One did a 19-mile trail run gaining and losing 6,000 feet of elevation. The other did 32 miles of sea kayaking in Resurrection Bay.
Not the ideal taper for the day before a marathon, for sure, but it worked for Kenai River Marathon champions Julianne Dickerson, of Anchorage, and Michael Roy, of St. Louis, on a brilliant, sunny fall day on the loop between Kenai and Soldotna.
Dickerson, a 35-year-old who was raised in Kenai, did a Saturday run led by Anchorage mountain running legend Barney Griffith that started at the Glen Alps parking lot and ended at the Bird Ridge parking lot.
She then won the overall and women’s marathon Sunday at 3 hours, 7 minutes and 6 seconds. That was the third fastest women’s time in the history of the race, which began in 2006.
Roy, 44, did the sea kayaking as part of Team BrAvery. The group raises money and awareness for Fanconi anemia.
According to the Fanconi Anemia Research Fund, Fanconi anemia is a rare genetic disorder that leads to bone marrow failure, leukemia and cancer.
After finishing in Seward on Saturday, Team BrAvery drove to Kenai for the marathon Sunday and Roy won the men’s race in 3:23:27. It’s the first time anybody has won a race as part of the team’s adventures.
“Every year, we do challenges to raise awareness and raise funds for Fanconi anemia,” Roy said.
For this year’s challenge, five team members arrived in Anchorage on Sept. 16 and rented a recreational vehicle.
They drove to Denali National Park and biked to the road closure at Mile 43 of the Denali Park Road before turning around and returning into a stiff, sleeting, 20-degree wind.
Next came a hike up Bonanza Peak, which is 6,983 feet tall, near Kennecott. Then came the drive to Seward for sea kayaking and Sunday’s Kenai River Marathon, followed by a flight out of Anchorage on Sunday night.
The team is named for Avery Marx, who got Fanconi anemia when she was 8. She got a successful bone marrow transplant and further treatment. She is now 20 and a sophomore in college, and Roy said she is doing well.
Also in the Kenai River Marathon were Orion Marx, a 51-year-old from Sarasota, Florida, who is Avery’s father and finished 17th in the men’s race at 5:40:50.
Charlie Scott, 70, of Sarasota is Avery’s grandfather and finished 19th in 6:34:53. And, yes, the 70-year-old finished all the other Alaska adventures with Team BrAvery as well. Zar Toolan, 44 of St. Louis, is Avery’s uncle and was second in 3:26:52.
Roy is a friend of the family, as is Colorado’s Troy Couture, 52, who was 16th in 5:00:23.
Toolan said the goal of the group is to raise $200,000 this year. He added Team BrAvery has raised over $800,000 in the last decade doing these challenges.
“We do it because kids with Fanconi have to overcome all their challenges,” Toolan said.
In the course of doing all kinds of very long runs, bike trips and kayak paddles, the group said the key is to plan well and count on the group for support.
“We usually get about 70 percent right,” Toolan said. “20 percent is luck, then 10 is roll the dice and just try to get through it.”
Roy and Toolan said those wishing to donate can go to goteambravery.com or fanconi.org. For those not wanting to donate, the two suggested going to bethematch.org and joining the donor registry for helping patients with blood cancers.
There’s one final thing people can do at goteambravery.com.
“People can go on and make suggestions for the challenge next year,” Toolan said.
One idea might be just following Dickerson around for a while.
She is training for the 100-kilometer race at the Kodiak Ultra Marathons on Oct. 14 in Big Bear Lake, California.
Dickerson knew she needed to get about nine hours of running in this weekend, so on Thursday she decided to do the group mountain run led by Griffith.
Dickerson’s mother, Glenese Pettey, also mentioned the Kenai River Marathon, so Dickerson signed up Friday morning.
“This is way more fun than just like doing exactly what you’re supposed to do,” she said.
It turned out the marathon was a nostalgia trip Dickerson didn’t expect. She grew up on Beaver Loop Road and drove to school at Wings Christian Academy, so the run across Bridge Access Road really hit home.
“This is where I learned how to run,” she said. “This is where I learned how to drive.
“I knew it would be cool to come back and run in Kenai, but I underestimated how awesome it was going to be.”
Also Sunday, Samantha Wilson, 40 of Anchorage, won the overall and women’s title in the half marathon at 1:32:44, while Kenai’s Rob Parrish, 40, took the men’s race at 1:43:05.
The 5-kilometer race went to Truett Petty at 22:28 and Morgan Aldridge at 22:59.
The marathon relay was won by Navigationally Challenged, made up of Rustin Hitchcock, Jacob Marshall, Patrick Metzger and Daniel Serventi.
The four ran 2:56:57 for the third fastest relay time in race history, and fastest since 2007.
Wilson now is 3 for 3 in the Kenai River Marathon after winning the half marathon in 2020 and the full marathon in 2017.
She said the quality of the race keeps drawing her back every three years.
