For a good long while a few of our athletes had injury streaks that seemed to go on forever. That’s the cost of heavy training, without proper care, or the kind of care that is possible for the full-time runner. Such was the case for teammate, Amber Morrison, who suffered an oblique tear with avulsion fracture last winter, which left her on a long road to recovery, having to postpone final attempts at the Olympic Trials qualifier. Practicing unlimited patience, she worked her way back to fitness over the last year, with aims at tackling the Detroit Free Press Marathon. With a hard couple weeks and a small flare-up in her oblique prior to what would have been the start of the marathon, Morrison decided to postpone it, moving to the 1/2. A smart move, as she took 1st Female in tumultuous weather. From the Detroit 1/2, under the guidance of her coach, the two moved loosely towards the Amica Insurance Seattle Marathon, held on Sunday, 11/27, willing to drop the idea if the body fatigued from the length of the training cycle. A week before the Seattle Marathon, Olsen signed up for the 1/2 and Morrison signed up for the Full, hoping that together, they could represent top finishes for Bellingham Distance Project, for Bellingham, and for Saucony as Saucony Hurricanes.
“The Seattle Marathon began modestly in 1970 when a group of friends from the University of Washington decided to hold their own running event. 38 runners started the first annual event, with 31 of them completing the full 26.2 miles. From these modest beginnings the Seattle Marathon Family of Events has risen to become one of the largest and most influential mass-participation runs on the West Coast, being ranked by Runners World Magazine as one of the top 20 marathons in the United States…”
The November wet and wind took a break on Sunday, 11/27, just enough that the two could compete in near perfect conditions. At 7:30 am, just as the sky began to lighten, Olsen took off in the 1/2. 45 minutes later, at 8:15 am, Morrison would start the marathon. Throughout their races, their support teams of Amber’s mother, Ladonna, Courtney’s partner, Matthew, and teammates Aly and Nikki were out on the course cheering,taking discarded clothing and photographs. Olsen and Morrison felt deeply cared for and supported. 
The Seattle 1/2 and Marathon are not known for being fast, they’re known for being hard. There are big climbs intothe Arboretum, where the terrain rolls, until you’re back downtown. The finish is awesome – with a long stretch across the field within the Memorial Stadium, the length of which is lined in people cheering, the announcer, Tom Cotner of Club Northwest singing the praises of the people.
The top 1/2 Male Finisher was Joe Gladow with a finishing time of 1:11:25. Courtney Olsen was 1st Female in 1:21:24, 2 minutes ahead of 2nd place. The top Male Marathon Finisher was Kota Reichert in 2:33:58, with Amber Morrison 1st Female in 2:55:09, 4 minutes ahead of 2nd place. For a full results see HERE!
Morrison and Olsen would like to thank Amica Insurance Seattle Marathon, the Seattle MarathonAssociation, Saucony, their Saucony rep, Ashley Barret, Nuun, their families, friends and teammates for all of their product and support. Without “team,” they wouldn’t have accomplished such a cool duel-victory at the Amica Insurance Seattle Marathon and Half! 
