensive, and the Red Lion offered a late checkout for marathoners. But their late checkout was 2:00, and the marathon start was 9:00 – so I signed up as a marathon walker, to be able to finish and enjoy the late checkout.

We had a view of the Strait of San Juan de Fuco from our hotel window, and a view of where the finish would run right past the next day. We ate a quick supper, did some walking around the waterfront area, and went to bed.

Got up, got the running prep done, and Reggie drove me out to the start at Sequim. The walker requirement was that they gave us an early start, but we had to finish in 5.5 hours or more. This was a total fun run day for me! I chatted with several new friends before we started and along the way once we started. Since I train alone, races are social events!

The first 4 miles were a loop to the east of Sequim. The hike/bike trail was really easy for running, and the neighborhoods were all quiet in the morning.

Reggie met me at mile 4, which was the back side of the big park where we started. He got a pic of me by the mile 4 sign, and another runner who was waiting for a walker motioned for us to come and look. Way up in one of the big trees was a bald eagle – we could see it, but wow, what a blend with the leaves on the tree. So that was fun!

I was on the route past the start, and my phone rang. It was our friend, Tom, who’s soon-to-be father-in-law, David, was running the marathon. Sure enough I was just passing where they’d parked, so stopped to meet David (and Tom and Krysta, of course), then continued on my way. The next 9 miles were going through Sequim and neighborhoods on the northwest side.

It stayed gray out, but the wind wasn’t there, so we were glad it stayed gray. I was really hoping for some of the wonderful Olympic mountain views, but learned how rare those days really are! Much of the trail was shaded, but even in the open spots it didn’t seem to get too warm.

The aid stations were fun! The walker start didn’t get an aid station until about mile 7.x, where the “Run Your Buns Off” station was all ready to serve. I did my first Gu there, and got some pics.
Much of the trail is a rails-to-trails, and there were some great old trestle bridges. Reggie met me (and Lena and Brian, instant running friends, though we’ve never met before) at one of the bridges, then he drove back to Port Angeles so he and Tom and Krysta could get breakfast while Krysta’s dad and I were out running.

These Burma-shave style signs were in several places along the trail, all advertising the aid station past mile 23.
At the 13 mile aid station, we were greeted by wolves! The Sequim highschool mascot is the wolf. I got some pics with the big wolf and two wolf buddies, then ran through the wolf’s legs to the aid station. Also got a pic looking through the back end of that wolf, hmmm…
I was starting to catch up with the slower 1/2 marathon walkers. The first marathon runner passed me at the aid station after mile 16, escorted by two bicycles. He was FAST!

The aid stations had different themes. One was a restaurant, and they offered tables, chairs, pretzels, and drinks served on a tray. Of course I sat down for a photo op!

I recommend this marathon for fun, and for how beautiful the trail is, but I don’t think it’s a PR course. There is not much net elevation change, but the little squiggles on the elevation chart were longer and steeper than they appeared! But fantastic support for everyone from the few people way out on the trail, on the hills, cheering us on. The hill after mile 20 had these two drummers. You could hear the drum rhythms from a long way before and after!
The mile 23.6 aid station was “The Trail Volunteers” for the Olympic Discovery Trail. They had Burma-shave style signs in several places on the trail, all promising wonderful refreshment at their station near the end of the marathon and half. The best part about their aid station was coming into view of the Strait, and getting some marine breeze that felt really good about then.

Coming past mile 24, I greeted a ½ marathon walker, and it turned out to be my old friend, Ginger! I’ve known Ginger since we were in college together. She and her husband, Jim, were walking the ½ marathon, and staying with a retired engineering professor of ours who lives in Port Angeles now. You never know who’ll you’ll be seeing out on the trail… That section of trail was a rough, unpaved section, where there is still a lot of trail development needed! Not very scenic…

Then, just after mile 25, I passed David. He was not having a good day! He’d hoped to BQ, but the hills, hydration, fatigue from not sleeping well the night before – whatever – it was not happening yesterday. I don’t remember what part of the trail he passed me, it had to be after 17 miles, but he said mile 20 (and that was a nasty hill) got him!

And the finish was coming up! We passed the Red Lion hotel on the way to the finish, and Reggie and Tom and Krysta were before the finish line. I got a pic from Reggie, then went the rest of the way.