Saturday, November 10, 2007
Saddleback Mountain Marathon
 Race Results
(Rated the toughest marathon in California. Total elevation gains 5,100 feet. Starts at 3,300 ft.)  

My story, believe it or not.

Congratulations to all the finishers, we did have a magic day in the woods. Oh yes, there was another trail race on, that went OK too. 

With all the problems with the fires in our ‘hood over the last few weeks, we did panic a bit, but just 3 days before the start we got the OK from the Forest Service.  Not your actual good lead time!  We had 54 finishers including 13 women, obviously we had a few called in sick.  Our marathon course remained the same, but our 50 miler had changes ‘cause of the fires up in the upper Silverado Canyon area.  My many volunteers did another magic job, including the ham radio team led by Heiko, these events would not happen with all the support.   

My good mate Rob McNair was the overall winner…. Again!  He already holds the course record, but he was sure happy with his time and place.  Being 30  years older than second place finisher Christine Ensign, he did gloat a little as he sipped his beer at the finish.  It was Chris’s first trail marathon and she loved it.  Kyle Hoang was all smiles coming in third over all. 

All the award winners were happy including the over 60 old goats, Paul Peek and Sandy Israel.  My new mate David Whiting did enjoy his day, hope he writes a nice article and shows some magic photos in the OC Register, out Thursday.  Mates Jim Warren and Jay Olson did good, Jim’s first marathon in 25 years.  We all enjoyed the weather, not bad for a November day.  Sorry a couple of runners missed the 8 o’clock start, but they didn’t complain too much and finished. We adjusted their finishing times accordingly. 

My good, long-time mate Doug Malewicki did a good job of marking parts of the course, he and a small group started early.  He also donated $50 to the first male and female to pass him on the course… Rob and Chris were most happy with the gift.  Cindy Stigall and Candy Hower were faces I haven’t seen for awhile, both finish with smiles.  Many first timers finished the tough marathon course, let’s hope they all come back. 

Thanks to Fleet Feet of Laguna Niguel and Crank Sports for again supporting the race, hoping for more race support in the future at the Winter Trail Run Series, starting January 26, 2008.  Info will be out on my new www.bigbaztrailraces.com  soon I hope.  It was a long day for many of my volunteers because of the two races, I know you join me in thanking them.  The Forest Service did good by allowing the races to go forward… hopefully those bloody fires don’t come back.  Must go, things to do and cheap red wine to drink.  We will talk soon… stay tuned.  

Much Love, BAZ the R.D. XXX

Saddleback Mountain Marathon - November 10, 2007

Place

Name

M/F

Age

Time

Award

1

Rob McNair

M

53

3:28:43

1st M overall

2

Christine Ensign

F

23

3:37:43

1st F overall

3

Kyle Hoang

M

36

3:38:26

2nd M overall

4

Michelle Barton

F

36

3:47:31

2nd F overall

5

Robert Schipsi

M

47

4:08:46

3rd M overall

6

Rob Cowan

M

47

4:10:21

1st M 40-49

7

David Whiting

M

53

4:20:11

1st M 50-59

8

Steve Merilees

M

56

4:20:55

 

9

Gregg Talbott

M

53

4:26:19

 

10

John Spannuth

M

38

4:26:57

1st M under 39

11

Joseph Tholt

M

49

4:28:22

 

12

Dave McClure

M

48

4:29:51

 

13

Gina Natera

F

32

4:31:21

3rd F overall

14

Mark Kiner

M

33

4:31:40

 

15

Jay Olsen

M

54

4:33:07

 

16

Dana Taylor

M

47

4:35:27

 

17

Bruce Urquhart

M

52

4:35:38

 

18

David Binder

M

39

4:36:48

 

19

Lambert Timmerman

M

41

4:39:48

 

20

Mark Chamley

M

54

4:40:00

 

21

Jim Warren

M

55

4:40:44

 

22

John Chin

M

49

4:43:48

 

23

Charlie Bachman

M

53

4:46:07

 

24

Kara Scarborough

F

32

4:47:26

1st F under 39

25

Jeremy Scarborough

M

31

4:47:26

 

26

Martyn Brooks

M

42

4:48:59

 

27

Chris Robinson

M

46

4:49:27

 

28

Marisa Willment

F

44

4:50:03

1st F 40-49

29

Marilyn Salinger

F

48

4:51:08

 

30

Tony Cerbak

M

53

4:52:43

 

31

Ted Plautz

M

51

4:55:58

 

32

James Taylor

M

43

5:01:34

 

33

Mark Rohren

M

49

5:09:21

 

34

Candy Hower

F

38

5:13:22

 

35

Kedric Francis

M

45

5:13:24

 

36

Elizabeth LaBeau

F

26

5:14:01

 

37

Jeff Stein

M

41

5:15:25

 

38

Calvin Mulder

M

48

5:15:25

 

39

Robert Baird

M

47

5:15:25

 

40

Larry Rich

M

47

5:21:47

 

41

Bill Ackerman

M

53

5:39:25

 

42

Paul Peek

M

65

5:47:11

1st M 60+

43

Robbi Woolard

F

53

5:54:09

1st F 50-59

44

Sandy Israel

F

60

6:01:25

1st F 60+

45

Rico Ramirez

M

63

6:01:41

 

46

George Velasco

M

54

6:02:49

 

47

Joe Magruder

M

61

6:18:05

 

48

Cindy Stigall

F

44

6:18:05

 

49

David Rameakers

M

48

6:19:58

 

50

Kim French

F

35

6:15:48

 

51

Pete Vara

M

34

6:15:48

 

52

Doug Malewicki

M

68

6:45:58

 

53

Bill Dickey

M

68

7:04:02

 

