Photo above: The lead men's pack near mile 10 (Kennedy Center) included Andrew Dumm (far left, winner), and Fred Joslyn (far right, 2nd place).

Weather conditions were very good on Sunday, October 26 for this year's Marine Corps Marathon, and there was enthusiastic crowd support at several points on the course for the 18,271 finishers. Andrew Dumm (23) of Arlington, VA won the men's title in 2:22:44, and Cate Fenster (37) of Wooster, OH earned her victory in the women's race with a time of 2:48:55.

Although both winners were racing 26.2 miles for the first time, they excelled collegiately as long distance athletes. Andrew Dumm ran 10,000m in 28:59.25 for the University of Virginia in spring 2007 (#2 all-time performance, U. Virginia outdoor track). Cate Pichon (Fenster) set the women's indoor 5000m record at Furman University (16:51.72) in 1992. This year, Cate has raced a few times in the local area, including Page's 5K Run on October 12 (18:16), and Stone Ridge 5K on October 18 (18:18). Due to past injury problems, she limited high volume training mileage to a few weeks; she contacted the race director for an entry within a month of race date when her body responded well to her careful regimen.

Photo below: Cate Fenster (left) established her lead in the women's race near mile 16 (Federal Reserve building).

Andrew's brother, Brian Dumm (25, USAF), finished in fifth place (2:26:00); less than an hour later, Andrew and Brian greeted their father, Kenneth Dumm (57, Fairfax, VA; 3:19:33), as he reached the finish line. Their mother watched nearby, commented on the "bonding" effect of a common achievement, and vowed to start training for a 10K road race with her youngest son. (Kenneth has completed several MCM races, and Brian finished sixth, 2:28:27, in last year's race.)

Cate Fenster had wanted to finish her first marathon in less than three hours, and surprised herself with a faster than expected, winning performance. Six years ago, NIH employee Elizabeth Scanlon won the women's MCM title; this year's top female is working at NIH on research sabbatical from the College of Wooster (biology faculty member). Science and athletics can mix well, although both are demanding pursuits.

Photo above: Lindsay Wilkins (center) and Chris Farley (far left) passed mile 21 on the final bridge running strong.

Eleven seconds after Fenster's finish, Lindsay Goulet Wilkins (30) of Arlington, VA crested the final hill as second place (2:49:06, personal best) female. She and Chris Farley (32, 2:49:00), owner of Pacers Running Stores, exchanged a hug and exclaimed "awesome, awesome time" with big smiles.

The second place male (2:23:54, personal best), C. Fred Joslyn (24) of Rochester, MI, is a member of the Hansons-Brooks Distance Project that has produced 2008 Olympic marathoner Brian Sell. Fred earned honors at Cortland State University (Cortland, NY), and has trained with the Hansons group for a year. His morning workout group includes 15 men and five women that meet in a local park. He works 25 hours per week at a Hanson running store; team sponsors Saturn (cars) and Brooks (shoes, apparel) cover his health expenses.

Photo below: Ivan Castro (left), a blind runner who served with the U.S. Army in Iraq, connected with his guide runner using a string. This photo was taken near mile 4, before Key Bridge.

Lindsay Wilkins has been training with a group of women coached by George Buckheit (Pacers) for four years, and she has completed several marathons including the 2008 Rock 'n' Roll Marathon in Phoenix, AZ last January (2:50:36). Third place finisher (2:51:45, personal best) Melissa Tanner (27) of Bethesda, MD trains with Georgetown Running Company; Christopher Bain (31, Rockville, MD, 2:58:55) ran with her for most of the race before fading in the final miles. The top three women want to chase the 2012 Olympic Trials Marathon qualifying standard.

"If you look back . . . my dad used to say, never look behind you, it's a sign of weakness. . ." (Paula Radcliffe after her victory at this year's ING New York City Marathon.)

Thoughts must focus on upcoming miles during a marathon, not dwell on the miles already raced, in order to reach the finish line. A winning athlete is one who performs to the best of his/her ability, and avoids worrying about the competition.

Photo below near Key Bridge: Michael Wardian (left) tuned up at the MCM (ninth place) for his 100K World Cup race in Italy (he placed ninth for Team USA men). Two-time MCM winner Ruben Garcia (right) of Mexico finished this year's race in 21st place.

