Thirteen is Robert Barber’s lucky number.
In his 13th marathon, the 44-year-old runner from Surrey, British Columbia, won the second annual North Olympic Discovery Marathon, 26.-2 miles from Sequim to Port Angeles, in a time of 2 hours, 49 minutes, 3 seconds.
A strong head wind kept him off the record pace of last year’s marathon, set by Chimacum’s Ian Fraser in a quick 2:35:56.
Barber isn’t complaining, though. He has been second three times, twice in Victoria and once in Bend, Ore., and he was happy to get the win.
But oh, that wind.
“The wind was tough all the way,” he said. “It would have been nice to run the other way.”
Barber was all alone after the 2-mile mark. He was at least a quarter-mile ahead after 4 miles and three-quarters of a mile ahead at 15 miles.
“The course is excellent,” Barber said. “I like it because it is point-to-point.”
Many marathons loop around, starting and finishing at the same point, he said.
In the women’s race, meanwhile, Spokane’s Lori Buratto didn’t let the wind bother her as she finished in 3:16:11.
