Brady, Clark Star As Runners Outdo Themselves Several Course Records Tumble During Endurance Races At Cda
“RUN2X” reads the personalized Montana license plate on Mark Tarr’s mini-van.
Translated it means, “run to excess.”
And that message could have applied to the entire field at the 18th annual Coeur d’Alene Marathon and Half-Marathon on Sunday morning.
Three course records fell in the two races, which drew 448 marathoners and 715 half-marathoners.
Jennifer Clark of Hayden Lake trimmed 20 minutes off her previous personal best for a 26.2-mile race, as well as 3 seconds off the existing women’s marathon record with a 2-hour, 55-minute, 21-second effort.
“I had my first great race,” the 27-year-old Clark said. “I’ve had some good ones, but never a great one.”
Clark overtook Gayle Jacklin of Post Falls in the 12th mile, then maintained a 6:40 mile pace the rest the way.
“My last 10K (6.2 miles) is my strongest,” Clark said. “I try to go out easy then pick it up.”
Clark was one of 25 marathoners who finished under 3 hours. She placed 14th overall.
The men’s marathon field was paced by Tarr of Columbia Falls, the defending champ, and Mark Brady of Spokane, the 1993 and 1991 winner.
Tarr and Brady ran side by side until just past the 19th mile marker, where the 33-year-old Brady picked up his pace by 10 seconds and took the lead for keeps.
By the 21st mile, Brady led by 200 yards and he stretched the lead to 400 yards one mile later. He finished in 2:30:45, averaging 5:45 per mile.
“I didn’t really have a plan as far as where to make a move,” Brady said. “I wanted to run with Mark and let him set the pace.
“The last mile or two, adrenaline was bringing me home,” Brady added. “I was really hurting bad the last two miles. I pulled a hamstring tendon on Tuesday.”
Tarr wound up third behind Michael Carlson of Boise, who was almost 4 minutes behind Brady.
It was the fourth consecutive year Brady and Tarr battled. The pair shared conversation, drinks and wet sponges during the race.
“The first time we ran together, it took me out of my concentration,” Brady admitted. “Last year at first, I was scared. This year, it helped me, and I enjoyed talking to Mark.”
Both Brady and Clark changed their training routines earlier this year.
Brady started to lift weights. “My legs are really strong,” he said. “I was really able to hammer the speed work without getting any injuries.”
Clark upped her training mileage to 100 miles per week, concentrating on hills, in addition to using a stairclimber.
“It was getting hot,” Clark said. The temperature was 52 degrees when the race started and in the 70s when it ended.
“It’s kinda nice to be in under 3 hours,” Clark added. “I’m a heat runner. I train all winter in layers. It’s a perfect day for me - no wind, beautiful. It was heavenly to be running in my town. I’ve been wanting to do this (win) for three years.”
Two records were set in the 13.2-mile race which was added in 1992.
Eastern Washington University senior Corey Brantley led a trio of Spokane runners across the finish line, all in record time.
Brantley knocked 43 seconds off the existing record with a 1:08:45. Stan Holman nosed Christopher Morlan for second by three seconds.
But Brantley should thank Holman for the victory.
Brantley broke from the tight pack just past the 8th mile marker then strayed off the course. Holman yelled at Brantley, who figures the miscue cost him 20 seconds.
Brantley regained the lead in the 11th mile.
“It was a learning experience,” Brantley said, adding that seven miles is as far as he had previously raced. “I have to have a lot of patience. Mile 3, 4, 5 - I wanted to go. I thought if I go now, they’ll come back and pass me.”
Tyler Byers, a Spokane 13-year-old, wiped out the existing wheelchair standard by just over 22 minutes with a 1:19:42 finish.
Angie Jones of Colville won the women’s half-marathon in 1:28:18, which was 38th place overall. She also took the same race in 1993.