2018 Dipsea

108th Dipsea

June 10, 2018

Both Chris Lundy and Alex Varner produced brilliant, historic efforts, and finished 1-2. Lundy claimed her seventh women’s Best Time award—no other woman has won more than four--and became, at age 47, the oldest, male or female, ever to win that prestigious honor. Varner tied one of the Dipsea’s most treasured records by earning an eighth Time trophy. But only one could be first to the finish line and, for the second year in a row, the order was Lundy, then Varner. Curiously, in the first 104 Dipsea races, never had two runners finished 1-2, in the same order, in consecutive years. It finally happened in 2015-16, when Matias Saari was twice runner-up to Brian Pilcher, then immediately again in 2017-18.

Prognosticators diverged in naming pre-race favorites, with, oddly, four of the previous year’s top eight finishers not returning. Three-time champion Pilcher, who likely would have been favored, was denied entry after submitting his application after the deadline. This was the first year of a new rule that ended an unwritten courtesy of admitting past champions late.

Race morning conditions were excellent, a day after blustery winds and a day before arrival of a heat wave. As in 2017, Jamie Rivers, in the first start group, led through the early checkpoints. But, at 67, Rivers had “maxed” out on her head start, stuck again at 25 minutes. She lost her lead to another two-time winner, Diana Fitzpatrick, before Cardiac.

Fitzpatrick, enjoying two added head start minutes from 2017 (one from dropping her 2014 Winner’s Penalty), held the lead until passed by Lundy in Steep Ravine. (This always treacherous section was in worse condition than at any time in recent memory, though State Park officials made critical repairs immediately before the Race.) When Varner passed Fitzpatrick, she conveyed the news that Lundy was still ahead. (He replied, “damn it.”) Varner whittled away, even on the final straightway when Lundy broke the tape. 

Lundy’s chances had appeared bleak only months earlier. In 2017, she tore a ligament as she leaped over the stile onto Highway 1. The injury required surgery and Lundy was unable to run for six months. She also lost a minute to the Winner’s Penalty. But, at age 47, she managed to cut a massive two minutes, 32 seconds from her winning 2017 time. (“I have a great physical therapist,” Lundy said after.) Another honor, the Women’s Time Trophy, was secured soon after when Clara Peterson (8 handicap minutes) crossed the finish line three seconds too late.

Varner sliced an almost identical amount of time from 2017 as Lundy, 2 minutes, 37 seconds. So, at the finish line, he was 15 seconds back instead of the 20 in the previous year. Though he had trained hard for the win, Varner took solace in his epic, record-tying 8th Best Time trophy. Mason Hartwell’s old record of seven had stood for 73 years, until Mike McManus eclipsed it in 2000. Like Varner, McManus never won. Hartwell won once (in 1917). Varner dedicated his race to his former coach, Linda Broderick Gill, the 1995 women’s time winner who succumbed to a brain tumor earlier in the year.

Mark Tatum, injured in 2017 after a seventh place finish the year before, crossed third. Just seven seconds behind was fellow Coloradan Heath Hibbard. Six days later, Hibbard would win the DSE Walt Stack Double Dipsea by more than 11 minutes, with other black shirt winners Jeffrey Stern and Sissel Berntsen-Heber second and third. 

Just two more seconds back of Hibbard was two-time winner Diana Fitzpatrick. She was given the nod for fifth place in a photo finish with first time Invitational racer Gary Gellin. (It was so close that the chip time placing was reversed upon examination of the videotape. The two-second gap shown in the official results is overstated.)

Joannie Siegler, winner of the Runner Section in 2017, improved more than two minutes in Invitational and finished 13th. Cliff Lentz (8th), Jamie Rivers (20th) and John Litzenberg III (26th) all took home their 19th black shirts. For Jamie, it was a mixed result. She extended her record for black shirts by a woman but missed out on a seeming certain Family Trophy when husband Roy Rivers, the 2008 winner, collapsed late in the race. Only one scratch runner, John Lawson, 30th earned a shirt.

Extremely tight was the battle for the 35th and last black shirt as Joseph Biehl, a past High School Trophy winner, just nipped Alan Reynolds. Biehl would also have missed out had not George Torgun, a two-time shirt winner several places ahead, suddenly wilted yards from the finish and was escorted to the medical tent.

--Elena Shemyakina (50th) and Mikhail Shemyakin (46th) became the first mother-son winners of the Alan Beardall Trophy since the award was inaugurated in 1977. Husband/dad Alexander Shemyakin finished 216th. 

--Remarkable performances came out of the Runner Section. Benjamin Stout ran 52:32 (scratch) the third fastest time of anyone on Race day, behind only Varner and Gus Gibbs. But Jack McAfee ran the fifth fastest time, 53:07 and also had one head start minute, so won the Runner Section.

--There was a disturbing scene near the end when a runner violently shoved another out of the finish lane and to the ground (temporarily knocking out some timing equipment in the process). The offending runner was disqualified.

--Wolfgang Zech, who extended his consecutive finish streak that dates from the 1970s, received the Jack Kirk Trophy.

--Robb Briggs, who has run the Race 22 times and manages the www.dipsea.org website was honored with the Red Tailed Hawk Trophy.

--The Norman Bright Trophy went to 2012 champion Hans Schmid, 78. Injured in a track workout earlier in the week, Schmid started anyhow. Within 100 yards, he was forced to walk, and did so the rest of the way, taking 2 hours, 27 minutes. That was 68 minutes slower than in 2017, when Schmid had extended his record as the oldest black shirt winner.

--Faring even worse was another Dipsea legend, Russ Kiernan, age 80. He struggled early but somehow made it to Cardiac, where concerned officials made him sign a waiver to continue. He signed and went on, only to collapse. Kiernan was carried to Pantoll for medical evaluation, failing to finish for the first time in 49 starts. Brad Bryon, whose 22 black shirts trails only Kiernan (30) and Steve Stephens (23), also had to drop out. In all, there were six ambulance evacuations, plus one by helicopter.

--At the Dipsea Foundation dinner Friday (June 8), $37,000 in scholarships was presented to six high school seniors. A new one honored Linda Broderick Gill and went to Shannon McKillip-Herr, who then went on to win the girls High School Trophy. The other scholarship winners were Wyatt Miceli (who finished 10th in 2014), Julian LaPelch (a best of 12th in 2013), Belen Buckley, Gary Griffis, and Anais Nagle.

--Also at the Dinner, Peggy Smyth, on the 30th anniversary of her historic 55:47, still the fastest women’s Dipsea time ever, was inducted into the Race’s Hall of Fame. She became the 33rd member.

