Granted, hard miles lied ahead, but his pace was perfect -- three miles in 18 minutes on the button, precisely the six minutes per mile clip he targeted.
Skies were overcast, temperatures were moderate and the occasional rains were light -- ideal conditions for marathoning.
Plus, there were no indications any rival lurked to leverage Ross out of his comfort zone -- he intended the race to be "a glorified long run'' as part of his training for a fall marathon.
And, best of all, Ross felt fit and lively, all of which dialed him in for as joyous a journey as 26.2 miles can be.
"I thought, 'I'm in a great groove right now,' " Ross said. " 'I'm in a great rhythm, the weather's great. Everything's great.' ''
Turned out that way in the end too.
Ross, 32, of Anchorage, clocked 2 hours, 36 minutes, 38 seconds to win his second straight Mayor's and join a list of six other men who have won the race at least twice in its 35-year history.
Larry Seethaler of Anchorage is the race's only three-time men's champion, winning in 1978, 1980 and 1986. On the women's side, Gerri Litzenberger of Soldotna won Mayor's seven times, the last in 1992, and Olympic marathoner Chris Clark of Anchorage won four times, including her record 2:38:19 in 2002.
Alaskans seized the top three spots overall. Ross was followed by Jeff Heuseveldt of Anchorage, runner-up in a personal-best 2:41:20, and third-place finisher Mark Lindberg of Fairbanks in 2:41:50.
Meanwhile, an Outsider handily outdistanced the women's field.
Annie Thiessen, 37, of Tacoma, Wash., running her 101st career marathon, nabbed her sixth straight 26.2-mile victory this year with a 3:01:34 that furnished a 20-minute gap over runner-up Dorothy Shearn of Anchorage.
As the top Alaska man and woman, respectively, Ross and Shearn each earned two tickets anywhere Alaska Airlines flies.
The men's marathon also produced notable times from a young runner and a masters-division marathoner. Lex Treinen, 18, of Anchorage, who will join the UAA nordic skiing team this fall, finished fifth in 2:49:12 while Roger Sayre, 50, of Fairbanks, took eighth in 2:54:02.
A field of nearly 4,000 runners competed in the marathon and accompanying marathon relay, half-marathon, 5.6-miler and Youth Cup. About 1,550 of those were marathoners.
Though Ross won Mayor's in 2007 in 2:30:47, defending his title Saturday wasn't his highest priority. His training is designed to prepare him for the Marine Corps Marathon in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 26. Ross raced Saturday hoping he wouldn't have to engage in a battle and badly batter his body.
"I want it to be a springboard, not a 2-by-4 to the head,'' Ross said two days before Mayor's. "If it shatters me, that ruins my whole eight-month plan.
After finishing Saturday, he was thankful no other runner pushed him.
"If there was a guy coming out here to run 2:30 or 2:32, it would have been his day,'' Ross said. "Winning wouldn't have been in the cards for me.''
But with occasional company in the form of the winning relay-team members from his work place, Skinny Raven, Ross didn't have to run the whole race alone.
Still, he was happy he didn't have to endure the same wicked punishment as last year, when he crossed the finish line hurting.
This time around, his feet were sore at the finish, and his hamstrings were a touch tender. Yet he felt fresh enough to pump his right fist in celebration at he approached the finish line.
"To get the win today was great,'' Ross said. "Not having (two-time winners like) a Will Kimball or Rich Hanna out there was great too.
"The fact that I could get through 26 miles and not have it shatter me -- not that I didn't suffer, I did especially between 21 and 25 -- and to get to 25 and start feeling better, was nice,'' Ross said.
Ross ran in the lead from the outset on a course that took runners from Bartlett High to West High, mostly over paved bicycle trails and roads. But the course also includes an undulating eight-mile stretch of unpaved backcountry running on the tank trails in the foothills of the Chugach Mountains.
Thiessen also ran alone in the lead and found the backcountry section taxing.
"That was really challenging,'' she said.
Thiessen, a veterinarian who three weeks ago won the Newport Marathon in Oregon in a personal-best 2:56:12, came to Alaska on a vacation/running trip with her older sister, Karen Mielke, of Maplewood, Minn. Karen, 46, ran her first half-marathon (2:50:21).
"Today is all about Karen, so it's nice to win too,'' Thiessen said at the finish before heading out on the half-marathon course to support her sister. "I love to run more than anything, and winning is always nice.''
Find Doyle Woody's blog online at adn.com/hockeyblog or call him at 257-4335.
