National recognition raises the stakes for Paden trail half marathon

Muddy narrow trails through forested hills, transitioning between horse path and gravel, make the fifth annual Lake Padden Trail Half Marathon the most competitive race in Washington and arguably in the region, said race founder Al Coyle.

Since winning a three-year bid to host the USA Track and Field Trail Half Marathon National Championship in 2014, the event has only grown more prestigious.

“I think just being out in the woods is really nice, I feel in some ways it is more of a challenge,” said Chuck Dooley, who has run the Lake Padden half since it’s inaugural year. “You have to keep up a good pace but you have to deal with the terrain more — rocks, roots. You have to be skilled at running downhill too, more agile.”

Saturday, Oct. 17, marks the second year Lake Padden will host the USATF Trail Half Marathon National Championship. The national recognition has increased the quality of the race tremendously, Dooley said.

Runners are faster, with more sponsored athletes traveling to Bellingham to compete, he said.

About 300 people run the half marathon every year and registration to compete closed on Thursday at midnight. However, for the first time the race will include the Al Coyle 5K, which is open to race-day registration.

The half marathon is a double loop around the lake, extending deep into the foot trails to the west and up a steep incline east of the lake near Galbraith Mountain. This 400-foot elevation gain is the highest point in the race and must be climbed twice.

In previous years, the track was a figure-8 that only climbed the hill once and Dooley predicts the times this year will be a little slower with the new obstacle.

Trail races have a different atmosphere than road races, Dooley said. Runners are focused on the terrain and the uneven path is less jarring than running long distances on pavement.

“My first competitive race was in 1971, so I've been racing for a while and I don't know if I would be healthy anymore if I just ran on the roads,” Dooley said.

At 59, Dooley is at the top of his age group and has no intention to stop running. Racing may someday take a backseat, but for now he is looking forward to his next birthday, which will place him at the bottom of the next age division, he said.

"Who wants to turn 60? But as a runner it's like, oh I don't mind,” Dooley said.

When Al Coyle started the race five years ago, he decided to do it for the children of Whatcom County who live in under-resourced circumstances.

All of the money raised from entry fees goes to Rebound of Whatcom County.

“We wanted to keep the focus on the kids,” Coyle said. “To help the kids.”

While Coyle is honored the race has received popularity since becoming the national championship, that is not the focus, it’s the glitch, he said positively. No matter how big it gets, the Lake Padden Trail Half Marathon is first and foremost a community running event.

This story was originally published October 16, 2015 at 6:06 PM with the headline "National recognition raises the stakes for Paden trail half marathon."