--A joyous Centennial celebration of the first Women’s Dipsea Hike was held April 21, 2018, exactly 100 years to the day after the first of those five pioneering Hikes. Entries were limited to 500 women, who each received hand-inked, cloth bib numbers, as in 1918. Many wore period costume. The event was clearly billed as not a race and most everyone walked, with no results recorded. Barbara “Bobby” Van Meurs, the 89-year-old daughter of the 1918 Hike winner Edith Hickman, was the official starter. There was a luncheon at the Stinson Beach Community Center.

--In the 2017 Quadruple Dipsea (November 25), Alex Ho ran 4:24:38 to win by nearly eight minutes. On the women’s side, Penny MacPhail was first, by just over a minute, in 5:31:25.

1. Chris Lundy (age 47), Sausalito, 58:36 actual time (11 minute handicap), 15 second margin/fastest woman

2. Alex Varner (32), San Rafael, 48:51 (1hc), fastest time

3. Mark Tatum (58), Colorado Springs, CO, 1:00:21 (11hc)

4. Heath Hibbard (65), Montrose, CO, 1:05:28 (16hc)

5. Diana Fitzpatrick (60), Larkspur, 1:09:30 (20hc)

6. Gary Gellin (49), Mill Valley, 54:32 (5hc)

7. Sissel Berntsen-Heber, Boca Raton, FL, 1:04:53 (15hc)

8. Cliff Lentz (53), Brisbane, 57:00 (7hc)

9. Gus Gibbs (32), Boise, ID, 51:39 (1hc) 2nd fastest time

10. Clara Peterson (34), Corte Madera, 58:39 (8hc) 2nd fastest woman

11. Wayne Best (50), San Rafael, 56:41 (6hc)

12. Darrin Banks (52), Berkeley, 58:19 (7hc)

13. Joannie Siegler (61), Davis, 1:11:28 (20hc)

14. Lyle Rumon (15), San Rafael, 55:46 (4hc) 1st HS

15. Dominic Vogl (31), Novato, 52:51 (1hc)

16. John Gardiner (45), Rancho Santa Margarita, 56:07 (4hc)

17. Tyler Hansen (37), Santa Barbara, 53:21 (1hc)

18. Jeffrey Stern (31), Mill Valley, 53:23 (1hc)

19. Daniel Kono (49), Berkeley, 57:25 (5hc)

20. Jamie Rivers (67), Mill Valley, 1:17:35 (25hc)

21. Chuck Smead (66), Mosca, CO, 1:09:39 (17hc)

22. Wes Thurman (46), Colorado Springs, CO, 56:45 (4hc)

23. Sarah Tabbutt (59), Mill Valley, 1:11:56 (19hc)

24. Jared Barrilleaux (33), Petaluma, 54:15 (1hc)

25. Roy Kissin (61), San Francisco, 1:06:18 (13hc)

26. John Litzenberg III (48), Glen Ellen, 58:19 (5hc)

27. Paul Law (16), Mill Valley, 56:34 (3hc)

28. Rebecca Wheeler (28), Tiburon, 1:01:40 (8hc)

29. Fiona Cundy (31), Berkeley, 1:01:41 (8hc)

30. John Lawson (23), Forest Knolls, 53:44 (scratch)

31. Corey Baxter (35), Fairfield, 54:53 (1hc)

32. Marina Glaus (30), San Jose, 1:01:57 (8hc)

33. Doug Steedman (63), San Francisco, 1:09:05 (15hc)

34. Loren Newman (31), Napa, 55:10 (1hc)

35. Joseph Biehl (18), Juniper Hills, 55:19 (1hc)

36. Alan Reynolds (54), South Lake Tahoe, 1:02:20 (8hc)

37. Katie Fast (45), Mill Valley, 1:06:27 (12hc)

38. Tyler Harwood (25), Petaluma, 54:34 (scratch)

39. Benjamin Stern (26), Petaluma, 54:35 (scratch)

40. Craig Miller (56), Mill Valley, 1:03:36 (9hc)

41. John Hudson (55), Mill Valley, 1:02:46 (8hc)

42. Stephen Donahue (40), Mill Valley, 56:52 (2)

43. Lucas Agricola (36), Rancho Santa Margarita, 55:54 (1hc)

44. Scott Dazey (55), San Diego, 1:03:19 (8hc)

45. Nate Brennand (25), San Francisco, 55:27 (scratch)

46. Mikhail Shemyakin (35), Mill Valley, 56:54 (1hc)

47. Jennifer Foster (44), Mill Valley, 1:06:57 (11hc)

48. Sid Bagga (20), Orinda, 56:09 (scratch)

49. Camron Shahmirzadi (28), 56:10 (scratch)

50. Elena Shemyakina, Geneva, IL, 1:15:19 (19hc)

--170. Shannon McKillop-Herr, San Anselmo, 1:12:11 (9hc) 1st woman HS

1,415 finishers; sunny with mild temperatures

Team: Pelican Inn Track Club; Varner, Gellin, Lentz. Gibbs, Gardiner

WOMEN’S DIPSEA HIKE CENTENNIAL, APRIL 21, 2018

On April 21, 1918, the inaugural Women’s Dipsea Hike drew 307 entrants. The 14th Dipsea Race, held five months later, had 80 finishers (all men; women were not officially admitted until 1971) and there were never more than 300 finishers until 1966. Though called a “hike” to bypass the Amateur Athletic Union’s national ban on women participating in distance races, it was a bona fide race with winner Edith Hickman’s time of 1:18:48 achievable only by fast running. Four additional Hikes were held with Mill Valley’s Emma Reiman, later selected as a charter member of the Dipsea Hall of Fame, winning twice with a best of 1:12:06. The Hikes, staged ten years before women were first allowed to run track in the Olympic Games (in 1928, with the 1500 meters not added until 1972 and the marathon in 1984) were truly pioneering events in the still evolving battle for equality for women in sports, and well beyond. 

But, bowing to cries that such strenuous efforts were dangerous to women’s reproductive organs, and that women’s distance running was somehow unseemly, the Hikes were cancelled after 1922. On Saturday morning, April 21, 2018, the exact 100th anniversary of the first Hike, the Dipsea Race Committee, in association with One Tam, will stage a commemorative Centennial celebration. Five hundred women—the limit set by land managers—will run and walk the full 7.2 miles of the Dipsea Trail from Mill Valley to Stinson Beach. After will be a lunch at the Stinson Beach Community Center with featured speakers including Joan Ullyot, who won a Dipsea Race black shirt in 1972 and whose book “Women’s Running” helped popularize the sport, and Rita Liberti, a college professor who wrote her graduate dissertation on the Women’s Hikes.

Entry to the Centennial Hike and to the luncheon will open in January; check the Dipsea Race website, www.dipsea.org. No same day registration will be permitted. All entrants will wear a hand-drawn, cloth bib number, in the style of the original Hikes, and receive either a commemorative t-shirt or head scarf. Period dress is encouraged, and prizes will be awarded for the most authentic attire.