Men's Marathon -- Top 30
1) Jerome Ross, Anchorage, 2:36:38.7; 2) Jeff Heuseveldt, Anchorage, 2:41:20.5; 3) Mark Lindberg, Fairbanks, 2:41:50.5; 4) John Hill, Kingwood, Texas, 2:43:56.6; 5) Lex Treinen, Anchorage, 2:49:12.7; 6) Joe Adams, San Diego, 2:51:58.2; 7) Evan Hone, Eagle River, 2:52:32.4; 8) Roger Sayre, Fairbanks, 2:54:02.7; 9) Brian Hurley, Fayetteville, Ark., 2:58:16.1; 10) Tony Lewis, Kenai, 3:00:10.1; 11) James Zwiefel, Chugiak, 3:02:16.3; 12) David Johnston, Wasilla, 3:02:24.1; 13) Tom Bronga, Anchorage, 3:04:09.8; 14) Daniel Salvador, Anchorage, 3:05:56.5; 15) Ian Rhude, Anchorage, 3:06:31.5; 16) Adam Johnson, Anchorage, 3:06:38.6; 17) Todd Kasteler, Anchorage, 3:07:18.2; 18) Jeff Phillips, Seattle, 3:08:37.6; 19) Andrew Woodbury, Westfield, Mass., 3:08:41.7; 20) Rudy Brueggemann, Anchorage, 3:08:54.3; 21) Jeremiah Gibbons, Saint Louis, Mo., 3:09:26.3; 22) Matthew Green, 3:09:37.8; 23) Christopher Ashland, Big Lake, 3:10:06.2; 24) Evan Kimber, Signal Hill, Calif., 3:10:10.6; 25) John Taylor III, Des Moines, Iowa, 3:10:33.8; 26) Joe Magellan, Anchorage, 3:10:49.4; 27) Alan Stoll, Anchorage, 3:11:49.4; 28) Scott Traver, Anchorage, 3:14:03.6; 29) John Reed, Anchorage, 3:14:26; 30) Brian Meenaghan, Seattle, 3:14:55.
Women's Marathon -- Top 30
1) Annie Thiessen, Tacoma, Wash., 3:01:34.1; 2) Dorothy Shearn, Anchorage, 3:21:42.6; 3) Angela Erdmann, Santa Barbara, Calif., 3:22:56.3; 4) Holly Pitzenberger, Houston, 3:23:22.8; 5) Alice Nunes, Sitka, 3:24:57.6; 6) Hannah Moderow, Anchorage, 3:26:01.2; 7) Laura McDonough, Anchorage, 3:27:37.7; 8) Andrea Adam, New York City, 3:28:04.0; 9) Jodi Komes, Anchorage, 3:30:24.7; 10) Jenifer Rogers, Anchorage, 3:31:54.8; 11) Jamie Vander Wal, Windsor, Colo., 3:32:07.2; 12) Jane Baldwin, Wasilla, 3:34:17; 13) Kelly Hazel, Summerville, S.C., 3:35:54.3; 14) Jen Bakula, San Francisco, 3:36:14.8; 15) Julie Nelson, Carmel, Ind., 3:36:20.2;16) Kari-Anne Milan, Orinda, Calif., 3:36:24.6; 17) Siobhan Fackelman, Evergreen Colo., 3:36:40.6; 18) Yvonne Overson, Anchorage, 3:38:15.5; 19) Casey Bain, Haslett, Mich., 3:38:23; 20) Becky Munson, Fullerton, Calif., 3:38:31.9; 21) Angie O'Brien, Kenai, 3:39:31.3; 22) Laura Gorsuch, Eagle River, 3:40:29.1; 23) Sondra Setterington, Perrinton Mich., 3:41:50.8; 24) Selina Sanders, Anchorage, 3:42:18.1; 25) Marygay Cross, Tumwater, Wash., 3:42:59; 26) Mary Rowen, Anchorage, 3:44:08.5; 27) Tiffany Cameron, Smithville, Mo., 3:45:46.1; 28) Tara DeWitt, Carlos, Minn., 3:45:58.4; 29) Lalida Crawford, Fairbanks, 3:46:01.9; 30) Chung Ha, Anchorage, 3:46:55.6.
Men's Half Marathon -- Top 20
1) Mike Wisniewski, Anchorage, 1:11:46.6; 2) Michael Boyle , Anchorage, 1:14:51.9; 3) Jeffrey Zickus, Minneapolis, Minn., 1:20:16.6; 4) Scott Clemetson, Anchorage, 1:23:03.0; 5) Paul Kendall, Anchorage, 1:24:54.2; 6) Trent Kirk, Charlotte, N.C., 1:25:17.6; 7) Nathaniel Knapp, Anchorage, 1:25:35.7; 8) Levi Younger, Eagle River, 1:25:41.0; 9) Michael Montague, Girdwood, 1:25:44.5; 10) Brad Forth, New York City, 1:26:08.1;11) David Roosa, Anchorage, 1:26:40.4;12) Edward Frank, Anchorage, 1:27:48.4;13) Gregory Schroll, Chugiak, 1:28:05.0; 14) Alex Babos, Eagle River, 1:29:32.1; 15) Bill Coghill, Soldotna, 1:30:23.0; 16) Ethan Zinck, Anchorage, 1:30:30.0; 17) Mark Bartley, Blue Earth, Minn., 1:30:36.4; 18) Bob Gerik, Anchorage, 1:30:48.6; 19) Thomas Burton, Anchorage, 1:31:01.9; 20) Jim Munro, Southwell, 1:31:25.6.
