Lisa Sabin’s - Running And Being

The Semiamoo Salmon Run 5k/10k hosted by the Semiamoo Resort up in Blaine, WA started in 1997 and only ran through 1999.  I read about the race in 1998 in NW Runner Magazine and decided to go up and run the 5k.  There were a couple of enticing reasons to make the trek up to just south of the Canadian border, the huge salmon brunch following the race and the fact that Joan Benoit Samuelson was running the 10k.  The race promised one famous elite runner every year.  The previous year Alberto Salazar ran.

The winner of the 10k race earned their weight in salmon.  I had been running for about three years and I had placed a few times in my age group in smallish races.  I was working on speed and doing a lot of 5ks, so I looked forward to racing and perhaps getting an autograph.   

The Semiamoo Resort is right on the beach and there isn’t much protection from the wind.  July 5th, 1998 was no different.  The race began at the resort and headed up into the hills and back against a strong headwind.  The 10k winds up through a hilly neighborhood and finishes the same place as the 5k. 

The 5k and 10k started at the same time.  As the 10k runners continued up the hill, the 5k runners peeled off to the right.  I was running the 5k.  I started fast and went through the first mile at 6:49.  I immediately regretted the fast start as we began climbing the hill.  There weren’t many people in the 5k, so I thought I had a good chance of doing well.  There was a woman ahead of me who looked fitter than me.  At the turning point, she was ahead of me and went the wrong way.  I felt bad that she had taken about 5 steps in the wrong direction and had to turn back onto the course.  I remember at that point I had to make a decision.  Am I going to be competitive?  I felt bad for the runner, but I chose to push hard and run my best.  I ended up winning my age group with a 22:54.  It wasn’t my best time, but it was a win.  I was so excited.

I went back to my car and got my book, then waited for the 10k runners to come in.  Joan Benoit Samuelson won with a 36:25.  I walked up to Joan along with some local reporters and asked for her autograph.  She asked me my name.   She also asked how was my race and signed my book. 

I remember how nice she was, not pretentious, maybe even a little shy.  I went to the brunch with my autographed book.  I sat there and enjoyed my salmon while they put Joan on one side of a see-saw and placed a box of salmon on the other side.  They asked her how much she weighed and she said “Usually about 108″.  They loaded up the salmon until the see-saw was balanced. 

I recently read that 50 year old Joan is running in her last Olympic trials for the marathon.  She is going to be in Boston running the marathon the day before the Boston Marathon.  The trials are open to spectators.  Part of the course is along the Boston Marathon course. 

I will be there with Phil preparing to run my first Boston Marathon.  I am hoping to see part of the race.  I don’t know if we’ll get to see the finish, but we’ll probably get to be on the course.

I admire Joan, not just for what she has done for women’s sports, but because of the kind of person she is.  She has a strong commitment to her family and makes it a priority to be there for her kids.  She doesn’t quit.  When an old injury began to flare up in a half marathon in Oklahoma back in April, she limped into to finish.  ”I know you say drop out.  I have never dropped out of a road race, so I couldn’t.” she told Kenny Moore, from Runner’s World.  Joan made a vow to give back to the sport.  She paced Lance Armstrong through the 2006 New York City Marathon.  She told Lance, during the last few miles “If you want to break three hours, stay on my heels and you will.” He did just that.

Joan is hoping to run 2:50 which is a 6:30 pace.  What is amazing is that she held the record for the women’s marathon with a 2:21.21 since 1985.  It wasn’t until 2003 that her record was broken by Deena Kastor.  More details about Joan.   I can’t wait until April, I’ll be rooting for all the runners but I’ll be rooting for Joan and all that she represents.