All participants begin together (no handicapping) at 9 a.m. in Mill Valley’s Old Mill Park, .3 miles up Throckmorton Avenue from downtown. Participants may run or walk as they choose but must stay on the Dipsea Trail (no shortcuts whatsoever) and the event is non-competitive, with no finish prizes or recording of finishing order. After, everyone is welcome to enjoy One Tam’s Earth Day weekend festivities at Stinson Beach. Due to space considerations at the Stinson Beach Community Center, the lunch there is limited to 150 (men OK) and requires a separate entry form and fee. Return shuttle bus rides to Mill Valley will be offered on a first-come basis.

The 75th anniversary of the Women’s Hikes was celebrated in 1993 and two participants attended. The last Hike survivor, Helen Signorio Stratta, died in 2009 at age 107. Hike descendants are especially encouraged to participate. Indeed, Barbara Van Meurs, the daughter of 1918 winner Edith Hickman, will serve as honorary starter, assisted by her own daughter and granddaughter.

107th Dipsea, 2017

107th Dipsea

June 11, 2017

While there is a certain cachet to being “the best Dipsea racer never to have won,” most runners would trade the title for a victory. Jack Kirk once held the honor, compiling a brilliant record but going 20 years before his first win. Russ Kiernan then assumed the mantle, recording 16 top-ten finishes before the first (n 1998) of ultimately three wins. Mike McManus won eight Best Time Awards through 2000 but has yet to break the tape. Chris Lundy and Alex Varner then moved to the fore, both owning six Best Time trophies without a win. Lundy also had three runner-up finishes. On June 11, Lundy exited the “never to have won” ranks when she came from behind late to win. Arriving second was Varner.

Varner, enjoying his first head start minute, Lundy and Matias Saari, runner-up the two previous years, became the pre-race favorites when two-time defending champion Brian Pilcher did not enter due to injury. But it looked like a different two-time winner, Jamie (Berns) Rivers, would steal the show. At age 66, Rivers finally started in the first, maximum 25-minute head start group. She led at every checkpoint, by more than three minutes atop Cardiac. She continued solo in front down Steep Ravine, then past White Gate. But Lundy, with 12 head start minutes, finally went by at the “Door #1” shortcut off Panoramic Highway. Varner too passed Rivers, but not Lundy, who won by 20 seconds. Her actual running time was 1:01:09. (After, Lundy learned she had suffered a left leg anterior cruciate ligament injury during the race and underwent surgery on June 30. She is noticeably wincing upon descending the Stile onto Highway 1.)

Lundy, 46, became a rarity in recent Dipsea history, a winner who had achieved national class status as an open (as opposed to age group) runner. In some ways, the last such winner was Darryl Beardall, back in 1978. Lundy ran at Penn, then compiled a brilliant career, not yet over, in mountain racing, where she represented the United States in several world championships. She is a veterinarian, lives in Sausalito and is a long-time member of the all-women Impala Racing Team.

Lundy won her first women’s time title in 1999, when she clocked a 56:05 and finished second overall. The mark remains the third fastest women’s time ever. Lundy added time trophies in 2006, 2010, 2012 (also second place), 2013 (again runner-up, just four seconds behind winner Diana Fitzpatrick) and 2015. Her six is two more than any other woman. Lundy sat out the 2016 Dipsea after undergoing left hamstring surgery.

Varner, finally leaving the scratch group upon turning 31, made a gallant effort, passing Saari surprisingly early, at Cardiac. His 50:29 won him a seventh Best Time trophy (the previous six had been consecutive, among the greatest feats in Dipsea history). Varner’s time was 23 seconds faster than in 2016, but slowest among his seven winning efforts. Varner’s seven wins ties Mason Hartwell, one behind Mike McManus’s record of eight.

Jamie Rivers charmed the awards ceremony crowd by describing what it was like to be so alone during the Dipsea Race. She did earn a major prize, the Alan Beardall Family trophy, with husband Roy (10th).

Saari had again won the Equinox Marathon in Fairbanks in September; he wrote a book on the history of that race in 2016. But he slowed 3:08 from his Dipsea runner-up effort of last year and had to settle for fourth. Slower times, despite seemingly ideal chilly running weather, seemed the norm. Last year’s third placer, Heath Hibbard, also slowed over three minutes and ended up ninth. The 2016 winner of black shirt #35, Sarah Tabbutt, ran nearly two minutes slower, yet now finished 34th. Lundy’s winning clock time (actual time less head start) was 2:41 slower than Pilcher’s last year.

--Winning the High School trophy was Marin Catholic freshman Lyle Rumon, 21st. He got a “high-five” from one of his coaches there, Diana Fitzpatrick, when she came up for her black shirt. There was some controversy over the female high school trophy. Vanessa Miller, 13, finished 36th, nearly 200 places ahead of the winner, Quinn Lehmkuhl. But Miller was only to enter high school in the fall, so ruled ineligible for the prize.

--Former winner Hans Schmid turned in arguably the most astonishing performance of the day, winning a black shirt (#35) at the age of 77. That is three years beyond where men’s head starts cease to increase (age 74).

--The Pelican Inn Track Club—the name derived from the Muir Beach pub members patronize after evening runs—dominated the team competition. Their top five finishers arrived places 2-6.

--Joannie Siegler, 60, a decorated age group runner out of Davis, won the Runner Section in a tight finish. She recorded an actual time of 1:13:52 (20hc), reaching the finish one place, and less than five seconds, ahead of runner up Tyler Hansen (54:57, 1hc).

--Bob Bunnell, who completed his 50th Dipsea race day, was inducted into the Dipsea Race Hall of Fame as the 32nd member. Bunnell ran his first Dipsea in 1965. In 1967, he finished second (five seconds behind winner Jack Kirk), winning both the High School and Best Time trophies. He won a second Time trophy in 1976. Both his wife Derry and son Reed have also won black shirts.  

--Ambrose (Amby) Burfoot became the first Boston Marathon winner (1968) ever to race in the Dipsea. Burfoot had entered in the centennial year of 2010 but bowed out with an injury. Though he had hopes for a black shirt, a course reconnaissance four days before the race—he lives in Connecticut--convinced Burfoot to aim simply for a safe finish. He ended up 541st in Invitational, with the 1,063rd fastest time overall (1:37:31, 21hc).

--Dipsea Foundation scholarships were awarded to Joseph Biehl (Desert Christian HS), Sage Mace (Tamiscal), Annika Levaggi (Tamalpais), Elizabeth Labeewu-Anderson (Tamalpais) and Zoe Hebermann (Branson).

--The Jack Kirk Dipsea Demon trophy was won by Christie Patterson Pastalka, still racing 30 years after she won the Dipsea. The Norman Bright Award was presented to Don Makela, who finished 81st just three years after cardiac artery replacement surgery. And the Red Tailed Hawk trophy went to retiring start line announcer Bob Cullinan. 

