The 2001 Dipsea

The 91st running of the Annual Dipsea Race was a classic mix of everything that makes the event so unique: a blind man was among the top half of all finishers, a svelte female in her mature years crossed the finish line first, a speedy young man was the fastest by the clock, but managed only third place, and 94 year old Jack Kirk ran the entire race, his 66th amazing consecutive Dipsea.

Sunday, June 10th , 2001, was the kind of day in Mill Valley, on Mount Tamalpais, and at Stinson that seemed designed to fit the needs of all the volunteers, spectators, and runners. It was warm enough for tee shirts at the beach, but cool enough on the trail to permit full effort and prevent heat-related injuries. The footing along the trail was good and there were, in fact, not many smash-ups.

The top 35 runners included most of the elite from last year’s race, including top finishers Shirley Matson (her second consecutive victory and third time she has won the Dipsea), Russ Kiernan (who almost always finishes in the top tier), and Christopher Phipps, who blazed the fastest actual time with a speedy 49 minutes and 27 seconds. But, in addition to the regulars, there were a handful of newcomers among those awarded the coveted black tee shirts. That means that new runners are continuing to enter, providing a base of enthusiasts that should keep the race vital for another century.

Besides eager new racers, the longevity of the Dipsea depends on the almost four hundred volunteers who set up, supervise, and clean up year after year. They did another great job in 2001 and deserve the appreciation that the runners and spectators have bestowed upon them.