NORTH OLYMPIC DISCOVERY MARATHON: Thousands run on a long and windy road

PORT ANGELES — A gorgeous late spring day and the strains of music and wafts of food on the wind off the Strait of Juan de Fuca could barely mask the unique combination along the waterfront of agony mixed with triumph.

Agony from running 26 miles. Triumph from running 26 miles. And making it to the end.

More than 2,000 runners, some younger than 10 and others well over 70 braved some stiff winds Sunday morning in the 15th North Olympic Discovery Marathon. There were also half-marathon, 10K and 5K races along the Olympic Discovery trail along the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Runners came from 36 states and six countries, from places as diverse as Campbell River, B.C. Illinois, Albuquerque, N.M., and Oakland, Calif.

According to last year’s men’s winner Thomas Fagin of Port Angeles, the competition was tougher this year.

Fagin, running for the Boys and Girls Club, had his own little cheering section complete with “Team Fagin” t-shirts. He ran the marathon in a personal best 2:53.36, over two minutes better than his winning time last year of 2:55.01.

“The competition [this year] was a little stiffer … as I feared,” Fagin said.

“I’m just toasted. My legs are hurting right now. A lot of support, more support than ever this year,” he said, heading toward his cheering gallery.

The winning runner was Ryan Cox of Bainbridge Island, who blew away the competition, beating the next closest comptitor by eight minutes. Cox finished in 2:40.56, well ahead of second place finisher Gene Severtson of Silverdale at 2:48.39. Fagin was third and Craig Isenberg of Port Townsend was fourth at 2:55.10.

A Bainbridge runner also won the women’s marathon. Jenine Adam won the women’s event in 3:23.19. That was the 18th best overall time.

A total of 286 men and women finished the marathon, while 947 ran the half-marathon and 307 ran the 10K and 228 ran the 5K. There were also 34 marathon relay teams.

The best local finish was by Port Angeles’ Peter Butler in the half-marathon, who finished in 1:14.07 running in the men’s 15-19 category.

Seamus Fraser of Port Townsend, running in the 13-19 category, won the men’s 10K with a time of 40:11. He edged out Liam Byrne of Carlsborg, who finished second at 40:30.

The young and the old

Gene Snyder, 69, of Caldwell, Idaho, came all the way out to Port Angeles to run the half-marathon. His brother is a teacher at Peninsula College.

It was Snyder’s sixth half-marathon and he ran a personal best in 2:23:51, three minutes faster than his previous best time. He finished a more than respectable ninth place for his age group, and he’s hoping to do a full marathon, which will require year-round training.

“I feel good. Feel blessed, so many people my age aren’t able to do this. I’m going to keep running as long as I can,” Snyder said.

While Snyder was among the older runners competing, Owen Riffle and Owen Oakes were among the youngest. The two 11-year-olds competed in the 5K, finishing in eighth and ninth place in their category and had removed their shoes afterward because their feet were hurting a little.

What motivates 11-year-olds to get out and run?

“I like running, like looking out at the water,” Owen Riffle said. He added that most of all, “I like the relief of stopping.”

Here are the marathon’s top finishers. More complete marathon results will be in Tuesday’s sports. You can also go online at https://results.chronotrack.com/event/results/event/event-30759 to get full results.

North Olympic Discovery Marathon

Sunday, June 4

Marathon

Men — Ryan Cox, first, 2:40:56; Gene Severtson, second, 2:48:39; Thomas Fagin, third, 2:53:36.

Women — Jenine Adam, first, 3:23:19; Kendra Phillips, second, 3:27:03; Angie Soccorso, third, 3:27:37.

Half-Marathon

Men — Peter Butler, first, 1:14:07; Ron Kelly, second, 1:27:41; Walter Downey, third, 1:29:20.

Women — Nicole Lerner, first, 1:29:20; Jaime Kreft, second, 1:32:46; Sarah Oase, third, 1:33:05.

Marathon Relay

Running Happi-lea, first, 3:22:33; Yugely Fast, second, 3:28:41; Olympic Medical Center, third, 3:37:21.

10K

Men — Seamus Fraser, first, 40:11; Liam Byrne, second, 40:30; Ryan Pettitt, third, 41:14.

Women — Cherie Sonoda, first, 45:47; Lauren Larson, second, 45:50; Claire Kindley, third, 48:10.

5K

Men — Levi Larson, first, 19:53; Bryce DeLeon, second, 21:56; Sky Schroeder, third, 22:25.

Women — Breanne Hsu, first, 24:28; Claire Christen, second, 24:34; Kelly Slater, third, 24:53.