Portland Marathon - RunMarathon

What a long but good day! (I can say that now) It never really 'hit' me that I was about to do a marathon. Weird, but my mind was a bit fuzzy all day.

I felt pretty good for the first several miles - just an easy steady run. The group of people around me was running about the same speed as me so I didn't feel like I needed to hurry to keep up or like I was being passed too much. The first part through town was nice, and I felt good even on the uphills. The out and back in the industrial zone is kind of tedious - just a long straight stretch with runners as far as you can see but not much else to look at. During mile 14 I started to feel some stomach cramps and when I stopped at the POP they got much worse. Afterward I ran for a bit but didn't feel very good so I ended up running/walking and then just walking for a long time. That was the beginning of the end for me. While I was walking the 5:30 pace group passed me - that was a huge discouragement because I REALLY wanted to be finished by 5 and a half hours, not still trudging along the course. I walked up the hill to the big St John's bridge (the hill is where the pace group passed), then over the bridge, then did some math and realized just how long I'd be out there if I didn't run at all, so I started mixing some running in with the walkfest. It hurt to walk and it hurt to run, so I alternated to the end. I ran most of the last mile (hard to tell by my splits) and finished smiling, which was my biggest goal.

A couple more longer runs in training. It takes me a long time to go 20 or so miles and I know I have to balance the run benefits with the recovery time (not insignificant for a 4 and a half hour run) but I think the experience would have served me well. Also, I think a regular base run of 15-16 miles instead of 10-12 would have been a big help. I built up from the 10-12 milers instead of building up from the 15-16 milers. I guess just more run volume would be helpful. Also, I need to be lighter for my next one - the extra pounds didn't do me any favors.

As far as run strategy, my first 15 or so miles were on my expected pace, I ate and drank at the right times, and I think it went well. I had to deal with stomach troubles as the showed up, and just adjusted based on that. Hopefully next time I won't have to deal with that.

Walked around the finisher area, got my blanket and medal, ate some grapes and did a little stretching before sitting down and calling my family to tell them I'd finished. The walk back to the hotel was s-l-o-w and cleaning up was even slower. Drank Recoverite as soon as I got back, but not within the 1/2 hour they say.

Had to get to the airport and through security to get on standby for the 4:00 flight - HYGE thanks to SouthWest for getting me home 6 hours before I was scheduled!

Funny security line story - it was a long line and I was apparently suffering from severe PRSS as I heard a "Ma'am!? Ma'am!!" and looked back to see that I had moved up in the line but forgotten my bag. When I thanked the woman, she mentioned that somebody had already moved it up for me at least once. Duh!


First marathon and not really knowing what to expect. Not enough miles in training, particularly not enough long runs. And finally the extra poundage.


The mental aspect of this race surprised me. I wasted energy battling the inner demons of 'I'm not good enough, I should just quit' at too many different times throughout the race. I'll be better prepared for this next time. When my best-case finish time came and went, I was very discouraged to still have so far to go, and when I got passed by the pace group where I most expected to finish and couldn't run along with them was the lowest point. I'm glad to have finished in spite of the periods of negativity, and overall had a great time. The day of the race I was thinking it might be my one and only marathon, but I'm already planning for the next time. :)

The race was well-run and well-supported, started on time, had plenty of services (POPs) but ran out of chocoate milk at the finish by the time got there. I'll be back.