NU Coach Mark Mandi running for Club Northwest
NU's Mandi Sixth in Seattle Marathon
SEATTLE, Wash. - Northwest University's head track and field coach, Mark Mandi finished sixth in Saturday's Seattle Rock 'n Roll Marathon with a time of 2 hours 44 minutes and 26 seconds. He was among the estimated 26,000 runners who ran the 26 mile 385 yard (42.195 kilometers) course beneath overcast skies while 45 bands staged along the course blared tunes ranging from rock to reggae and alternative to acoustic. The race began at 7 a.m. in Tukwila, making its way along Lake Washington and the Puget Sound, concluding in the recently re-named Century Link Stadium (Qwest Field) in downtown Seattle
The race was won by 34-year-old Kenyan Jonathan Ndambuki. Ndambuki, who lives in Santa Fe, N.M., won for the second time this year and completed the 26.2-mile course in 2 hours, 24 minutes, 51 seconds. His winning time was about 2 ½ minutes faster than runner-up Teshome Kokebe of Lynnwood, the 2010 Seattle Marathon champion.
"The race was fun," commented coach Mandi. "The race atmosphere was amazing with thousands of people cheering and great music. And it was also nice knowing that I had so many friends competing in the event with me. Also, Alison (Mark's wife) was on the viaduct when I got to mile 23, when I was so exhausted, and she encouraged me and ran alongside me for good chunks of the last 3 miles. She was even reminding me about Jesus and the cross and his suffering for us. How cool is it to have a wife like that?"
For Mark, it was also a tribute to his infant daughter who passed away shortly after birth earlier in the spring.
"After Evelyn passed away," said Mandi, "I decided that I would run a marathon soon because I was so inspired by how my little girl was able to stay strong with us on this earth for the 3 days she was here. I am glad I competed and am thankful for the opportunity to have been healthy enough to run."
Mandi, a fomer University of Washington distance runner and two-time All-Pac 10 First Team Cross Country honoree, ran under the banner of Club Northwest and it was his second marathon after running in his first marathon race in 2007. Mark plans to run in several races this summer but will focus on his third marathon in the fall which is aimed at preparing him both physcially and mentally for an attempt to become an Olympic Games trials qualifier.
With Mark Mandi's physical ability, family support and strong faith, the goal of qualifying for the Olympic trials may be much more attainable than we think.