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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 171 to 181]
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S. M. from Pensacola, Fl
(10/13/2006)
"maybe the second best marathon in the country" (about: 2005)
3 previous marathons
| 1 Portland Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 Very well organized, but lonely at times. Big hill around mile 16. | |
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S. T. from West Glacier, MT
(10/12/2006)
"Super marathon in a fantastic city!" (about: 2006)
6-10 previous marathons
| 2 Portland Marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This is the second time I have done the Portland Marathon. I was again impressed with the organization and the awesome crowd support. It is a bit crazy at the start and hard to get out fast... but if you are looking for a FUN marathon, this is a must-do. Everything is well run... from the expo which starts on Friday to the great food after the run! I had a great time... and will come back in the future. | |
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S. C. from Government Camp, Oregon (Mt. Hood)
(10/9/2006)
"Fun first-time marathon; great for walkers" (about: 2006)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Portland Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 They ran out of shirts.... How does that happen? They had my money; all they had to do was order it. If people registered late, then they should have been the ones to wait for a shirt, not the people who registered before the deadline. Many miles of ugliness going through industrial area. Why not send runners through Laurelhurst or something? Maybe logistics for closing the roads. They need more porta-potties at the beginning. This was my first marathon, and I walked with a friend who was also a first-timer. She needed to pee at mile 5 and we lost a good 15 minutes waiting in line only to find a couple miles up the road there were lots of potties and NO lines. Otherwise a good experience. | |
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Eddie Hahn from Rancho Cucamonga, CA
(10/9/2006)
"Awesome Marathon Event; Improve Pasta Dinner" (about: 2006)
50+ previous marathons
| 4-5 Portland Marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Portland's previous denotation by The Ultimate Guide to Marathons as being the best organized marathon in North America is well deserved. That being said, previous comments notwithstanding, I would concentrate the room for improvement in (one) area: the pasta feed. Despite the pre-race brochure indicating pasta dinner tickets could be purchased at the expo, there were no tickets being sold there. (I walked the length of the expo twice and asked three different volunteers, and no one knew about it). Finally I asked the information booth (Saturday) who told me it was "sold out." Since the address/location was listed and I knew the Oregon Sports History Museum, I went there anyway. To the marathon's credit, they allowed me in, and even accepted my credit card, despite the fact it was set up for cash only. The food fare was fine, and beverages ample, and I thought my $20 was well spent when I was told I could get a second plate... until more and more runners showed up. The building was too small and overbooked. A marathoner I was dining with was turned away from even taking a water to go! Recommendation: reserve a larger area. As nice, pleasant and aesthetic a setting as the sports museum is, it was too small a location, especially for a 35th anniversary event. Outside of that the event is impeccable. Well marked splits with huge balloons every mile. Two varieties of energy drink and water about every two miles, and even a Red Bull sports drink station. Entertainment: Blue grass, Christian rock, harps, blues, bells, banjos, high school bands, and more. Out of the 70 marathons I have run, I can't remember one with quite as much musical variety along the course. The food at the end of the marathon also ranks up there with the most in quantity and best in quality of most major marathons. The course is a little "dry" and boring just before the St. John's Bridge, but that couldn't be avoided without eliminating it from the course, something I am sure nobody wants. The view from the top of that bridge affords the most beautiful view of the city along the whole route. I am not sure why there are so many negative comments about the all-weather, mock-turtle, long-sleeve shirt. I find the material very pleasant and comfortable; and to have a choice of colors (green or white) was a nice perk. As for the medal, they kept it within the tradition of the marathon's history. Who could ask for more? | |
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L. P. from the flat lands
(10/9/2006)
"Worth the trip" (about: 2006)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Portland Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 Portland is a fun town with much to offer. Wished I could have stayed longer. Easy to get around by streetcar. The farmers market on Saturday with all its flowers and organic foods was awesome. Visited MT. Hood and Timberline lodge. That was just awesome. Now for the race: Pros - Good organization, solid water stops, medal and shirt were average but OK. Post-race food was better than most. Good crowd support. St. John's Bridge hill climb was something followed by a steady grade climb that doesn't show in the elevation chart well. Cons - Construction at mile two slowed the race to a walking event for a few minutes due to the bottleneck of runners, and I mean a slow walk. Mile markers weren't always easy to see with a balloon. Some signs didn't have a balloon and they were behind water tables or attached to a fence. Can't understand why race organizers can't put them up above street level. Still don't like water from a garden hose and fire hydrant. Drinking water from a fire hydrant with a garden hose attached or dipping water from garbage cans is not healthy. Go get a water sponsor. Thanks Portland. Good job and we'll be back. | |
