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Portland Marathon - RunMarathon


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Portland, Oregon
United States
60F / 16C
Overcast
Total Time = 3h 18m 40s
Overall Rank = 301/7745
Age Group = F25-29
Age Group Rank = 7/654
Pre-race routine:

Stayed at residence inn about a mile away from the start, with lots of other runners of course. The hotel package included pasta dinner at spagetti factory, which was a nice touch I thought. Checked out expo, ate pasta, got everything ready, was in bed by 9.

Event warmup:

Got up at 5, ate an english muffin and a banana, coffee, the usual routine. However bathroom trip was not successful which cost me a minute in the race :(
Headed to the start with some other folks from hotel around 6. Crowded, not enough porter-potties, so I had to use open-air ones in the bushes ;)
Made my way to the front of the crowd by the start line where the 3:10 pace group was. Pretty big crowd, mostly guys trying to qualify for Boston of course. Our pacer was a sub 2:50 guy, seemed like he knew what he was doing, unlike the guy at NYC last year.. So I decided to trust my race to him.
Run
  • 3h 18m 40s
  • 26.2 miles
  • 07m 35s  min/mile
Comments:

First mile, I was excited of course and had no idea how fast we were going, but when I hit it at 6:50, I thought maybe I should just go on my own. However, I was feeling really good and decided to drop a few fast ones and maybe even overcome my goal. Bad decision making - both on my part and the pacer dude. I kept with the group till about 1/2. First 5 miles were all under 7. Then we settled at a nice pace right around 7:13-7:14. I felt really good and was chatting to people about NYC and Boston.
I hit half at 1:32:40, just 30 seconds off my half PR...
By mile 14 I really had to go to the bathroom :( So I jumped into a porter potty. Spent exactly a minute in it, got back on the course feeling really relieved. I could still see my pace team ahead, but wasn't able to catch up to them. I kept about the same pace though. Between miles 14 and 16 I saw a few guys drop out of the pace group and start walking...
There was a big hill at 17-18, which is a little scarier in person than it looks on course profile, but I just powered up it using short steps. I started getting a little tired, but after the top of this hill it was all slight downhill so I was hoping I can hold my goal pace till the finish.
As much as I wanted to I couldn't let myself go all out on the downhill. Barely did sub 8-s for the next couple miles, and started really slowing down at 20. :( It also got really windy (or maybe it just seemed so because of how tired I was). I lost sight of my pace team by then and even had to let 3:15 pace team pass by me around mile 24... I tried to hang with them, but I couldn't. I even had a 9min-mile at 25. I got it back together and ran the last mile somewhat decent.

Post race
Warm down:

They served ice cream at the end and also gave us each a rose and a tree (to plant). This was unusual! Walked in the finish area, stretched a bit, walked to the hotel.

What limited your ability to perform faster:

I am ok with my race overall. For having stomach issues and bonking, and not putting the right training in, 3:18 is not a bad finish time. I do think I was capable of a better result Sunday had I paced myself better. I learned my lesson: next time I won't go with the pacer if it feels wrong. I had this thought go through my head at mile 4 or so that I'll probably regret going so fast in the first miles, and I sure did... Next time I won't make the same mistake.




Last updated: 2007-10-24 12:00 AM
Running
03:18:40 | 26.2 miles | 07m 35s  min/mile
Age Group: 7/654
Overall: 301/7745
Performance:
Course: Pretty flat for the most part with occasional rolling hills and a big hill at mile 17
Keeping cool Good Drinking Just right
Post race
Weight change: %
Overall: Below average
Mental exertion [1-5] 4
Physical exertion [1-5] 4
Good race? Yes
Evaluation
Course challenge Just right
Organized? Yes
Events on-time? Yes
Lots of volunteers? Yes
Plenty of drinks? Yes
Post race activities: Average
Race evaluation [1-5] 4

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2007-10-24 10:16 PM

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Veteran
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Seattle
Subject: Portland Marathon


2007-10-25 7:14 AM
in reply to: #1023463

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Expert
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Michiana
Subject: RE: Portland Marathon
Great job.  My wife and I had a similar experience with the 3:40 pacer in Columbus.  He did the first 3 miles all under 8:00.
2007-10-25 10:18 AM
in reply to: #1023463

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Expert
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Conifer, Colorado
Subject: RE: Portland Marathon
You ran a great race in spite of your problems... Obviously, your first half was too fast... Awesome pace though...

Run for your life!
2007-11-07 7:00 PM
in reply to: #1023463

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Veteran
306
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Subject: RE: Portland Marathon
Sounds like you had a lot of  fun!!
2007-11-07 8:55 PM
in reply to: #1023463

Master
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portland, or
Subject: RE: Portland Marathon
Nice job. How did you like that long down hill at mile ~24? Despite living in Portland, it's been a few years since I did the race, but that down hill always killed me.

scott
2007-11-08 8:24 AM
in reply to: #1023463

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Pro
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Wisconsin near the Twin Cities metro
Subject: RE: Portland Marathon
Nice job!!!!


2007-11-08 8:45 AM
in reply to: #1023463

Iron Donkey
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, Wisconsin
Subject: RE: Portland Marathon
Nice run!  I like the idea of the plant at the end - that's kinda cool, but maybe somewhat cumbersome having to lug it around afterwards.
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