--At the awards ceremony, mention was made was made of a fundraising effort to save Jack Kirk’s beloved 400-acre Mariposa property from development. Kirk died without a will or immediate relatives. The contact is sierrafoothill.org. There was also an announcement of the planned 100th anniversary celebration of the first Dipsea Women’s Hike, to be held April 21, 2018. Bobby Van Meurs, daughter of the 1918 Hike winner Edith Hickman, attended the Dipsea Foundation dinner along with her own daughter.

--For the first time, drones (acquired by the Dipsea Committee) were used in the Race. Drone footage dramatically enhanced Tim Amyx’s film of the event.

--On June 17, Jake Schmitt won DSE Double Dipsea by nearly 12 minutes. He ran 1:48:24 (scratch), the only runner among 689 finishers to break two hours. Katie Fast was swiftest female with her 2:24:27 and finished third overall.

--Shortly after the Double Dipsea, work began on replacing the middle/second flight of the Dipsea Steps in Mill Valley. The project was largely funded, as had replacement of the first and third flights, by the Dipsea Foundation through individual purchases of step plaques.

1. Chris Lundy (46), Sausalito, 1:01:09 (12hc), [:20 margin}  2nd fastest woman

2. Alex Varner (31), San Rafael, 50:29 (1hc)  fastest time

3. Jamie Rivers (66), Mill Valley, 1:15:08 (25)

4. Matias Saari (46), Anchorage, AK, 54:34 (4)

5. Galen Burrell (37), Louisville, CO, 51:55 (1)  2nd fastest time

6. Gus Gibbs (31), Boise, ID, 52:09 (1)

7. Andy Ames (54), Boulder, CO, 59:10 (8)

8. Clay Bullwinkel (60), Portola Valley, 1:03:18 (12)

9. Heath Hibbard (64), Montrose, CO, 1:06:21 (15)

10. Roy Rivers (60), Mill Valley, 1:03:37 (12)

11. Fiona Cundy (30), Oakland, 59:55 (8)  fastest woman

12. Benjamin Stern (25), Petaluma, 51:58 (scratch)

13. Diana Fitzpatrick (59), Larkspur, 1:10:02 (18)

14. Bradford Bryon (59), Penngrove, 1:03:03 (11)

15. Sissel Berntsen-Heber (53), Boca Raton, FL, 1:07:16 (15)

16. Cliff Lentz (52), Brisbane, 59:20 (7)

17. Steve Leffers (56), Fort Wayne, IN, 1:01:43 (9)

18. Andrew Cobourn (23), Minden, NV, 52:56 (scratch)

19. Josh Garrett (34), Pacific Palisades, 53:57 (1)

20. Steven Iglehart (25), San Francisco, 53:00 (scratch)

21. Lyle Rumon (14), San Rafael, 58:03 (5)  first high school

22. Daniel Kono (48), Berkeley, 58:04 (5)

23. Jared Barrilleaux (32), Petaluma, 54:06 (1)

24. Jamey Gifford (39), Hillsborough, 55:07 (2)

25. Doug Steedman (62), San Francisco, 1:07:09 (14)

26. Mark Tatum (57), Colorado Springs, CO, 1:03:14 (10)

27. John Hudson (54), Mill Valley, 1:01:19 (8)

28. Stephen Donahue (39), Mill Valley, 55:21 (2)

29. Wes Thurman (45), Colorado Springs, CO, 57:26 (4)

30. Bradley O’Brien (55), Novato, 1:01:37 (8)

31. John Litzenberg III (47), Glen Ellen, 57:43 (4)

32. Joshua Lerner (42), San Francisco, 56:55 (3)

33. Jerry Edelbrock (68), Corte Madera, 1:13:12 (19)

34. Sarah Tabbutt (58), Mill Valley, 1:12:13 (18)

35. Hans Schmid (77), Greenbrae, 1:19:28 (25)

36. Vanessa Miller (13), San Francisco, 1:05:42 (11)

37. Chris Banks (39), Kensington, 56:43 (2)

38. Ryan Matz (30), Thornton, NH, 54:46 (scratch)

39. Corey Baxter (34), Fairfield, 55:46 (1)

40. Clara Peterson (33), Corte Madera, 1:02:55 (8)

41. John Gardiner (44), Rancho Santa Margarita, 58:21 (3)

42. Craig Robinson (38), Mountain View, 57:29 (2)

43. Mikhail Shemyakin (34), San Francisco, 56:34 (1)

44. Kurt Ryan (59), San Anselmo, 1:06:52 (11)

45. Jennifer Foster (43), Mill Valley, 1:05:58 (10)

46. Don Lindsey (56), Petaluma, 1:05:01 (9)

47. Kristen McCarthy (43), Mill Valley, 1:06:16 (10)

48. John Lawson (22), Forest Knolls, 56:18 (scratch)

49. Richard Morrissey (56), Menlo Park, 1:05:24 (9)

50. Jeffrey Stern (30), Mill Valley, 56:33 (scratch)

--234. Quinn Lehmkuhl (17), Carnelian Bay, 1:14:13 (9)  first high school female

Team Pelican Inn Track Club: Varner, Jamie Rivers, Saari, Burrell, Gibbs

1,411 finishers; cool throughout, rain on Thursday before Race

CARL JENSEN

by Barry Spitz

Carl Jensen, the last runner, 50 years ago, to win Marin’s fabled Dipsea Race without a head start, died on Tuesday (January 17). The cause was a fast moving lung infection. The Kentfield resident was 72 and is survived by daughter Karissa Moreno and longtime friend Kathy Swiston.

Jensen, born in Pennsylvania, came to Novato as an infant with parents Milt and Marge. He attended local schools, including Marion (where he first met Kathy) and Olive. He was a member of the first full four-year class at new Novato High School, where he ran track and cross-country. He ran his first Dipsea in 1962, finishing 18th (one spot ahead of the legendary Jack Kirk). In 1963, Jensen ran fifty-three minutes, 28 seconds and, with five head start minutes, placed sixth.

In 1964, running for the Marin Athletic Club, of which he would later become president, Jensen improved his Dipsea time to 50:45. But without any head start, he wound up 38th.

In 1965, the Dipsea Race adopted likely its biggest change ever. Since the first Dipsea in 1905, head starts had been assigned individually, based on a (hopefully) impartial assessment of each runner’s ability. But the race was suddenly drawing too many entrants, from an expanding running community, to keep that system practical. So head starts became based solely on age, with the youngest and oldest runners starting first. (In 1971, when women were officially admitted, gender also became a factor.) Handicapping was crude in the inaugural year; the first three finishers each had 15 head start minutes and the next 17 were all “scratch” (no head start).

Jensen, then running for the College of Marin (he would be inducted into the school’s Hall of Fame in 2015) was in peak form in 1966. He logged 150 hilly miles a week, many on summer nights over the Dipsea Trail from Mill Valley to Stinson Beach. He won the Ocean to Bay Marathon, finished second in the national 50-kilometer championship and would be named the Pacific Association’s 1966 Runner of the Year. Winning the Dipsea was his focus.