There were three main challenges on this year's course: two uphill climbs toward Spout Run (mile 3), and Reservoir Road (mile 8), and the lonely stretch with few spectators in East Potomac Park (miles 11 to 15). Marathoners who raced the first third of the race too fast faded during the East Potomac Park stretch; a second test was the Rochambeau Bridge heading toward the partying crowds in Crystal City--another lonely stretch during the 21st mile.

For the fastest women, there is an extra challenge: 150 men and only 12 women finished the race in less than three hours. During the opening miles of the co-ed race, the leading women were hidden among the men. (Lindsay Wilkins remarked to Melissa Tanner in the post-race media tent that she couldn't locate women of similar ability at the crowded start line.)

Photo below: Three top Navy women (center of photo in blue: 11th place Aidan Van Cleef at left, and fourth place female Abigail Stiles at right) sailed together through the early miles.

The men's lead pack went through 10K at 2:24 pace (34:09) and included Fred Joslyn, Jaron Hawkins (third in 2007), Jose Miranda (fourth, 2007), and Andrew Dumm (who trailed the leaders heading onto Key Bridge at mile 4). In the women's race, Rebekah Potts held a 50 second lead (39:48) as Cate Fenster, Lindsay Wilkins, and Jennifer Ledford went through 10K at 2:49 pace (40:07).

Andrew Dumm took sole possession of first place near Hains Point (1:10:47 at 13.1 miles); Fred Joslyn (1:10:59 at 13.1M) and Jose Miranda battled for second. Joslyn noted in a post- race interview that Andrew Dumm opened a one-minute lead during miles 13 to 16. Joslyn attempted without success to regain that lost real estate during the final ten miles of the marathon, but he did catch Miranda near mile 18 on Capitol Hill. Joslyn's wife and coaches were on the course, and offered him vocal support and time splits.

Cate Fenster caught Rebekah Potts of Chapel Hill, NC (age 26, fifth in 2:55:42) and claimed the lead during mile 16 near the Lincoln Memorial; Fenster led a small group that included Potts as they ran by the Federal Reserve (Constitution Ave & 21st). Lindsay Wilkins moved into second, past Potts, on Rochambeau Bridge. The loud crowds in Crystal City spurred Melissa Tanner as she passed Potts and secured third place during the 23rd mile.

Top Finishers in 2008 Marine Corps Marathon

Name  	                City  	State  Age  	Time
Men  
1 ANDREW DUMM 	        ARLINGTON VA 	23	2:22:44
2 C. FRED JOSLYN 	ROCHESTER MI 	24	2:23:54
3 COREY DUQUETTE 	PENSACOLA FL 	26	2:24:40
4 JARON HAWKINS 	FROSTBURG MD 	25	2:25:19
5 BRIAN DUMM 	        FAIRFAX VA 	25	2:26:00
6 JOSE 	MIRANDA 	MEXICO 		37	2:26:48
7 ALEJANDRO VALDEZ 	MEXICO 		32	2:27:38
8 WILLIAM CHRISTIAN 	FPO 	AE 	25	2:27:56
9 MICHAEL WARDIAN 	ARLINGTON VA 	34	2:28:26
10 KENNETH FOSTER 	BROOKVILLE PA 	22	2:30:01
					
Women					
1 CATE 	FENSTER 	BETHESDA MD 	37	2:48:55
2 LINDSAY WILKINS 	ARLINGTON VA 	30	2:49:06
3 MELISSA TANNER 	BETHESDA MD 	27	2:51:45
4 ABIGAIL STILES 	NEWPORT RI 	28	2:54:47
5 REBEKAH POTTS 	CHAPEL HILL NC 	26	2:55:42
6 MARY BETH MUETHING 	ARLINGTON VA 	30	2:55:54
7 JAYMEE MARTY 	        SACRAMENTO CA 	41	2:57:04
8 MEGHAN RIDGLEY 	RESTON 	VA 	29	2:58:03
9 SHAWNA WILSKEY 	BURLINGTON WA 	36	2:58:05
10 JILANE RODGERS 	WASHINGTON DC 	24	2:58:22

First Photo Below: Navy men worked together near mile 10; Cory Duquette (right) finished in third place, and William Christian (left) was 8th among men. Brian Dumm of USAF (far right) placed fifth.

Second Photo: Melissa Tanner (third place female) and Chris Bains (right, bib 343) passed mile 16 together.

Third Photo: Runners passed mile 26 under a sunny sky with one final uphill ahead.

Read Steve Nearman's race day story for the Running USA wire

See the Marine Corps Marathon Web site