Nike Women’s 2005 San Francisco Marathon
By Mark L. Tiburon, Peak Running Performance
Posted Monday, 24 October, 2005
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - Tracey Gold, a 31 year old San Francisco native, set a new personal best to help bring home her first ever marathon victory at the second annual Nike Women’s Marathon. Having never before broken the three hour mark in a marathon, Tracey cruised to the finish line on Sunday with a time of 2:59:32 to confirm her spot at the top of the podium. “I had never broken three hours in a marathon and I didn’t think this would be the race where it happened. One week ago I was lying in bed with bronchitis and I couldn’t even walk. To be standing at the finish line after winning is just a dream come true.”
Tracey’s first place finish was a huge (19 minute) improvement from her 2004 Nike Women’s Marathon debut where she finished in fifth place overall with a time of 3:18:52. Tracey’s strategy for Sunday’s race? According to her she didn’t really have one: “I came into this race with no expectations at all. I definitely didn’t expect to win. I was training for about a 3:15 pace but when I was out there I just felt really good and decided to go for it. The course was great, the weather was perfect, the whole race was a very surreal experience, it just felt like a dream.”
In addition to the 15,000 women racers was Joan Benoit Samuelson, the only American woman to have ever won an Olympic gold medal in the Marathon. Before the gun went off she wished everyone well with a few words: “I wish you all Godspeed. Try and reach your goal & we’ll see you at the finish line.” As promised, Joan was there at the finish line cheering on fellow runners and showing her support. She even held the tape for first place finisher Tracey Gold.
In 2004 runners complained that the course was too hilly, and that the half marathoners kept weaving in and out of the marathon course making it difficult to run at a consistent pace. This year the course was changed to include less hills, less weaving in and out with the half marathoners, and even better views of San Francisco city, the bay, and the Golden Gate bridge. According to Tracey Gold and several others racers, everyone seemed to appreciate the changes.
The Nike Women's Marathon is a major fundraiser for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, the largest voluntary health organization dedicated to funding blood cancer research, education and patient services. This year’s race sold out in August with 15,000 participants coming from 17 different countries and every state in the US. Combined, the runners helped raise over 14 million dollars for the fight against cancer, in particular Leukemia and Lymphoma. As the emcee said at the start of the race, “When you cross the line at the Nike San Francisco Women’s Marathon, you cross the line for something truly amazing.”
1. Tracey Gold San Francisco, CA 2:59:32
2. Jodi Dailey San Francisco, CA 3:04:59
3. Rosalind Damer Calgary, Canada 3:05:12
4. Honey Giller Miami Beach, FL 3:05:18
5. Kerin Maganzini New York, NY 3:05:41
Race Coverage Compliments of
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