“Carl trained like a mad-man," says Kentfield’s Bob Bunnell, a friend who would finish second from scratch in 1967. "Workouts at 5:45 a.m. and again at 5 p.m. One of his favorite training runs was a 15-mile loop in Novato in which he would run 5 miles barefoot on railroad tracks in the middle of the run. This was typical of Carl's thought patterns - the tougher the better."

Jensen found himself in a race-long duel in ’66 with high school star Will Stephens and Ray Hughes, who had run the fastest actual time in the ’65 Dipsea. Jensen used his intimate course knowledge and fearless downhill running ability to prevail. His 48:57 brought him to the tape first, ten seconds over Stephens, 28 ahead of Hughes. Not much was made of Jensen winning from scratch; it had happened four times previously, as recently as 1962. But in the half century since, no scratch runner has been able to duplicate Jensen’s win.

But Jensen’s life was about to turn, for the worse. The Vietnam War was raging and Jensen was drafted that December. He applied to join the Army’s elite running team, which would have spared him combat, but did not hear back in time. A week before the 1967 Dipsea Race, Jensen stepped on a land mine while leading his platoon in Vietnam. He suffered more than 100 fragment wounds, requiring nearly 10 pints of blood transfusions and some 1,000 stitches. He spent 17 months in the hospital.

Jensen returned to Marin, first to Fairfax, then Kentfield. He earned a degree from San Francisco State University. He worked for Big Brothers Big Sisters and the YMCA, including leading backpack trips for kids in the Sierras. He started his own landscaping business. He coached at Novato High; one of his runners, Ron Elijah, went on to record the two fastest times in Dipsea history. He got heavily involved in veterans issues.

Finally, Jensen began to run again. In 1981, encouraged by a friend, Bert Botta, and running beside then IJ sports editor Ward Bushee, Jensen made an emotional return to the Dipsea. His time was 1:01:03 and, with three handicap minutes, he finished 110th. In 2007, Jensen was selected into the Dipsea Race Hall of Fame.

The death of wife Susan in 2005 devastated Jensen. He became depressed and I was among those he began calling frequently, sometimes to talk, sometimes simply to read me a poem. With other health issues, he was forced to stop working.

“Over the last four years or so, Carl was feeling great, doing exactly what he wanted to do,” says Kathy. “We took trips, he read a lot, mostly military history; he was happy.” But what first seemed a simple head cold quickly led to a hospital visit, and his death. 

Per Jensen’s request, there will be no funeral. A memorial service is being planned for early spring.

“Old Dipsea Runners Never Die, They Just Reach the 672nd Step”

106th DIPSEA

June 12, 2016

The stage was set for 2016 a full year earlier, right at the finish of the 2015 race. Brian Pilcher had won in 2015 by 1:58 over runner-up Matias Saari. Both Pilcher and Saari knew immediately that, in a potential rematch one year later, Pilcher’s Winners Penalty would cost him one head start minute, while Saari would gain a minute for turning 45. Thus, the two were immediately installed as favorites (and remained so all year) with a close battle anticipated. When the other top contender, Chris Lundy, did not enter due to injury, the two-man battle for first was sealed.

Pilcher, mulling another racing option, ended up registering well after the published deadline, a privilege, of unknown origin granted to past champions. Ironically, the Dipsea Committee had voted in February to end this privilege but decided not to apply the change until the 2017 race.

Race morning was cool and overcast, making for ideal, fast racing conditions. Hans Schmid, the 2012 champion, now 76, went off with the first (25 minute head start) group and led at the early checkpoints of Windy Gap, Muir Woods and Cardiac. (He would finish 14th extending his own record as the oldest black shirt winner.) Pilcher, now 59, set off with the 10-minute group.

“I felt a bit off but when I saw that my splits were good—16 minutes to the (Redwood) creek, 27-1/2 minutes to Halfway Rock, 37 minutes to Cardiac--I realized things were actually okay,” Pilcher said at the awards ceremony.  “When I passed Diana (Fitzpatrick, winner in 2013 and 2014), Jamie (Rivers, the 2007 and 2011 champ) and Hans sooner than I expected, I started thinking I might win. Then, on an easy, flat path, I just fell into the bushes. By the time I picked myself up, I lost maybe 20 seconds. I was then worried about when Matias might come.”

Pilcher actually had little reason for concern. His actual time of 56:28 was 28 seconds faster than in 2015 while Saari slowed 32 seconds. So Pilcher’s winning margin was a comfortable 58 seconds. With his wins in 2009 and 2015, he became only the fifth runner with more than two titles (joining Russ Kiernan and Melody-Anne Schultz, behind Shirley Matson with four and Sal Vasquez with seven).

Saari, again runner-up, just completed a book on the venerable Equinox Marathon in Fairbanks (a race he would win again in September) Third placer Heath Hibbard moved up two notches from 2015. But, barring a change, he will not add a head start minute in 2017. Darrin Banks, fourth, was coached in high school by Joe King, a two-time Dipsea champion. King, who just celebrated his 90th birthday and is the oldest living winner, was on hand to watch. Rickey Gates, fifth, the defending Best Time winner, slowed 35 seconds and now had the second fastest time. Best Time honors now went to Gus Gibbs (9th), who ran 49:23, ten seconds swifter than in 2015.

For the first time since 1977, no woman finished among the first ten, with Jamie Rivers (11th) and 2015 Runner Section winner Fiona Cundy (12th) leading the way. Indeed, the previous worst finish for the first woman since 1977 was sixth place. Cundy and Clara Peterson (16th) were the only women breaking one hour.

Hans Schmid extended his own record as oldest black shirt winner, finishing 14th at age 76.

Joseph Biehl, a student at Desert Christian High in Lancaster, CA, won the high school trophy (male) and finished 23rd overall. But those compiling the awards list had to scroll down to place 346 to find the female high school trophy winner, Anna Levaggi of Tamalpais H.S.

Corey Baxter, 33, of Fairfax, was first finisher from the Runner section. He arrived 581st overall with an actual time of 54:20 (1hc). He was 15 seconds ahead of Clay Bullwinkel.

--Continuing recent upward trends, an all-time high of six of the first nine finishers presently live outside California, and six scratch runners won black shirts. 

--The plank carrying the Dipsea Trail across Redwood Creek in Muir Woods was not put into place until the second week of May, fortifying calls to build a permanent, year-round bridge.

--Jerry Hauke, the towering figure of the Dipsea Race over the past 50 years, died in his sleep on April 14, age 80. Hauke directed the Dipsea Race for more than 30 years, then remained its key advisor. Over the years, Hauke beat back repeated government efforts to alter, diminish, even kill, the Dipsea Race. He, with his sons, personally built the start of the unpaved Dipsea Trail (west of Panoramic Highway) through the section now known as Hauke Hollow. A week before Hauke died, the Dipsea Committee had voted to present him the Dipsea Demon Award. One of his sons, Randy Hauke, accepted it on Jerry’s behalf.