Women's Half Marathon -- Top 20
1) Gretchen Flora, Anchorage, 1:27:43.5; 2) Colleen Miller, Anchorage, 1:30:47.6; 3) Kaitlin Hurley, Portland, 1:30:58.3; 4) Kara LaPoint, Truckee, Calif., 1:33:02.5; 5) Michelle Thom, Chicago, 1:36:12.0; 6) Kimberly Fanady, San Francisco, 1:36:33.7; 7) Mariah Applegate, Anchorage, 1:36:44.9; 8) Kristina Eaton, Anchorage, 1:38:01.2; 9) Chrissy May, Anchorage, 1:38:56.5; 10) Michelle Baxter, Anchorage, 1:39:01.7; 11) Lori Hashim, Morro Bay, Calif., 1:40:03.8; 12) Tarra Miedema, Grand Rapids, Mich., 1:40:04.9; 13) Nicole Leman, Anchorage, 1:40:50.8; 14) Andrea Neeser, Anchorage, 1:41:06.4; 15) Jamie Redman, Wasilla, 1:41:12.0; 16) Brenda Applegate, Anchorage, 1:42:06.5; 17) Angie Meahan, Eagle River, 1:42:06.9; 18) Paula Hope, Anchorage, 1:42:49.1; 19) Polly Wheeler, Anchorage, 1:42:56.9; 20) Rosika Nees, Anchorage, 1:43:11.9.
Men's 5.6-Miler -- Top 20
1) Ben Sauvage, Seattle, 30:28.1; 2) Jacob Kirk, Anchorage, 33:26.6; 3) Zachary Tang, Anchorage, 33:58.3; 4) Patrick Lavin, Anchorage, 35:34.7; 5) Alex Odegaard, Anchorage, 36:21.0; 6) Ronen Haldar Sinha, Sherman Oaks, Calif., 36:50.0; 7) John Stanek, 36:56.2; 8) Josh Holland, Anchorage, 36:58.2; 9) John Wirum; 37:12.2; 10) Lance Williamson, Homer, 37:29.8; 11) Timothy Johnson, Anchorage, 37:37.0; 12) Jonathan Oen, Anchorage, 38:13.6; 13) Todd Stark, Anchorage, 39:01.4; 14) Philip Tabb, 39:15.8; 15) Todd Jackson, Anchorage, 39:21.0; 16) Jacob Richey, Eagle River, 39:51.4; 17) Josef Chmielowski, Anchorage, 40:07.8; 18) Randy Stebbins, Colville, Wash., 40:12.5; 19) Jeremy Weaver, Anchorage, 40:27.0; 20) Shawn Gibson, Wasilla, 41:02.0.
Women's 5.6-Miler -- Top 20
1) Danielle Gerik, Anchorage, 39:18.9; 2) Erin Jordan, Anchorage, 39:28.2; 3) Michelle Holland, Anchorage, 39:39.1; 4) Mychaela Bailey, 40:07.8; 5) Chelsea Blanchard, 40:08.6; 6) Sarah Allen, Anchorage, 40:10.6; 7) Tammy Weaver, Anchorage, 40:25.8; 8) Allison Melocik, Anchorage, 40:33.9; 9) Sarah Thomas, Eagle River, 41:25.1; 10) Sarah Martinez, Anchorage, 41:37.3; 11) Diana Cedeno, Tucson, Ariz., 41:40.6; 12) Polly Wirum, 42 42:17.1; 13) Casey Martinez, Anchorage, 42:19.6; 14) Sydney Hazel, Summerville, S.C., 42:27.0; 15) Kimberly Borke, Anchorage, 42:35.4; 16) Robin Stramp, Anchorage, 43:14.5; 17) Julie Quilliam, 43:28.2; 18) Julia Weston, Anchorage, 43:29.0; 19) Valerie Kirk, Anchorage, 44:09.6; 20) Victoria Clark, Anchorage, 44:21.8.
Marathon Relay -- Top 20
1) Skinny Raven Open Men, 2:36:03.4; 2) Wasilla High School Age 2:45:41.1; 3) Sophomore Slump School Age 2:59:52.0; 4) Got the Runs Mixed 3:08:14.2; 5) Slow Skinny Raven Corporate 3:10:34.7; 6) The Frontbottoms Mixed 3:12:12.1; 7) Helaman's Army Open Men 3:16:55.5; 8) The Speed Eagles School 3:22:49.8; 9) Team Advil Mixed 3:24:16.1; 10) Three Girls and a Guy Mixed 3:32:09.0; 11) Team Not in Training Corporate 3:32:42.8; 12) The Rusty Squirrels Mixed 3:33:20.5; 13) Team Propulsion Military 3:33:50.0; 14) Ashburn & Mason Mixed 3:35:19.4; 15) Spartans Military 3:35:37.2; 16) Firebirds Open Women 3:37:18.6; 17) Dinkinflicka Open Men 3:40:05.3; 18) Team Turnagain Mixed 3:40:12.2; 19) Team Here for Beer Open Women 3:43:56.3; 20) 99517 Open Women 3:44:32.7.
TIMES: For complete race results go to:
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