West Seattle, Washington
03 Tuesday
(Photos courtesy Eddie Martin, shown above after the NYC Marathon)
Back in September, we introduced you to Eddie Martin, a West Seattle runner who was about to complete the feat of running in all six World Marathon Majors.
In the past eight days, he’s not only done that, he’s also presented a gift that he promised as a way to pay forward his good fortune – since his NYC run was in part thanks to winning a drawing – and as a tribute to a friend who survived a brush with death.
First – he ran the New York City Marathon on November 3rd, following the 2006 Chicago Marathon, 2007 Boston Marathon, 2012 Berlin Marathon, 2015 Tokyo Marathon, and 2019 London Marathon. Here’s his report:
I finished the New York Marathon (November 3rd) and completed the 6-star journey! It was an absolutely incredible experience finishing the Marathon Majors. Pure joy crossing the finish line.
A few highlights:
The crowds throughout the course were the best I have ever experienced in any marathon. People from all over the world were screaming and cheering the entire way.
I finished in 3 hours, 5 minutes, and 44 seconds. I qualified for the Boston Marathon, but I will not be running it again anytime soon – I need a break!
The energy and excitement among the 53,000+ runners at the start of the race in Staten Island was powerful. Crossing the Verrazano Bridge into Brooklyn at the beginning of the race was one of my favorite moments. I also really enjoyed the finish in Central Park.
The Marathon Majors asked me to do a video interview the day prior to the race (as part of the lucky 6 who were picked to run). They ended up interviewing my wife, Carina, and me in Central Park for the “Marathon Live” show. Here is a link (our interview is around 12 minutes in)
My wife, kids and I stayed in Williamsburg in Brooklyn. We really enjoyed exploring Brooklyn. My mom and stepdad stayed in another place in the Brooklyn area. We all did some sightseeing after the race. We visited the American Museum of Natural History, 911 memorial, Times Square, Brooklyn, Battery Park, Financial District, and rode the Staten Island Ferry to view the Statue of Liberty.
Incredible trip and adventure. My daughters had a lot of fun and were impressed with the massive size of New York (particularly Manhattan).
Now, the life-saving gift. As explained in our September story, Eddie works for a company that makes automatic external defibrillators. After an AED helped save the life of a good friend earlier this year, he resolved to give a gift in gratitude by donating one. At the time we spoke in September, he and his friend hadn’t decided on a recipient yet. They chose a church in Bremerton – where the friend lives – and presented it this past Saturday:
Carina, Estela, Vivian and I met my friend, first responders, community leaders and family/friends Saturday for a small ceremony at Seaside Church in Bremerton. Everyone talked through the extraordinary sequence of events that led to my friend surviving his sudden cardiac arrest. The first responders and nurse were recognized and then we donated the AED to be placed at Seaside Church. Great day!
His friend’s survival was also made possible by fast action from a nurse who lives nearby, and she too was at the ceremony. Kitsap Sun reporter Josh Farley tells the story here, covering Saturday’s event. As noted in that story, the AED will also be available to people who use a Bremerton park that’s next to the church.
If you haven’t already seen this Washington State Ferries alert:
The smaller M/V Salish is scheduled to replace the larger M/V Sealth on the Fauntleroy/Vashon/Southworth route beginning Tuesday, Nov. 12. The 64-vehicle capacity Salish is set to sail in the #2 position on weekdays while running in the #3 position on the weekend. The vessel will remain on the route for about a week.
Customers should give themselves extra travel time and be prepared for delays during peak commute hours, especially during weekday afternoons. In particular, passengers traveling from Southworth in the morning may want to consider using the 7:20 a.m. sailing as the 5:00 and 6:45 a.m. sailings aboard the M/V Salish will have fewer vehicle spaces than usual.
Crews will be working to return a larger vessel to the route as quickly as possible.
5:10 PM: Thanks for the tips, and to Alex Orland for the photo! At sunset, the Bremerton-homeported aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) was seen heading northbound past West Seattle, two and a half weeks after its most-recent return.
ADDED 8:01 PM: Thanks to James Tilley for this photo:
MarineTraffic.com shows the Nimitz is about to pass Port Angeles. It’s been out on training voyages getting ready for its next major deployment.
12:28 PM: SFD is downsizing the initial full response sent to Admiral Pub. It’s reported to be a small kitchen fire. Avoid the area – Californis is blocked.
12:52 PM UPDATE: The call has closed.
1:17 PM: Just checked at the pub. The fire was confined to a fryer and they are open, though some menu items are unavailable until that fryer is fixed.
(WSB photos)
In The Junction, flags go up for many national holidays, and this morning, volunteers led by West Seattle’s American Legion Post 160 put these in place.
You can help remove them this afternoon – meet at 4 pm on the northeast corner of Califorrnia/Alaska. Also in The Junction:
We found Nathaniel Cook, Nate Ford, and Michael Gross from West Seattle’s DAV Chapter 23 outside Husky Deli with forget-me-nots – they said you can get yours there, at Chelan Cafe, or at West Seattle Thriftway (WSB sponsor) today until 2 pm.
(Bald Eagle at Terminal 5, photographed by David Hutchinson)
Good morning! No traffic watch today (cameras are here if you need them) because of the Veterans Day holiday. Here’s what you need to know – first, holiday changes:
Transportation
METRO BUSES: Reduced-weekday service
WATER TAXI: No service today
STATE FERRIES: Moment of silence at 11:11 am, POW-MIA flags all day
HIGHWAY 99 TUNNEL: First weekday of tolls
PARKING: In areas of the city that have paid street parking, it’s free today
Other services
SCHOOLS: Closed
CITY PARK FACILITIES: Closures are listed here
LIBRARIES: All closed, both city and county
USPS: Postal Service holiday
What’s happening today
MERCURY TRANSITING THE SUN: This semi-rare event, with Mercury visible crossing in front of the Sun – if you’re using proper viewing equipment – starts before Seattle sunrise, and continues until about 10 am. Seattle Astronomy plans a viewing event at Seacrest Park – yes, even if it’s cloudy, just in case there’s a sunbreak!. (1660 Harbor SW)
JUNCTION FLAGS: Help volunteers led by American Legion Post 160 put up The Junction’s flags at 9 am and/or take them down at 4 pm. Same meeting place for both. (California/Alaska, NE corner)
VETERANS HISTORY PROJECT WORKSHOP: 10 am-1 pm, learn to contribute to this project with oral histories, as explained here. Free workshop at South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) Georgetown Campus. (6737 Corson Ave. S.)
Just received from Jon @ Cactus Restaurants, which have a West Seattle location at 2820 Alki SW:
All of our Cactus locations would like to offer any veterans or active service members a free meal (dine in) of their choice for lunch or dinner all day today. If someone wants to take advantage of this, they simply need to show some sort of military identification. We’d love to honor and thank our local veterans for their service in this small way.
The Alki Cactus is open until 9 pm. Anyplace else with gifts for those who have served/are serving? Let us know so we can add.
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