54

Paul Avedian

M

45

7:06:00

 

55

Beiyi Zheng

F

43

7:44:31

 

56

Chris Diaz

M

53

7:51:00

 

57

Tom Kennedy

M

43

7:59:59

 


PRE-RACE
(click on this or any any picture to see a larger detailed version)
(If you want an original full size of any of these photos to print out at home, EMail: DMalewicki@cox.net. 
Identify it by section, row and column.  Free of course.  Baz will buy me a Starbucks next month!)
(Photos by Greg Hardesty, Michelle Barton, Steve Harvey & Doug Malewicki)

Aid station volunteers (Eric Kosters, Greg Hardesty & Kirk Fortini) and runners in the early morning cold. 
George Velasco and 100 mile ultra runner Leigh "Turbo" Corbin
Leigh was working at the Holy Jim aid station today, but did run the last 1/2 of the Marathon with George
Michelle Barton and Kyle Hoang
       


OUT ON THE MARATHON COURSE DURING THE RACE

Part of the early starter final trail marking team  & 1st time trail marathon runner, Beiyi Zheng cruises up the trail.  Fog covered Lake Elsinore below.
(Scenic VIDEO clip)
Early starter Doug Malewicki helped mark the trail.  Pete Vara & Kim French started early too and cleared many remaining trail obstructions.
Pete Vara & Kim French at the FABULOUS Christmas Tree TRAIL MARKER!  Thank you Steve Harvey!
(Pete & Kim singing Jingle bells - VIDEO clip)
The bottom of Holy Jim. Aid station.  Super volunteers Maurie Bousquet and Walt Johnson.

Original Old Goat member, 77 year old Walt Johnson and his dog ?
Rob McNair is the 1st runner to reach the top of Holy Jim.
Kyle Hoang is 2nd to the top.
Great scenic view of the last quarter of the Holy Jim Trail.  That dot really is Rob Cowan!

Michelle Barton arrives at the Holy Jim aid station (she just passed Rob - you can see him.)
The awesome party aid station at the top of Holy Jim featured loud boom box music and PINK ponies!
Plus youngsters up in the trees cheering the runners on at the top of their voices!
David Whiting arrived 7th and held that place till the end.

Trail Marker Doug Malewicki with his newly developed automatic, non-stop trail marking ribbon dispenser.
?? arrives at the Holy Jim party aid station.
 
WELCOME TO CANDY MOUNTAIN!
The infamous prankster Greg Hardesty

Devilish fun surprises awaited the runners when they arrive at Holy Jim.
Scrumptious Aid Station goodies at the top of Holy Jim.
Rob Cowan finishing 6th overall in 4:10:21
Rob & Baz

1st place female & 2nd overall Christine Ensign with Michelle.
Petite and AWESOME, 4' 9" Christine Ensign with Rob & Michelle.  Her 1st ever trail marathon!  She is in the road marathon Olympic trials!
David Whiting, age 53, finishes 7th overall in 4:20:11.
??

Michelle and Rob
Martin Brooks, age 42, finished 26th in 4:48:59
Rob, Michelle and RD Baz
??

Marisa Willment with 6th overall Rob Cowan.  Both were 1st in their 40-49 age groups.
68.5 year old Doug Malewicki croaks through the finish line in 6:45:58.  Time for a NAP!
Robert Baird, Jeff Stein & Calvin Mulder
1st place 60+ female Sandy Isreal in 6:01:25 with 68.5 year old  Doug Malewicki

Sandy takes a short break (no nap needed like that "old" guy!)
 
Beiyi Zheng 7:44:31 & Bill Dickey 7:04:02
The old buddies!
?? & ??

 

Garmin GPS data with Google Earth Views

Aerial View of the Marathon Course
Google Earth 3D view of the marathon terrain
GPS record of the elevation changes.  The Garmin sums all those ups and downs. 

Saddleback Mountain Marathon Race Animated Flyby
(To download the free Google Earth software, go to http://earth.google.com)

Google Earth Flyby Tour

Double click on the above link and wait for Google Earth to open and slowly zoom in from orbit to the view that shows the red outline of the entire 26.2 mile course.  Once it stabilizes, select PLAY TOUR from the drop down TOOLS menu.  This starts the animated flyover of the entire Saddleback Mountain Marathon 26.2 mile course.  Awesome!  It is like you are a bird at 500 feet elevation flying along the entire course from start to finish.  Up each mountain top, down each and every descent.  RELIVE the TORTURE and the SCENIC BEAUTY!

These fabulous Google Earth views and flyby comes from uploading the Garmin GPS data to www.MotionBased.com.  This site also sums the elevation gains and losses from the Garmin 205.
 

Click HERE to read the November 15, 2007 article "California's Toughest Marathon"
 by Orange County Register's OUTDOOR columnist David Whiting (7th place overall!)
Click HERE to view David's video piece on KOCE's Real Orange TV News
(4:23 long - be patient waiting for it to load.  Can also click to the video directly from the article page.)

AWARDS

1st overall - Rob McNair, age 53 in 3:28:43 (with RD Baz)
OK everybody.  IT IS TIME TO GIVE OUT THE AWARDS!
28th overall & 1st place in 40-49 Marisa Willment, age 40 in 4:50:03
7th overall & 1st place 50-59 David Whiting, age 53 in 4:20:11

6th overall and 1st in age 40-49 Rob Cowan, age 47 in 4:10:21
4th overall & 2nd female - Michelle Barton, age 36 in 3:47:31
Cool AWARD!
2nd OVERALL and 1st female - Christine Ensign, age 23 in 3:37:43
 
Jeff Stein, Michelle Barton, Calvin Mulder & Robert Baird
Michelle and Robert Baird