--Also passing away, on August 20, was Kay Willoughby, the 1988 winner, of a neurological disease.  She was 70.

--Edda Stickle, the Race Director for the past 16 years, was inducted into the Dipsea Race Hall of Fame as its 31st member.

--Bruce Linscott, in charge of race day equipment since 2004, was presented with the Red Tail Hawk Award. Steve Stevens, the second runner to earn 20 black shirts (after Russ Kiernan), received the Norman Bright Award.

--Dipsea Foundation scholarships were awarded to Juan Martinez (Armijo HS), Brock Albee (Petaluma HS), Gabriel Carmel (Tamalpais HS), Rachel Bordes (Redwood HS) and Aidan Linscott (The Branson School).

1. Brian Pilcher (59), Kentfield, 56:28 (10 minute handicap), :58 victory margin

2. Matias Saari (45), Anchorage, AK, 51:26 (4hc)

3. Heath Hibbard (63), Montrose, CO, 1:03:11) (15hc)

4. Darrin Banks (50), Berkeley, 54:21 (6hc)

5. Rickey Gates (35), Madison, WI, 49:46 (1hc)  2nd fastest time

6. Galen Burrell (36), Boulder, CO, 49:57 (1hc)

7. Mark Tatum (56), Colorado Springs, CO, 58:05 (9hc)

8. Bradford Bryon (58), Penngrove, 1:00:17 (11hc)

9. Gus Gibbs (30), Ketchum, ID, 49:23 (scratch)  fastest time

10. Alan Reynolds (52), Sausalito, 56:24 (7hc)

11. Jamie Rivers (65), Mill Valley, 1:14:16 (24hc)

12. Fiona Cundy (29), Oakland, 58:44 (8hc)  fastest woman

13. Alex Varner (30), San Rafael, 50:52 (scratch)

14. Hans Schmid (76), Greenbrae, 1:15:55 (25hc)

15. Chris Knorzer (47), Rocklin, 55:05 (4hc)

16. Clara Peterson (32), Corte Madera, 59:15 (8hc)  2nd fastest woman

17. Thomas Rosencrantz (50), Mill Valley, 57:19 (6hc)

18. George Torgun (38), Berkeley, 53:26 (2hc)

19. Ryan Matz (29), Ellensburg, WA, 51:39 (scratch)

20. Jerry Edelbrock (67), Corte Madera, 1:09:51 (18)

21. Jared Barrilleaux (31), Petaluma, 52:52 (1hc)

22. Diana Fitzpatrick (58), Larkspur, 1:07:57 (16hc)

23. Joseph Biehl (16), Juniper Hills, 55:05 (3hc)  first high school

24. Craig Miller (54), Mill Valley, 1:00:18 (8hc)

25. Sissel Bernsten-Heber (52), Boca Raton, FL, 1:05:26 (14hc)

26. Benjamin Stern (24), Petaluma, 52:28 (scratch)

27. Bob Murphy (63), Spokane, WA, 1:07:45 (15hc)

28. Daniel Milechman (23), Mill Valley, 52:47 (scratch)

29. Jamey Gifford (38), Hillsborough, 54:48 (2hc)

30. Peter Callan (18), San Francisco, 53:55 (1hc)

31. Tyler Deniston (25), Concord, 52:55 (scratch)

32. Thomas Taylor (40), Brentwood, 55:08 (2hc)

33. Tim Wallen (52), San Rafael, 1:00:11 (7hc)

34. Edward Breen (34), San Francisco, 54:11 (1hc)

35. Sarah Tabbutt (57), Mill Valley, 1:10:18 (17hc)

36. Chris Banks (38), Kensington, 55:21 (2hc)

37. John Litzenberg III (46), Glen Ellen, 57:25 (4hc)

38. Kristen McCarthy (42), Mill Valley, 1:03:28 (10hc)

39. Kurt Ryan (58), San Anselmo, 1:04:39 (11hc)

40. Andy Ames (53), Boulder, CO, 1:00:43 (7hc)

41. Johnny Rutledge (45), Nicasio, 57:46 (4hc)

42. Elizabeth Shortino (52), San Anselmo, 1:07:48 (14hc)

43. Roy Rivers (59), Mill Valley, 1:05:04 (11hc)

44. Steven Katz (65), Larkspur, 1:10:12 (16hc)

45. John Lawson (21), Forest Knolls, 54:18 (scratch)

46. Mikhail Shemyakin (33), San Francisco, 56:22 (1hc)

47. Sarah Slaymaker (45), Mill Valley, 1:06:30 (12hc)

48. Michael Wolford (58), Jefferson, AR, 1:05:34 (11hc)

49. Stephen Donahue (38), Mill Valley, 56:45 (2hc)

50. Patricia Shore (49), Mill Valley, 1:07:54 (13hc)

--346. Annika Levaggi (17), Mill Valley, 1:15:53 (9hc)  first female high school

1,427 finishers; cool and overcast throughout

Team: Pelican Track Club (Saari, Gates, Burrell, Gibbs, Reynolds)

JERRY HAUKE

by Barry Spitz

Jerry Hauke, the towering figure of the Dipsea Race over the past half-century who died last week at age 80, seemed cast from a Shakespearean tragedy. A  large man with a regal bearing and a prodigious zest for life, food and drink, he could have been any number of the Bard’s kings. He fought his foes—and there were many trying to diminish the Dipsea and even kill it—not with arrows but with the steadfast force of what he believed right. And certainly there was tragedy; he buried three of his six children, and his wife.

Jerome Hauke grew up in Milwaukee, and ran track at Pulaski High School there. At the University of Wisconsin, where he studied civil engineering and was on the boxing team, he met future wife Mary. In 1958, they moved to Mill Valley, where all the children attended local schools.

Jerry worked for CalTrans, and was its chief local engineer during the massive repairs and cleanup on the Bay Bridge and Eastshore Freeway following the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake. He was active in Mill Valley’s civic affairs. Indeed, his work in turning a marsh into a grass field while on the town’s Parks and Recreation Commission was rewarded by the naming of Hauke Park.

After the 1962 Dipsea, which had just 61 finishers, the San Francisco-based South of Market Boys withdrew as organizer and the venerable race (founded in 1905) was in danger of demise. Jerry was a member of the Mill Valley Junior Chamber of Commerce, which decided to take over the race. Dick Sloan was chair the first year, then Hauke, in an era before a formal Dipsea Committee, ran it the next 33 years. (He was also on the board of the Mill Valley Fall Arts Festival and added the popular Dipsea Beer Booth to the event.)

