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☰
Portland Marathon Runner Comments
Back to Portland Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 3.5 
Organization 4.2 
Spectators 4.3
Number of comments: 295 [displaying comments 111 to 121]
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J. O. from Portland, Oregon
(8/4/2009)
"I'm a Portlander and am disappointed in the course" (about: 2008)
6-10 previous marathons
| 3 Portland Marathons
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I really feel bad for out-of-towners that come to this race. Portland has to be one of the best running cities in the nation but this course just does not represent that. It is not scenic at all. I still run the Portland Marathon most every year because my training group does, but I would not do it twice if it weren't my back yard. I will say that the fan turn out and support is spectacular every year. The way the finish comes into the city with the crowd is awesome. I do like the small out-and-back section because you get to see the super fast runners and also you realize just how many people are out there running. | |
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T. G. from La Jolla, CA
(6/30/2009)
"The course is not that bad; it's just not scenic" (about: 2008)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Portland Marathon
COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 The wet weather bothered me more than the course. I read the past reviews and was expecting to be in industrial areas for much of the run. That's not the case. There are only two long stretches of the course that I remember as industrial. It is disappointing, though, that a more scenic route couldn't be found in this beautiful city. By the way, even the local running community complains about this course. | |
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K. M. from South Dakota, USA
(1/8/2009)
"Great for a first-timer!" (about: 2008)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Portland Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Even though this was my first full marathon, I was impressed by the organization. Each aid station was labeled well, had many options (not just water, etc.) and was well-attended. The goody bag was great - a reusable grocery bag! The shirts were awesome - Dri-Fit, long sleeved. The finish was also really nice. There were TONS of food options and the roses and trees given out were a nice touch, too. It is somewhat difficult to find people after the race because the finish chute is so long. The worst part of the course was the uphill to St. John's Bridge, where no spectators were allowed. It rained during the race for the first time in many years, but didn't seem to affect anything much. I highly recommend this race. | |
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S. P. from Clearwater, MN
(10/22/2008)
"Great quality bag/shirt but high elevations" (about: 2008)
3 previous marathons
| 1 Portland Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 This was the first time I ran the Portland Marathon. The weather was not ideal - rainy and cloudy - but it was not hot, and surprisingly the rain helped to cool me off during the run. The elevations were treacherous and the scenery during some parts of the run were less than ideal. I remember seeing homeless people sleeping under a bridge as we were passing by, which decreased my motivation for the run a bit. The goody bag was probably the best quality I have received out of any marathon - cloth bag vs. plastic bag. The medal was ok - nothing exciting. The finisher shirt was of excellent quality - Dri-FIT by Nike. Overall, I would recommend this marathon if you aren't a seriously competitive runner and if you are running for just enjoyment and fitness. | |
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C. S. from Boulder, Colorado
(10/21/2008)
"The good with the bad" (about: 2008)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Portland Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 4 I am going to be nit-picky, because compared to the Bolder Boulder 10K, anything will seem disorganized. Pros: Incredible spectators (despite the rain), cool temperatures, plenty of fluids on the course, lots of food at the finish, and good pacers. The course is fast; don't worry about the hill before the bridge. Cons: The "goody bag" at the expo was pathetic and just contained a bunch of coupons. Biggest problem I had was at the start area: while the bag check folks were efficient, it was difficult to locate wave times and also difficult to join waves due to barricades/fencing along the street. It felt oddly mismanaged. A few miles before the finish, you run on a sucky highway section that is bizarrely devoid of spectators. Be ready for that over the hill, in my opinion. Overall: Fun, memorable, and plenty of places to drink microbrews afterward. | |
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R. W. from Left Coast
(10/20/2008)
"Did we run the same race?" (about: 2008)
6-10 previous marathons
| 3 Portland Marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 After reading the comments, I wonder. There are references to things that I've never seen on this course. First, I like the out-and-back. It's the only time I'm going to be able to see the thousands of runners who are faster than I am. Even on scenic courses I've done, the scenery doesn't really register for me because I'm paying attention to my feet and legs and heart rate. We lost some spectators by the time the back of the pack came along because of the rain, and that's too bad. I had a great time and a 30:39 PR. | |
