CdA marathon records in danger
Defending and past champions are returning for the 27th annual Coeur d’Alene Marathon on Sunday and they have higher expectations for lower times.
Coeur d’Alene’s Brian Hadley, the 2003 men’s open winner in 2 hours, 44 minutes, 17 seconds, is shooting for 2:40 or less. Rathdrum’s Gayle Jacklin, who set the women’s open course record with a 3:00:37 two years ago, hopes to break that mark along with the female masters record of 3:22:21. Spokane’s Jackie Van Allen, last year’s women’s champion in 3:10:34, figures it’ll take a sub-3 hour effort to be in the chase.
The event starts and finishes at North Idaho College. Marathon walkers begin at 5 a.m. Wheelchair competitors start at 6:55, followed by marathon runners at 7. Half-marathon wheelchair racers start at 7:55; half-marathon runners at 8. A 5K run/walk is scheduled for 8:30.
Entries are up – roughly 300 marathoners have registered and the half marathon is approaching a record 900 – and will be accepted through today. There is no race-day registration.
Free bus tours of the course will be offered this afternoon at 1 and 4. Former NIC track and cross country coach Lewis Watkins will speak on “Balancing the Big Picture of Running and Racing” at 2:30 at the student union building.
Hadley, 29, entered last year’s race late to assist his Ironman training, but he’s more focused this year.
“Sometimes it’s better when you just do it casually, but I’m excited,” Hadley said. “It looks like the weather is going to be good and that was helpful last year. My training runs have been going well. I’m doing a few more miles during the week. It’ll be fun and it’s a good course.”
Of last year’s top five, only Hadley and Nine Mile Falls’ Scott Middleton, who was fourth, had entered as of Friday morning. Hadley still has Ironman aspirations – “My body is built for bicycling,” he said – but he’s eyeing the 2005 Ironman.
“It would be really nice to be under 2:40,” he said. “More than anything, I just want to go out and have a day where I feel really good and I’m getting in a good 26-mile run.”
Jacklin has augmented her training runs with plyometrics sessions twice a week.
“I actually think I’m better prepared than I was two years ago when I set the open-class record,” she said. “I’m training more and I have a much more solid base. I’ve had more frequent, longer runs and I’ve extended my long runs up to 22 miles.”
Her competitors have noticed.
“She’s had a very good spring,” said Van Allen, a two-time CdA champion. “She’s a phenomenal competitor. Obviously you have to run your own race, but I think knowing that she’s there, that competitiveness just pushes you.”
Van Allen timed 3:17 at the Boston Marathon, but “I was pleased because it was so hot. I kept a great pace and I’m hoping to be faster in Coeur d’Alene.”
Spokane’s Brenda Greer, who was second last year in 3:22:19, and Coeur d’Alene’s Jennifer Bradley are others to watch in the women’s field.
Bradley “is 5-foot-4, 100 pounds – a tiny little thing,” Jacklin said. “I’ve seen her at some of the local races and she could be a strong contender.”
With the assistance of several local businesses, Jacklin helped establish a spirit contest award with a $500 first prize for the most enthusiastic/creative fans on the course (visit www.cdamarathon.org for more information).
“I just decided that every year I run this thing I go for miles and never see anyone out there,” she said. “Especially at some of the key times – the 18-22 mile stretch where it’s so critical for your mindset to break through that barrier.”