“I am proud to have been a friend and colleague of Jerry’s through our work on the Dipsea Race,” says Jim Weil, one of Hauke’s first helpers from the 1960s. “Jerry did not nibble around the edges of life. He jumped right into the middle of his many civic and outdoor activities, and California is a better place for it.” 

Hauke’s tenure coincided with the national running boom and the Dipsea Race surged in popularity. This led to many, seemingly endless land use conflicts, but Hauke was always up to the task.

In 1966, a home was built at 315 Panoramic Highway directly on the Dipsea Race route. After years of battles—the homeowner erected fences and used dogs and guards to keep runners out, but they crossed anyhow—Hauke got a new section of trail built through adjacent State Park land, a stretch forever known as Hauke Hollow.

In 1976, more than 2,000 racers dangerously jammed the trail, also causing a monstrous backup in Stinson Beach that left hundred of finishers unrecorded and many locals, particular the town’s fire chief, fuming. In response, the County Board of Supervisors (which included Barbara Boxer) voted to kill the race by denying a permit for 1977.

Hauke, a master at gathering influential political allies and a fighter for his beloved Dipsea, responded. He moved the race from late August, the high fire season, to early June. He agreed to a cap on entries (1,500) and split the race into two sections (actually three, but the third group was never needed). And he had racers exit the Dipsea Trail onto Highway 1 (over the infamous stile) instead of Panoramic Highway, to keep the latter clear for emergency vehicles.

It was Hauke who saved, over land manager’s opposition, the shortcuts known as Suicide and the Swoop. He secured an easement from landowner George Leonard that forever preserved the shortcuts over the final mile. And it was Hauke who completed the job of making the entire Dipsea Race route permanently open to the public. Hauke also raced the Dipsea some 15 times—he was a strong downhiller--including in one hour, 15 minutes in 1969.

And there were financial woes, almost sinking the race in the 1980s. The Dipsea Foundation, which Hauke helped create, has now put the race on a solid footing.

In 2000, Jerry’s son Jeff Hauke, a runner and Dipsea Committee member, died of a heart attack. Heartbroken, Jerry immediately stepped down as head of the Dipsea, though he remained a director and its most trusted advisor and valuable resource. In 1994, he was elected as the sixth member of the Dipsea Race Hall of Fame. The race awards a Jerry Hauke “Red Tailed Hawk” trophy for “Leadership, Dedication and Sportsmanship.”

“Jerry was a legend, a champion for the race and a savior for it,” says Dipsea Committee member Dave Albee, who long covered the event for this newspaper. “His dedication and fighting spirit kept the race alive and his giving soul and generosity runs through all the race volunteers to this day.”

Hauke retired with his partner Jean Weese to a ranch in Douglas City (Trinity County), where he continued his love for the outdoors. In 2012, he was named the California Association of Resource Conservation Districts’ “Volunteer of the Year.”   

Jerry was a hero of mine, and a long-time friend. Perhaps my fondest Dipsea memory was a summer evening with him in 1993, when we trudged to the top of Cardiac Hill to determine whether it, or nearby Lone Tree, was actually the course’s highest point. Hauke, who knew surveying, measured while I was “rod man,” holding the pole. As the sun set, he pronounced that Cardiac was five inches higher than Lone Tree. I believe the Dipsea Race would no longer exist were it not for Jerry. He died on the same date, April 14, as his son Jeff.

105th Dipsea

June 14, 2015

Brian Pilcher comfortably won a second title, runner-up Matias Saari showed he is to be reckoned with in the future, and Rickey Gates snapped Alex Varner’s epochal streak of six successive Best Time trophies to highlight the 105th Dipsea Race.

Since his Dipsea win in 2009, Pilcher’s running career had highs and lows. He had to sit out the 2010 Dipsea with an injury, keeping fit riding an Elliptigo, a mobile elliptical bicycle in which he became an investor. In 2014, after hesitating whether to enter at all due to injury, he finished 22nd. But in 2013, Pilcher was named USA Track & Field’s Runner of the Year (age 55-59). He also finished places 3-5-3 in the Dipsea races of 2011-13. 

Pilcher again entered late, a privilege granted past champions, and was then immediately recognized as a favorite. When he passed, earlier than expected, two-time defending champion Diana Fitzpatrick—she started four minutes before him-- Pilcher too thought a second win was possible. Only Hans Schmid, the 75-year-old champion from 2012, remained ahead. Pilcher passed Schmid at Cardiac, again sooner than expected. “I wondered how far Chris Lundy was behind me,” said Pilcher but otherwise then felt confident of victory. Pilcher’s time of 56:56 meant he comfortably ran “under his age” (58), always a rare and remarkable feat. His winning margin of 1:58 was the largest since 2003.   

“The monkey is off my back. After 2009, I thought I could win every year,” Pilcher told the crowd at the awards ceremony.

Runner-up Matias Saari, 44, from Alaska, had tried, without success, to enter previous Dipsea races. This year, he was not only admitted, but passed directly into Invitational on the strength of three wins in Alaska’s Mt. Marathon Race, which is actually steeper and more treacherous (though shorter) than the Dipsea. Saari justified the Race Committee’s decision. After being passed by Best Time winner Gates, Saari outran Gates down Steep Ravine and on to the finish.

“I ran down out of control,” said Saari in an understatement.

Saari is due to gain a head start minute in 2016, while Pilcher is saddled with a winner’s penalty minute.

The day’s great battle was for the Best Time Trophy. Alex Varner had won the award six years in a row, one of the greatest feats in Dipsea history. No one previously had strung more than three in succession. But Varner competed in the IAU World 100 kilometer championship race in France just 15 days before (May 30). His legs still fatigued, Varner slowed 96 seconds from 2014 and was beaten to the finish line (by three seconds) by his training partner, and fellow scratch starter, Gus Gibbs. (Mark McManus, winner of three Best Time trophies, was one place behind, in 10th.) But swiftest of all was Rickey Gates, who had been runner-up both overall and for the Time trophy in his Dipsea debut in 2014. Starting in the one-minute group, Gates knocked 20 seconds off his 2014 effort, his 49:11 winning the Time prize by 22 seconds and good for third place.

Chris Lundy, fourth, slowed 2:37 from 2013, when she was runner-up overall to Fitzpatrick. Still, her 59:23 won Lundy a record fifth woman’s Best Time award. She had previously been tied with Debbie Rudolf and Peggy Smyth with four trophies. Heath Hibbard, a Coloradan who won the age 60-64 division in the 2015 Boston Marathon, finished fifth in his Invitational debut. Another Colorado runner, Andy Ames, finished sixth. That put four non-Californians in the top six, unprecedented in Dipsea history. 

Brad Bryon, 13th, became the third person to won a 20th black shirt (top 35 finish). He joined Russ Kiernan and Steve Stephens in the exclusive club.

