Race Report: Triple Crown Winner at Catalina Island Marathon!

Longtime Striders member Jerry Allanach of Naperville, Illinois, sent in the following race report after running the Catalina Island Marathon in California this March.

Striders like Gene Roy and Ron Paquette that ran with me back in the '80s will likely recall how much I have always loved this California trail run. While starting and finishing at sea level, in between the roller-coaster run through mountains adds an estimated 4,310 vertical feet of climbing, and of course that means you also have to experience a much more muscle punishing 4,310 feet of running downhill.

Since I’m getting near the end of my marathon days I decided to run it for the first time in seven years on March 19, 2016. It was my 13th Catalina Marathon and as usual it was a great experience. As we age we have to get somewhat creative when claiming victory, so here is my self-proclaimed marathon triple crown.

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Win # 1: Me vs. The Deer
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​About 4.5 miles into the marathon I encountered a deer, but as I ran it down from behind and flew by it, I got kicked in the leg!

OK, that is a pretty big fish story. Here’s what really happened. The spooked deer tried to jump from a banking height of about 8 feet across the path at the same time I was going by and ran into me. I held my spot, and a forearm shove to try to avoid a collision sent the deer tumbling down the embankment on the other side, but one hoof did catch my left leg.

As many marathons as I’ve run, I can truthfully say that this has never happened to me before!

​Win # 2: Me vs. The Dwindling Number of People in My Age Bracket

Now in my second year of the 65-69 age group, I’m finding that I seem to have basically outlasted my competition. With my age group generally comprising one percent or less of the overall field, I have been known to win my age group while simultaneously finishing last in my age group.

At Catalina I managed to win my age group, even though I wasn’t the only one in my age group! The race obviously attracts more “mature” runners, as this time my age group comprised a whopping three percent of the overall field.

Win # 3: Just an Overall Fun Weekend with Good Friends 

What has always been the best part of running for me has been the camaraderie with the other runners. I can’t begin to tell you how many hundreds of friends that I have made over the years through running. So whenever I run if there are friends there, and sometimes that is even friends made during a run, I definitely feel like a winner.

There is an interesting story behind the two friends that are pictured with me, Arthur Cookson from California and Tom Burns from Virginia.  Years ago while running a marathon in Barbados I met Mark from Irvine, Calif. We formed an instant friendship and so swapped contact information. When we subsequently got together for a run he introduced me to Kim from Rossmoor, Calif., who immediately recognized me as a Catalina Marathoner.

​A couple years later Kim introduced me to Arthur of Redondo Beach. A few more years and Arthur introduced me to Tom from Virginia. Last fall the circle was completed as Tom introduced me to John who lives about 1.5 miles from me in Naperville, Illinois!

Enjoy the roads and the many friendships that you make along them!
 

Thanks for sharing, Jerry!

Do you have an interesting race report to share with your fellow Striders members? Please let us know by contacting [email protected].