The 36th annual Seaport River Run was held on Saturday. I didn’t have other plans, so I got in the green car and made the trek down. This is apparently the valley’s most popular run, numbering in the thousands (rather than the more typical “hundreds”). There are two choices, the “short” and “long” version of the run.

I selected the “short” option, a 2.9 mile run with one hill at the start—the bridge that crosses the Snake River. I started about 30 yards from the starting line, thinking it was a smart choice: not too close, so I wouldn’t be blocking faster runners, but not too far back, thinking I was going to be faster than most of the attendees (walking is popular).

I should have started closer to the line. Fortunately, my Thursday adventures on Kamiak Butte have prepared me for some off-pavement running. In about 30 seconds, I must have passed 300 people. That was fun.

I completed the first mile in 7:52. Way too fast, I exclaimed. But I was pacing with an older woman that appeared to be a strong runner. “Surely I can keep up with her. Or at least try.” So try I did. Second mile, 14:59. Hoo-boy. I’m fading hard, but there’s only nine tenths of a mile to go. I can do this. I do this every week. So keep going. Just keep going.

In the end, I couldn’t keep up with her. But when I crossed the line, she was the first person I spoke to. “Thanks. I couldn’t have gone that quickly without you to set a pace.”

22 minutes and 37 seconds is a reasonable 5K. This was less than a 5K, but the time is perfectly respectable. But it’s not all that fast.

But it was fast enough.

Official times, per the Sunday Lewiston Tribune

Men’s 18-49 -

  1. Connor Smith, Lewiston, 16:02.48.
  2. Dave Ross, Lewiston, 17:00.57.
  3. Aaron Taylor, Lewiston, 18:07.13.
  4. Tyler Wendt, Moscow, 18:37.24.
  5. Jake Maetche, Peck, 20:24.88.
  6. Erik Lenington, Ft. Benton, Mt., 20:49.25.
  7. Levi Gibson, Lewiston, 21:05.06.
  8. Kellen Probert, Ellensburg, 21:07.93.
  9. 9, Aaron Whiteman, Pullman, 22:37.88.
  10. Justin Gimlin, Clarkston, 22:45.95.