Wyatt Miceli, 14, finishing his freshman year at Sir Francis Drake H.S., where he starred on the mountain biking team, finished 16th and won the High School trophy. He also paired with his brother Johnny Lawson to win the Alan Beardall Family Trophy for a second successive year. Lawson, a past High School trophy winner himself and now running for Cal, had the flu but ran anyhow, finishing 53rd. Quinn Lehmkuhl, 15, who just completed her sophomore year at North Tahoe High, won the girls’ High School trophy. She ran 1:11:07 (10hc), finishing 169th.

Hans Schmid, who led much of the way, at one point by three minutes, ended up 17th. At age 75, he became the oldest black shirt winner ever. Schmid was already the oldest overall winner (72).

George Torgun and Michael Broom, both 37, ended up one second apart for black shirts #34 and #35. But then an unprecedented gap of 41 seconds ensued before Lucas Agricola crossed in the dreaded 36th slot.

It was a tough year for women, with only four finishing among the first 40. The highest placed woman with the minimum handicap of eight minutes was only 98th. 

--The coolest conditions in years led to generally faster times and fewer injuries. Indeed, the sun never shone during the Invitational race, nor did it break through at all through the awards ceremony. There was, however, some mud, particularly approaching Cardiac, from a rare, fairly hard June rain four days earlier.

--Sisters Colleen and Sharon Fox, running and volunteering in more than 60 Dipsea races between them, were presented with the Jack Kirk Award.

--Norman Pease, who has run 34 Dipseas and shared his love for the Race with many others, received the Norman Bright Award.

--Billie Post, who ran the Dipsea for 26 years--often among the last finishers but always cheering others--then became a volunteer, was honored with the Red Tail Hawk Award.

--This writer was inducted into the Dipsea Race Hall of Fame as its 30th member. I founded the Hall of Fame in 1993, when I named the first five charter members (Norman Bright, Judge Timothy Fitzpatrick, Jack Kirk, Emma Reiman and Sal Vasquez) before turning over the selection process to the Dipsea Committee.

--Dipsea Foundation college scholarships were awarded to Isabella Amyx, Frank Gerraty, Adam Harwood, Sarah Seltzer and Meghan Tanel.

--For the first time, the Race was viewable live online. UltraSportsLive, with permission of the Dipsea Committee, streamed the event using cameras at Cardiac and the finish line.

--Just six days later, closer than usual, more than 630 runners ran the Double Dipsea. Gary Gellin had an actual time of 1:55:18 and won by 2:52 over Wayne Best. Lisbet Sunshine, 4th, was first female. The fastest actual times were run by Paddy O’Leary (1:54:31) and Caitlin Fitzpatrick (2:19:40).

--In the 2014 Quadruple Dipsea, Chikara Omine ran 4:12:01 to win by 3:02 over Dave Mackey. Caren Spore, 14th, was top female in a time of 5:00:16.

1. Brian Pilcher (58), Kentfield, 56:56 (11 minute handicap), 1:58 victory margin

2. Matias Saari (44), Anchorage, AK, 50:54 (3hc)

3. Rickey Gates (34), Madison, WI, 49:11 (1hc) fastest time

4. Chris Lundy (44), Sausalito, 59:23 (11hc) fastest woman

5. Heath Hibbard (62), Montrose, CO, 1:02:38 (14hc)

6. Andy Ames (52), Boulder, CO, 55:51 (7hc)

7. Alan Reynolds (51), Sausalito, 55:22 (6hc)

8. Gus Gibbs (29), Ketchum, ID, 49:33 (scratch) second fast time

9. Alex Varner (29), San Rafael, 49:36 (scratch)

10. Mark McManus (41), Mill Valley, 52:10 (2hc)

11. Diana Fitzpatrick (57), Larkspur, 1:05:16 (15hc)

12. Darrin Banks (49), Berkeley, 55:17 (5hc)

13. Bradford Bryon (57), Penngrove, 1:00:31 (10hc)

14. Cliff Lentz (50), Brisbane, 56:57 (6hc)

15. Galen Burrell (35), Mill Valley, 52:01 (1hc)

16. Wyatt Miceli (14), Forest Knolls, 56:17 (5hc) first high school

17. Hans Schmid (75), Greenbrae, 1:15:20 (24hc)

18. Ryan Matz (28), Ellensburg, WA, 51:38 (scratch)

19. John Litzenberg III, Glen Ellen, 55:45 (4hc)

20. Jerry Edelbrock, Corte Madera, 1:08:46 (17hc)

21. Thomas Rosencrantz (49), Mill Valley, 56:49 (5hc)

22. Wayne Best (47), San Rafael, 55:56 (4hc)

23. Sissel Berntsen-Heber (51), Boca Raton, FL, 1:04:57 (13hc)

24. Bob Murphy (62), Spokane, WA, 1:06:16 (14hc)

25. Bradley O’Brien (53), Novato, 59:26 (7hc)

26. Kristen McCarthy (41), Mill Valley, 1:02:29 (10hc) second fastest woman

27. Stephen Donahue (37), San Francisco, 53:37 (1hc)

28. Thomas Taylor (39), Brentwood, 54:43 (2hc)

29. Jared Baririlleaux (30), Petaluma, 52:48 (scratch)

30. Wes Thurman (43), Colorado Springs, 55:54 (3hc)

31. Michael Woolford (57), Jefferson, AR, 1:02:57 (10hc)

32. Roy Kissin (58), San Francisco, 1:04:00 (11hc)

33. John Hudson (52), Mill Valley, 1:00:01 (7hc)

34. George Torgun (37), Berkeley, 54:04 (1hc)

35. Michael Broom (37), San Francisco, 54:05 (1hc)

36. Lucas Agricola (33), Sausalito, 54:46 (1hc)

37. Greg Nacco (55), Larkspur, 1:01:47 (8hc)

38. Preston Sitterly (67), Sonoma, 1:11:54 (18hc)

39. John Lundy (52), Penngrove, 1:01:02 (7hc)

40. Victor Ballesteros (45), San Rafael, 58:05 (4hc)

41. Sid Bagga (17), Orinda, 56:08 (2hc)

42. Alastair Lawrence (36), Oakland, 55:14 (1hc)

43. Patricia Shore (48), Mill Valley, 1:06:20 (12hc)

44. Tim Wallen (51), San Rafael, 1:00:33 (6hc)

45. Jennifer Foster (41), Mill Valley, 1:04:44 (10hc)

46. Edward Breen (33), San Francisco, 55:54 (1hc)

47. Steven Katz (64), Larkspur, 1:10:01 (15hc)

48. Sarah Tabbutt (56), Mill Valley, 1:12:11 (17hc)

49. Chris Knorzer (46), Rocklin, 59:16 (4hc)

50. Mark Helmus (61), Davis, 1:08:24 (13hc)

1,419 finishers; overcast and cool throughout

Team: Pelican Track Club; Saari, Gates, Reynolds, Gibbs, Varner