Capital City Marathon: 1972 U.S. Olympic runner to participate in first Washington state marathon
Plenty of sunlight streamed through the windows of South Sound Running at 6:30 a.m. on Friday morning in Olympia as Jeff Galloway gathered with community runners.
Galloway, a 1972 U.S. Olympic 10,000-meter runner who has worked with over 200,000 runners to improve their craft, is the face of the 35th annual Capital City Marathon.
“Mr. Galloway is a believer in the training group and the support it can offer runners, whether it’s social, mental, physical,” race director Nona Snell said to the 15 or so runners gathered for Friday’s early morning jaunt.
“As well as getting all the good gossip, too,” Galloway interjected.
The three-mile shakeout run — during which Galloway implemented one of his methods, a 30-second run, 15-second walk formula — toured through some of Olympia’s scenic areas.
With the group, he ran up Deschutes Parkway to Marathon Park, pausing briefly to admire the plaque detailing its history, before crossing the bridge over a glassy Capitol Lake. He trailed up the switchbacks and through the Capitol Campus to cap the run.
“I’ve always liked the area,” said Galloway, who hosted a running clinic in Olympia about 15 years ago. “I’ve had a number of friends who have lived in Washington or Oregon and it’s beautiful here, it’s a different type of beauty.”
Friday’s shakeout run was the first of many public events Galloway helped host throughout the weekend. He spoke to local prep athletes Friday afternoon at Olympia High School.
“It was amazing,” Olympia freshman Lance Riecken said. “This guy’s really cool. It was amazing to hear about (his career).”
Saturday, he held a book signing — he’s written about 30 of them — a free running clinic and helped with the annual Kids Run.
Sunday, he’ll run in the Capital City Marathon — it will be the first marathon he’s ever run in Washington state. That’s saying a lot for Galloway, 70, who has run in 208 marathons already, including five so far this year.
January was Walt Disney World. February was The National Marathon to Finish Breast Cancer in Jacksonville, Florida. March was the Marathon of the Treasure Coast in Florida. April had two — the Maratona di Roma in Rome, Italy and the Big Sur International Marathon in California.
For May, it’s Olympia’s turn.
“I’m fired up,” Galloway said.
He’ll run the 35th rendition of the Capital City Marathon alongside his wife, Barbara.
“We run one a month, and we run them all together,” Galloway said. “We use my method, in this case now, we run 15 seconds and we walk 15 seconds. … We actually recover faster than we have in our whole lives.”
But neither of them have toured the 26.2-mile course.
“Even in my competitive career, I almost never looked at the course before,” Galloway said. “I enjoy the adventure of what’s next.”
He’s likely in for a treat. Galloway said what’s struck him the most about Olympia so far is the people that make up its community.
“They’re really together here,” he said. “It’s just supporting one another and looking for things that can help different groups. And that’s a wonderful thing.”
On Sunday, 371 runners are registered to run the marathon, 1,238 to run the half-marathon and 562 to run the five-mile race, while 500-plus community members are expected to serve as volunteers.
“It’s the people,” Galloway said. “This is clearly a place that is livable, and people love living here and they like one another. You feel a sense of respect for a common citizen, and help one another and (show) friendliness. It’s just a good feel here.”
Galloway, who has run with the likes of Frank Shorter, Jack Bacheler and Steve Prefontaine, will join the South Sound masses Sunday morning for his 209th excursion down a 26.2-mile course.
“It’s a wonderful running life,” Galloway said.
35th Capital City Marathon
When: Sunday
Where: Races begin at Washington St. at Sylvester Park. Races end at Capitol Way at Sylvester Park.
Schedule: Marathon — 7 a.m. Pace times will be 3 hours, 30 minutes; 3:45; 4; 4:15; 4:30; 4:45; 5. Half-marathon — 7:45 a.m. Pace times will be 1:45, 2, 2:15. Five-mile run — 8 a.m.
Skinny: The Capital City Marathon, the oldest marathon in the South Sound, is celebrating its 35th birthday. This year’s docket features three races — the 26.2-mile marathon (371 participants registered), the 13.1-mile half-marathon (1,238) and the five-mile race (562). Jeff Galloway, 70, who ran for the U.S. Olympic team in 1972, joined for the festivities this weekend and will run in his first Washington marathon with his wife, Barbara.
Five places to watch: The start and finish lines are givens. Here are a few other places along the course to catch all three races. 1. Corner of Lemon Road N.E. and Woodard Bay Road N.E. The marathoners just passed the halfway mark on unincorporated Thurston County roads near the Woodard Bay conservation area, and they’re about to go down a hill — so spirits should be up. This scenic area is the first time the runners will see a crowd after about 10 miles of solitary running through the county. 2. Corner of 26th Ave. N.E. and Friendly Grove Road N.E. This is where the marathoners and half-marathoners converge. Everyone comes through this point. It’s just after the 19-mile mark (about three-quarters of the way done) for the marathoners and the six-mile mark (a little less than half done) for the half-marathoners. About the right time for an extra push. 3. Corner of San Francisco Ave. N.E. and Puget St. N.E. Forget the runners for a minute. The San Francisco Street Bakery is two blocks east. Pick up a pastry and cheer on all of the people burning calories while you shamelessly consume them. 4. Corner of Legion Way S.E. and Eastside St. S.E. With about four miles to go, the biggest hill in the race is right in front of the runners — and they know it. You can give them some momentum and then take about a half-mile walk down Legion to the finish line in Sylvester Park. You should beat them there if you didn’t eat too many pastries — Google Maps estimates 13 minutes. 5. Between the water stops at Mile Nos. 24 and 25. The marathoners, half-marathoners, and five-milers all run along this mile-long stretch that traces from Eskridge Blvd. S.E. to Galloway St. S.E. to O’Farrell Ave. S.E. before running into Capitol Blvd S.E. for the final stretch. This is it for water, so they’ll probably be happy to be hydrated for the last 1.2 miles.
This story was originally published May 14, 2016 at 7:54 PM with the headline "Capital City Marathon: 1972 U.S. Olympic runner to participate in first Washington state marathon."