RUNNING : Pfeffer Is San Diego Winner

When Kirk Pfeffer retired from road racing nine years ago, he was one of the best distance runners in the world.

Now that he is on the road again, Pfeffer looks as though he never left. Sunday, he made a runaway of the San Diego Marathon, winning by more than a mile in 2 hours 20 minutes 55 seconds. His time for 26.2 miles averaged 5:22 per mile.

Pfeffer, 37, who grew up in San Diego, attended the University of Colorado and lives in Boulder, spent five years in retirement before he reached the conclusion that he didn’t like it. This was his first marathon victory since he began his comeback.

“I’ve got my confidence back now,” he said. “Even though this isn’t a race like New York, I finished first, and I feel like I’ve got some good races left.”

Jose Luis Chuela of Guadalajara, Mexico, finished second in 2:27:21. James Sheremeta of Del Mar, a San Diego State alumnus, celebrated his 30th birthday by completing his first marathon in three tries and running third in 2:29:50. Marcial Beltran of Cuernevaca, Mexico, a former Fullerton Community College and Occidental College runner, was fourth in 2:33:49.

In the women’s race, Cheryl Brady, 34, of Honolulu overtook Terri Chapman of Escondido in the 24th mile and won in 3:00:16. Chapman was second in 3:02:05, Cinde Wiebusch of Phoenix third in 3:06:13 and Susan Given of Roanoke, Va., the early leader, fourth in 3:12:32.

Back in 1981, Pfeffer won a marathon in Japan in 2:10:29, his personal best. Five years before that, he set a world junior record of 2:17:44 in the old Mission Bay Marathon in San Diego. When he entered Sunday’s race, he was aiming at 2:20, which he missed by a mere 55 seconds.

“I just ran what I thought was a comfortable pace,” he said. “My calves tightened up after 10 miles, but I eventually felt better.

“I took over pretty much from the start. Chuela was with me ‘til the 12th or 13th mile, but then he started falling back, so I felt he was done.”

Chapman came from far back to take the women’s lead from Given in the 13th mile, only to be outlasted by Brady.

“I was hurting,” Chapman said.