The day dawned hot and cloudless, the runners, clad in their finest,lined up, numbers neatly pinned on their clothing, waiting for the gun to go. They're off, fleeing down the road toward the first hill, rising to infinity, we painfully managed the thinner air of the mountainous pinnacle of the freeway overpass. Racing downward in the quad burning descent, to the level, we headed out past the corn, vine and bush crop fields of genuine tideland farm country. Running, actually madly racing, past the moated fence rows, we inspired magnificent thoroughbred horses and sparkle eyed calves to gallop along their barbed wired yards in glee with us as we sped past.

    On we ran, straining for every breath from the awesome altitude of sea level, fighting for every step as we clambered over the five foot hills, screaming down the three foot descents, on we ran, understanding fully why Skagit Flats Marathon has such a descriptive name.

    Our race turned to consternation as we rounded a turn only to encounter incredible sounds of moaning and bawling of panic among the many cattle being branded as we sped past a local cattle ranch, replete with cowboys with real cowboy hats, boots, horses, spurs, ropes, and yes, authentic branding irons. Zane Grey would have been thrilled at such a sight; this mighty roundup. What an adventure for the runners, sveltely running past, some few even sporting their own brands, albeit received by choice and perhaps with less whining. Imagine how much sympathy they must have had for the poor cattle...Right.

    As you may have gathered, the Skagit Flats Marathon is rather, no, entirely flat, save for that massive mountain of a freeway overpass, that it goes through farm land and that there is precious little to entertain the mind as one plods down the tideland roads. Fortunately, the company was outstanding. Bill Mayhall, Joyce Crosse, Pati Swearinger, and Burke Schmidt ran this marathon together, kidding, encouraging, and supporting one another throughout. As marathons go, this one was remarkable, first because we all finished at the same time, and second because Mayhall ran the entire race with both of his insoles and half of his socks still on his feet and in his shoes.

   The course is indeed flat, has the potential to be quite fast, and is probably one of the smallest continuing marathons around, this being the 22nd year. Last year there were 87 competitors, this year saw 120 at the start. About twice as many people run the concurrent half marathon. The roads become fairly lonesome once the half marathon people turn off. The course this year is new, becoming an out and back, which was OK, however some of the sections which were most humorous have been eliminated. You do get to see all of the other runners who've gone before and after you, which makes the crowd seem larger. The water stops are spaced at three miles and are adequate providing water and sports drink. The feast at the end consisted of bagels, juice, and fruit, adequate.