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D. T. from Kalamazoo, MI
(10/15/2008)
"Portland is not a race run by runners" (about: 2008)
3 previous marathons
| 1 Portland Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 I think everyone should run the Portland Marathon once. Just once. The city and people are wonderful! The Red Lizards pacers are exceptional. Many times, though, I think those in charge of the race chose profit for their charities over the runners. A few examples. Not one time did I ever get an email from the organizers saying anything about the marathon, unless they were selling something. No emails of inspiration; nothing. Just sell, sell, sell. Got one today. Thanks for participating; if you care to donate more, just click. Profit over runner. There was no food on the course at all. Plenty of good fluids, but no food, unless you count gummy bears. I almost begged a spectator for food because I was so hungry at mile 23. I almost ate the seedling they gave you at the end because I was so hungry. Profit over runner. Why run 2.5 miles through an industrial park, turn around at a cone and 2.5 miles back when across the bridge are some of the most beautiful neighborhoods in Portland? Money. No spectators in the industrial park, but in the neighborhoods, lots of them. It costs money to block off roads. Profit over runner. The medal was below average. I ran the Portland, MI Half Marathon (150 runners) this summer and a got a much better medal, by far. Profit over runner. The TSA-like security at the start made it difficult to reach the pace groups. They were letting runners into race area two at a time. Do the math; 8,000 people. Eeeek, what a mess. It would have been nice to buy a nice technical shirt that you could actually run in instead of a cotton, poly mix, but that costs more money too. Profit over runner. All this being said, please run the Portland Marathon; the organizers put in a ton of work. It is well organized and they do care; the runners just have to come first, and right now they do not. | |
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s. b. from vancouver,Canada
(10/14/2008)
"Great organization; course was a little dull" (about: 2008)
3 previous marathons
| 1 Portland Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was my 3rd marathon this year, and my first Portland. I thought the expo was great; I went twice! We stayed at the host hotel, which was great, and Portland was a great city for shopping and dining. The course was a little disappointing, with a lot of industrial areas and the fact that it was pouring with rain didn't add to the ambiance. The spectators were great - especially after the bridge, when it was pretty much downhill to the finish. The end of the race was incredible and really sets the bar for all other finish lines. We got a medal, food, drinks, a rose, a great long-sleeve finisher's shirt, a pin and a tree - better than Christmas day!!! I did a PB despite a lot of walking. I would definitely recommend it. There are lots of aid stations and porta-potties. You just couldn't fault the organization. | |
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M. B. from Texas
(10/14/2008)
"Great City, Good Race" (about: 2008)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Portland Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 I feel compelled to defend Portland a bit. Having read comments and reviews on MG.com for a few years now, I knew this race would have an industrial stretch, so perhaps that's why it didn't bother me. Any deficit this provided was well made up for with its organization, tons of enthusiastic volunteers, spectators, generous spacing of water/electrolytes stations/porta-potties, and the fact that this course is entirely closed to vehicles. Unlike a previous reviewer, I was pleased to find Ultima as the fluid on the course. I'm pretty certain that if they'd wanted, Portland could have had any of the commercially known giants sponsor electrolytes, but consciously chose Ultima. They've used it for two years, and though it's only my opinion, they should switch to a better replacement fluid, without a doubt. Moving on: nice finisher's T handed out as you leave, as well an OR seedling tree to plant in commemoration of the race. Finally, this is a beautiful, lively city with much to offer the traveling marathoner. It rained, but Portland did not disappoint! | |
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S. S. from Central Valley California
(10/13/2008)
"Off year for Portland" (about: 2008)
11-50 previous marathons
| 4-5 Portland Marathons
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 The negative reviews are not surprising. The rainy weather brings out the flaws with this marathon course. If the organizers could incorporate the upscale Pearl District into the start of the course, it would shorten the out-and-back section in the railroad yard. For all of the hills, this is a deceptively fast course. This year's expo was boring. I don't know what was missing; but, after a couple of minutes in there, I wanted to leave. To end on a positive note, the spectators at the finish line are great. The finish area is the best organized of any marathon I've run. |
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