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T. H. from Portland, OR
(10/8/2006)
"My home-town favorite" (about: 2006)
4-5 previous marathons
| 2 Portland Marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I have run the Portland Marathon twice. The community support is great and the aid stations many. Not nearly the wait at porta-potties I have dealt with in other races. The course is challenging, with a couple of big hills, but opera at the finish line and the roses get me every time. Oh, and this year the weather was perfect - 65 degrees, sunny, with a light breeze! It's my favorite race, and I am not just saying that because I am local. | |
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Mark Hollingsworth from Port Angeles, Washington
(10/8/2006)
"Great time, well organized, fairly flat, I like it" (about: 2006)
6-10 previous marathons
| 2 Portland Marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This is my second Portland and sixth marathon since I started running just over two years ago. I got my best time this year of any. Weather was perfect, not too hot. I didn't mind the hills, the first was early enough I didn't care too much, the second I ran about 1/3 and just fast walked the rest (passing some people running). After that it is mostly flat or downhill. Of course, those one-foot elevation gains in the last two miles *seem* like a big hill! The course isn't as scenic as the Discovery Marathon, but I enjoyed all but the industrial area. Even that was ok. The residential area past St. John's Bridge was quite nice. I enjoyed all the spectators and never had any problems with routes or knowing where to go, etc. The only tight place was near the beginning on "Marathon Avenue." But it was only for a very short time so it didn't bother me. Good food at the end, although they ran out of ice cream not long after me (hope they got some more in). I like the shirt. Too crowded for the porta-potties at the beginning and most of them on the route, but I'm not sure what they can do about that. I suppose more get pretty expensive and maybe even hard to get that many. I saw a lot of people just bailing out on the side of the course rather than wait in line. Just to put it into perspective, I ran it in 4:52 and I'm 50. Not one of the fast guys. My goal is always to have a good time, finish and feel good at the end. Overall, lots of fun, the fastest course I've run and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it. | |
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Joe Ely from Indiana, USA
(10/6/2006)
"Great race, once it started" (about: 2006)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Portland Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 5 I really enjoyed this race, after the start, which was the only negative. Disorganization on the bag drop and no pace markers to line up with was a problem. However, the rest went well. I thought the course was easy. Only one big hill to deal with, and even for a flat-lander from Indiana like me, it was not a problem. Aid stations were plentiful and cheerful. Some of the gripes here about the course I think are unwarranted. To lay out 26.2 miles in a city will take you through a variety of neighborhoods. I think the organizers did and continue to do a good job. And the fans!! They were great. What fun... they had fun and the runners had fun - it was a great atmosphere. I enjoyed the race, PRed by 8+ minutes and had a great time. I'd run it again if I had occasion to be in Portland around race day. | |
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J. E. from Richland, Oregon
(10/6/2006)
"Spectator support was wonderful!!!" (about: 2006)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Portland Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 This was my second marathon, with the first being much smaller. I didn't leave any warmups at the start, a blessing. That was a jam-up! And after the congestion just past the start(2 miles?), I figured I could not make the time I wanted. When I reached the damn hill onto St. John's Bridge, I KNEW I couldn't! But the spectators and the entertainment were outstanding, and the cheers for me by name (on my bib) did make a difference, even when I didn't have the energy to acknowlege them. I never realized how the encouragement of strangers could boost my spirits! I will admit that the seven-mile long out-and-back was demoralizing, but better on the coming back part. Red Bull actually calmed my nausea at the 20-mile point, though the honey stuff had made it worse, along with the gummy bears. Live (run) and learn! GU stations with water next time? That helped in the other marathon I ran. The water/sports drink stations to the end (why one within one mile or less of the finish?!) were appreciated, and not available at the other marathon. | |
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R. O. from Mount Vernon, Washington
(10/6/2006)
"The spectators are world-class." (about: 2006)
6-10 previous marathons
| 2 Portland Marathons
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Negatives: The hill leading up to the St. John's Bridge is challenging. Not really a negative, just part of the course. Also, I understand the reason for taking the course through the industrial section of town (makes it flatter), but it isn't my favorite part. More porta-potties at the starting line, please. Also, the gear dropoff line was too long; I ended up stashing my stuff and finding it later. Positives: The course more than makes up for it on the east side of the river. The sweeping views were stunning. Although I don't run marathons to be cheered on, there were spectators on every part of the route where they were allowed to be, something I haven't seen in most marathons. And they were very supportive. I'd be lying if I said it didn't help push me, especially in the last miles. The volunteers are also world-class. Always helpful, always cheerful and supportive - every last one I came into contact with. The aid stations were all fully stocked and helpful at the time I came through them. |
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