“I like the fall down here,” she said. “It’s a nice, flat course, which always helps. And it’s just a nice weekend to get away with the kids for the end of the summer.”
Parrish was able to win the men’s half marathon despite not doing a lot of long training runs. He said he’ll do one or distance running races every year, but that’s it for the long runs.
“I go to CrossFit just about every day, and I have a gym at home, and I play pickleball at the rec center every day,” he said. “And I play Frisbee golf a lot.
“That’s actually the majority of my running is I run the Frisbee golf course every day. I run about 18 holes in 20 minutes.”
This was the first time Parrish did the Kenai River Marathon and the first time he won a half marathon. He said the perfect day and flat course led to one of his fastest half marathon times ever.
Including all the relay racers, 177 runners participated Sunday.
Kenai River Marathon
Sunday
Women’s Marathon — 1. Julianne Dickerson, 3 hours, 7 minutes, 6 seconds; 2. Tiffany Helkenn, 3:42:36; 3. Whitney Harness, 3:46:01; 4. Heather Moon, 3:57:49; 5. Mikie Pylilo, 4:02:34; 6. Rebecca Dale, 4:08:23; 7. Sonda Stonecipher, 4:13:16; 8. Tamara Hibberd, 5:57:02; 9. Caren della Cioppa, 7:18:21.
Women’s Half Marathon — 1. Samantha Wilson, 1:32:44; 2. Elizabeth Roedl, 1:39:04; 3. Susan Craig, 1:48:32; 4. Lauren Davenport, 1:49:18; 5. Ivy Caldwell, 1:50:54; 6. Emily Heale, 1:53:30; 7. Ashley Wippel, 2:00:20; 8. Joell Restad, 2:03:52; 9. Amanda Miotke, 2:06:40; 10. Sarah Pribbenow, 2:08:27; 11. Elizabeth Chilson, 2:10:04; 12. Heather Rothenberger, 2:10:10; 13. Hall Antonya, 2:10:27; 14. Tori Morgan, 2:10:27; 15. Nichole Haynes, 2:11:57; 16. Meyanna Fairbank, 2:12:07; 17. Jasmine Titcomb, 2:15:09; 18. Samya Thangaraj, 2:15:53; 19. Dani Akana, 2:17:14; 20. Madison Vincent-Lang, 2:18:23; 21. Mary Crumley, 2:20:44; 22. Lila Johnson, 2:23:15; 23. Lori Unverfehrt, 2:24:41; 24. Jessica Jaroma, 2:26:43; 25. Taylor Dawson, 2:29:42.
26. Elizabeth McCarthy, 2:32:39; 27. Deann Denter, 2:33:58; 28. Kimberlyn Firmin, 2:34:04; 29. Boehmler Rachel, 2:34:20; 30. Briana Jirowetz, 2:35:06; 31. Carolyn Walker, 2:35:31; 32. Amy Donaldson-Brass, 2:36:11; 33. Jeanine Huston, 2:41:23; 34. Rachel Allmendinger, 2:41:28; 35. Valerie Buss, 2:43:34; 36. Bonnie Mastolier, 2:43:34; 37. Christi Brand, 2:44:36; 38. Molly Ness, 2:44:57; 39. Courtney Kreft, 2:45:46; 40. Brittany Silver, 2:53:23; 41. Catigan West, 2:58:41; 42. Jessica Scogin, 3:01:05; 43. Juley Kalugin, 3:01:38; 44. Mollie Pate, 3:04:41; 45. Margret Nelson, 3:04:41; 46. Tanya Shafer, 3:09:02; 47. Michelle Foster, 3:13:04; 48. Rebecca Bezdecny, 3:28:52.
Men’s Marathon — 1. Michael Roy, 3:23:27; 2. Zar Toolan, 3:26:52; 3. Jacob Joanis, 3:41:20; 4. Todd Murdoch, 4:00:04; 5. Jasper Ross, 4:00:45; 6. Mark Barbee, 4:00:51; 7. Su Pang, 4:06:22; 8. Dean Denter, 4:06:41; 9. Justin Wagner, 4:11:01; 10. Mikel Salzetti, 4:26:04; 11. Austin Bradford, 4:27:31; 12. Gabriel Smith, 4:28:03; 13. William Toohey, 4:30:46; 14. Peter Shurr, 4:57:20; 15. Kevin Leal, 4:57:20; 16. Troy Couture, 5:00:23; 17. Orion Marx, 5:40:50; 18. Sergio Leonardi, 5:45:43; 19. Charlie Scott, 6:34:53; 20. John Viens, 7:11:54.
Men’s Half Marathon — 1. Rob Parrish, 1:43:05; 2. Sam Zlotnik, 1:43:46; 3. Rob Dolan, 1:44:14; 4. Kevin Lauver, 1:57:03; 5. Carl Kincaid, 1:57:58; 6. David Higgins, 2:03:55; 7. Larry Tews, 2:04:01; 8. Chad Ross, 2:04:46; 9. Toby Widdicombe, 2:10:54; 10. Roy Stuckey, 2:11:34; 11. Matthew Walker, 2:18:33; 12. Mike Packard, 2:28:30; 13. Kennedy Michael, 2:33:08; 14. Bud Sexton, 2:42:39; 15. Steve Bezdecny, 3:28:51.
