Portland Marathon 2008

Another fun run - fun for me, anyway. Sarah was hurting, but so determined to finish!

We got to the marathon early enough to meet up with Emanuel, a Runners World Beginner Forum friend. He has had a really good training summer, and was going for a 4 hour time. When we went to the start area, they wouldn't let walker bib colors into the same corral as the runners, so I chose to start with Sarah, and we wished Emanuel a good first marathon!

The weather forecast for today was supposed to be partly cloudy and only 20% chance of showers. I don't think we'll be believing forecasts for awhile. It turned out to be steady rain most of the morning, and the steady was anything from drizzle to light to heavy! And we never did see the sun.

Sarah and I were right outside the fence separating the walkers and runners - her bib was purple, though she meant it to be green. Oh, well, it's a chip race anyway, so not a real big deal. And about 9500 runners, the most for Portland yet! At 6:50, they moved the fence out of the way, and we all crowded together. We met lots of first timers out there this morning!

The race starts before sunrise. This year the chips were built into paper that you wrapped around the shoelaces and then peeled off the sticky part to attach it into a loop. One gentleman who arrived at the last minute (still eating PBJ and yogurt) was having trouble with his chip, and he'd already pulled the sticky part off and got it stuck to itself. So I had him pull a pin off his bib and got it attached that way. I can't imagine eating that close to the marathon!

The start is right downtown Portland. There are lots of musicians that participate along the route, and the first group almost every year is a drum corp. Several drummers along the starting miles this year.

We were downtown and around to Waterfront Park, then up a few blocks, then south toward the turn back to Portland. This is looking south - the 1/2 marathon in a few weeks goes almost all the way up to the hospital on the hill. Thankfully the marathon doesn't climb THAT hill! The harpist is here at this parking lot almost every year, rain or shine!Music after the turnaround was some bagpipes. Then a marimba band on the overpass going down the hill. Next the Columbia Academy Bell Choir (we'd passed them on the way out). The other runners in the bell choir picture are runners doing the 5 mile race.

On the way out of town, towards the industrial section out-and-back, we had a great drummer to set pace!

Out and back, in the industrial area, many people say is boring. I like to see it, and see the businesses and warehouses. And going both ways, you're see you're not as fast or as slow as anybody else.

There were African drums along the route, and they were where we turned off to continue the marathon. I thought it perfect to get a pic with the drums, since Rachel had been in Zambia summer of 2007:

I don't have too many pics of the next few miles, for it started raining harder. The next miles go first through NW neighborhood areas, then drop down to the highway leading to the St. Johns Bridge. When we crossed the half, we were right on 2:30 -- then Sarah's legs started giving her grief, and we did mostly walking for awhile. The bridge seems to not get closer, even though you keep running towards it!

At the base of the bridge is Checkpoint Charlie -- only bibbed runners can continue up and across. Spectators have to go back to town (or get a ride) to find others ways across the river. One of the Portland Fit coaches seemed to be everywhere on the course -- he knew how to get around!

The bridge is beautiful -- and from the top, you can see the finish line, 9 miles (with some turns) away...

I stuck the camera in my pocket with the rain again, but the next section on the east side of the river is along the residential bluffs. Here is where marathon parties happen every year. Very nice neighborhoods. And more music, including a belly dance troupe. And the lawns of University of Portland campus...

Shortly after the balloon arch, we met Michael and Phyllis, Portland Penguins! They looked great out there!

Next some polka music, then some bluegrass. Then we came to the top of the bluff, and it was a long 2 miles or so gentle downhill. Those were running miles! In the middle of the downhill section was the Adidas building -- I had to get pics of the sculptures that we ran by:

The downhill continued, then flattened out (with some ups with changing roads) and the rain came harder! Team Red Lizard had their aid station - they offer beer, we stuck to water!

Across the Broadway Bridge (course change - used to be Steel Bridge) to get back to the west side of the Willamette River. Mile 24 was right on the bridge, then it was down and around off the bridge to get headed back to downtown. The last mile always seems the longest! Then when you can see the fountain on one side and the turn up the street on the other, you know you're close! There is opera playing from the "almost over" sign... So that's the marathon - a wet one, but not too windy, and not cold! The post race goodies were good, too -- fresh orange juice, frozen fruit bars, cookies, some Halloween candy (the little Unos were so good after 26.2 miles), pretzels, potato chips. Runners get a medal, space blanket, rose, fir tree seedling, and finisher shirt. The shirts were damp from the weather, but I know what I'll be wearing tomorrow! :) Oh, yeah - finish time was 6:01 something...