Oregon teachers set records in winning Hilo marathon

Sam Settelmeyer and Amanda Phillips set records at the 19th annual Big Island International Marathon, and that’s not all they have in common.

They’re both Roseburg High School teachers in Oregon and share the same passion for running and their students, but they’re fundamentally different as marathoners.

Settelmeyer finished in 2 hours, 37 minutes and 13 seconds on a rain-soaked, overcast Sunday at Hilo Bayfront, shattering the old mark of 2:51:12 by Japan’s Harumitsu Yoshinaga in 2014.

Phillips placed third overall in 2:53:22, crushing the old record of 3:05:53 established last year by Australia’s Leah Fitzgerald, who has two names that sound local but speaks in a Crocodile Dundee accent.

There were no past winners entered so both first-place spots were waiting for someone new, and that’s an apt description for Phillips, who is basically a rookie.

Phillips, 30, completed just her second marathon. Her first was about three years ago. She had only one regret on a Sunday that saw flashes of sunshine.

“It was beautiful, but I wish I wore a hat,” she said. “The first one I walked for a mile and a half. This one I didn’t. I’m a hill runner, and it made me stronger. It was a hard marathon but worth it.

“I loved all the support from the community. Some people came out of their houses to cheer. That was so cool, and it really picked me up.”

The two record-setters were part of a group of seven from their hometown in Roseburg, Ore. Both train together with one other runner, Jill Pettibone, who was supposed to come for the marathon/vacation, but she was injured and stayed home.

Bummer for her because the group checked out Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, stayed out in scenic Pahoa by the ocean and were planning to do more sight-seeing before flying home.

When Phillips was 12 years old, her stepdad Jerry Overstake and mom Anna Marie took the family, including sister Arika Phillips, who’s a year younger, to Hilo and Kona for a vacation.

It was a no-brainer to run the Hilo marathon when the Roseburg group planned their spring break vacation. It helped that Phillips remembered her good times as a youngster.

“It was one of the best vacations I had,” said Phillips, who inspired the rest of the family to run, but it’s not running that fills her heart.

The record-setters teach multiple subjects at their alternative program. Their students are disadvantaged. Their teachers set no limits on shooting for the moon for their students and themselves.

“I have a passion for the program I work in. Sam and I work very hard,” Phillips said. “We want to bring that same passion and resilience to the students and be role models. I don’t know if I would be racing and running if I didn’t have my job. I want to better myself for them.”

Best role models

Settelmeyer, 24, has completed six marathons, but he also played soccer and ran cross country and track in high school. His dad Jim was his high school and middle schoolcross-country coach.

His dad, mom Joyce and brother Teagan, who was injured but made the trip, all run. It’s a family endeavor, noted Settelmeyer, who tied his personal record with his 2:37 but missed his goal of being under 2:30.

“It’s really rough with the hills but beautiful with the waterfalls and rivers. It was a battle, but it was fun,” he said. “The hills did me in later on. The flat part (down the stretch) was brutal.

“The thing about marathons is to finish with nothing in the tank. I spilled my breakfast, but it was fun. The worst thing is to empty your tank with four miles to go. One race there was a 1,500 foot drop and my quad fell off for the last six miles. This one my legs were just tired. But I kept grinding.”

To empty the tank is not only physical, Settelmeyer pointed out. It’s also a mental battle as well.

“It’s both physical and mental. Your body tries to convince you that you’re done,” he said. “But your mind goes, ‘No, no no.’

“Everybody breaks it down differently. I have checkpoints to keep going.”

Phillips found that as a perfect metaphor for life. Her students have obstacles, but they need to find a way to keep going. It’s never easy — either managing a tough childhood or running a marathon.

But for the Roseburg High School students, at least they have two inspirational role models in Phillips and Settelmeyer, both Hilo marathon record-setters.

Cost U Less Runners

Cost U Less was a major sponsor and healthy participant for the 19th annual Big Island International Marathon, which drew more than 1,000 competitors for its three races: marathon, half-marathon and 3.1-mile run/walk.

The North West Co., the parent company of Cost U Less, runs the Healthy Horizons Foundation, designed to promote health and fitness, especially in remote communities.

The parent company is based in Canada, where it’s always cold during the spring. So what better place than Hilo to hold its inaugural foundation run?

There were about 50 in the group, including North West officials Yvonne Anyon, Scott Munn and Denise Batterton, who stayed for a week, contributing to the Big Island’s tourism dollars.

Eight ran in the marathon, including Munn, who finished in 6:17:16, and 39 participated in the half-marathon, including Anyon, who clocked in at 3:00:16.

The foundation runners raise money and not just small change. Nine runners from Salluit, Quebec raised $35,000, and 47 from Alaska and Canada fetched more 200 grand. The funds go back into the community for health and fitness programs.

“We knew Hilo is a great location, and the race is a well-run event,” Anyon said. “In choosing our inaugural run, we thought Hilo would be a good choice, and we’re definitely looking to come back.”

Final Four still on

David Hammes, DJ Blinn, Marie Kuramoto and Kailua-Kona’s Cowman put another one in the books. The Final Four have completed all 19 Hilo marathons.

Hammes finished in 5:06:32; Blinn in 5:50:37; and Kuramoto in 6:38:58. Cowman finished after the seven-hour time limit.

It was the 48th marathon for Hammes, 115th for Blinn, and 91st for Kuramoto. Cowman lost count but estimated it’s well over 100.

“I finished more marathons than I have hairs of my head,” Cowman said.

Notes

Race director Bob Wedeman said the youngest runner was 5 years old in the 3.1-mile run/walk and the oldest was 91 years old. …

There were about 40 runners from Japan. …

Bayfront Highway was washed out and filled with rocks, so the course didn’t enter through the Wainaku river bumblebee iron bridge.

Instead, Joe Wedemann, in charge of the course set-up, diverted the run through Pauahi Street and around the bridge.

“Every year, it’s always something,” said Bob Wedeman, remembering 2014 when high winds blew away tent canopies. “The one thing I like is trying to make this into a fun event.”