Women’s 5-kilometer — 1. Morgan Aldridge, 22:59; 2. Reese Anna, 27:11; 3. Dannette Petersen, 28:58; 4. Patty Moran, 29:43; 5. Kathy Trinh, 30:16; 6. Stephani Zakutansky, 30:39; 7. Jenna Wixon-Genack, 30:39; 8. Kaley McGlasson, 32:10; 9. Kylie Morris, 36:24; 10. Lisa Kreutz, 37:35; 11. Robyn Campbell, 38:33; 12. Courtney McRorie, 42:55; 13. Misty Peterkin, 44:57; 14. Amy E Donovan, 46:36; 15. Carol Donovan, 46:38; 16. Holly Lewis, 56:01; 17. Valerie Weathers, 56:06; 18. Jenna Stahl, 58:18.
Men’s 5-kilometer — 1. Truett Petty, 22:28; 2. Joel Mittelman, 22:43; 3. Max O. Reese, 25:01; 4. Dominic Smith, 25:50; 5. Zaiden McGlasson, 26:41; 6. Weston Hall, 26:48; 7. Wyatt Kingery, 28:32; 8. Patrick Parker, 29:49; 9. Ruairi Tuite, 32:54; 10. Dakota Reeves, 33:01; 11. Blake Coulson, 33:32; 12. Richard Bond, 36:50; 13. Robert Weathers Jr., 41:33; 14. Joshua Lewis, 56:02; 15. Chris Kreutz, 58:23.
Marathon Relay — 1. Navigationally Challenged (Rustin Hitchcock, Jacob Marshall, Patrick Metzger, Daniel Serventi), 2:56:57; 2. SOHI STARS (Becca Hitchcock, Megan Murphy, Alexandria Serventi, Daisy Jeffords Serventi), 3:17:44; 3. Three Dream Chafers (Whitney Ischi, Jed McGlasson, John McGlasson, n/a), 3:23:17; 4. Soar B.A.C.K.’s (Bethany Nyboer, Katy Coseglia, Amy Anderson, Chelsea Wingard), 3:46:21; 5. Regular Moms (Amber Harrison, Tessa Luecker, Lauren Pilatti, Julia Ruimveld), 3:51:00; 6. Nikiski Teachers (Kara Bethune, Jesse Bjorkman, Shannon Porter, Colby Way), 4:02:01; 7. Richard Hallmark, Virica Thompson, William Toohey, Amber Rouswell, 4:19:35; 8. Witches on the Run (Shelby Dykstra, Nicole Jensen, Jenna Jensen, Kailey Watkins), 4:24:12; 9. Synonym Rolls (Katrina Cannava, Ariana Cannava, Amy Frapp, Oriana Tomlin), 4:26:25; 10. WTF (Tamara LaFrancois, Tasha Skolnick, Christie Stinnett, Jennifer Stubblefield), 4:29:19; 11. Collective Soles 201 (Angie Brennan, Julie Cisco, Teslin Hacklin, Alane Hughes), 4:31:47; 12. Kenai River Run Club (Ashley Christopherson, Elizabeth Cox, Danielle McElwain, Frieda Tuttle), 4:39:55; 13. Nikiski North Star Elementary (Jenna Fabian, Eli Porter, Sarah Segura, Kaci Tauriainen), 4:46:19.
Marathon, half marathon and marathon relay runners start the Kenai River Marathon on Sunday, Sept. 24, 2023, in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Elizabeth Roedl of Homer runs in the women’s half marathon at the Kenai River Marathon on Sunday, Sept. 24, 2023, in Kenai, Alaska. Roedl finished second. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Rob Parrish of Kenai wins the men’s half marathon at the Kenai River Marathon on Sunday, Sept. 24, 2023, in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Jacob Marshall runs the final leg of the marathon relay at the Kenai River Marathon on Sunday, Sept. 24, 2023, in Kenai, Alaska. Marshall, Rustin Hitchcock, Patrick Metzger and Daniel Serventi, under team name Navigationally Challenged, won. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Julianne Dickerson of Anchorage runs to victory in the women’s marathon at the Kenai River Marathon on Sunday, Sept. 24, 2023, in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Zar Toolan and Michael Roy, both of St. Louis, run the men’s marathon at the Kenai River Marathon on Sunday, Sept. 24, 2023, in Kenai, Alaska. Roy finished first, while Toolan was second. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Amy Anderson gets encouragement from her son, Everett, in the marathon relay at the Kenai River Marathon on Sunday, Sept. 24, 2023, in Kenai, Alaska. Anderson teamed with Bethany Nyboer, Katy Coseglia and Chelsea Wingard to finish fourth with Soar B.A.C.K.’s. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
