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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 261 to 271]
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A Runner from Seattle, Washington
(10/28/2002)
 "fun, fairly fast, and a little extra fun" (about: 2002)
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 Had a great time in Portland as the race was well organized, the course seemed smooth and varied (except for a couple of industrial stretches), and the fan support was awesome. I PR'd by over 6 minutes which I thought was impossible. There were some small and gradual hills but nothing a northwesterner wouldn't be prepared for. I like how it was scheduled for a decent weather time of year, unlike another big marathon (Seattle). In fact I may just have to run Portland every year instead of Seattle since who wants to run 26.2 in the dark during a biting cold rainstorm!! | |
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A Runner from Mesa, Arizona
(10/25/2002)
 "Best Organized --I think NOT!" (about: 2002)
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 4 The start area was pure chaos, runners mixed in walkers. Porta John lines running into the start area. Unless you fight your way right up to the front, you have the pleasure of working your way around walkers for a couple of miles on narrow streets. The water stops where set up in many instances on one side of the road, which early on meant a dead stop to get fuilds. Then you have the add benefit of they changed where the water versus sport drink was at various stops. This course by no means is fast, there are far more long up upgrades with several screaming downhills that lead to another climb. Then you get to the finish area and it to small to accomodate all the runners so you get out of there quickly to be informed that you can't reenter. They never mention where to pick up your finishers Tee shirt, but you difinitely knew you couldn't come back. The one thing that worked great the light rail system, got me from the airport to the hotel and to the start line and back. Plus it was dirt cheap, thanks for small favors. This was my eleventh marathon and I don't consider myself a tough grader, but I wouldn't consider running this one again without some significant changes to the start and finishes area. The honor system on how you line up to start isn't working folks. For the thirty first edition it felt like it had been thrown together a couple of days before. | |
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A Runner from Seattle
(10/23/2002)
 "awesome race awesome race" (about: 2002)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 You won't find better community support anywhere else. Maybe as good, but not better. Plenty of water stops. Reasonable amount of potties. Good sites... even the 'boring' stretches had bands. Runners encouraging other. Great post-race food. BTW, the comment below regarding a half marathon? Hmmm... The Portland Marathon is only a full... they don't have a half marathon event. Only one killer hill leading up to the St. John's Bridge, but my oh my is it a killer. Fabulous race. If it wasn't the same weekend as other big races, I would run it every year. | |
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Bautista from Portland, OR
(10/12/2002)
"Awesome Rose City Spectator Support!!!" (about: 2002)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was my first marathon and I think that the course was great! A couple of steep hills but very exciting. Also the aid stations and course music were great. I'll run it next year again! | |
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A Runner from Canton,Mass
(10/7/2002)
"Hills going out and hills coming back" (General Comments)
COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 Three of us ran the half marathon and this course is tough.Sure,it was nice along the waterfront and through the woods but there were some serious hills there.Between the 3 of us we have run 40 or so marathons/half marathons so we know what a hill looks like and there were hills.The race was well organized except for a lack of porta-potties.Plenty of water and post race treats.Finisher medals to all finishers and nice mock turtle T-shirts. | |
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A Runner from Beaverton, Oregon
(10/7/2002)
 "A couple more comments" (General Comments)
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I just wanted to add to my last comments. After reading the negative comments about the race I was scared of the long industrial stretch. It was fine! Yes, not very pretty but with music and people all along the way, who cares? You come out of the industry through funky NW and all of those fun folks out there CHEERING you on as you go. Soon you're half way and you're on the long (how many times have I heard the word boring?) part to the St John's bridge. But, it was fine. It was flat, cars were passing but politely so and many of them also cheering on our bravery. Soon it's mile 17 and we were on the bridge! Beautiful! We looped through gorgeous Eastside and I was overwhelmed by the volunteers and all of the people out cheering us on. What about those belly dancers? Who asked that girl to come out and throw her batton? Who asked that lady to belt out the blues? Who asked that group of people to do the wave as we ran by? Who asked the college kids to blast 'Eye of the Tiger?' for us at mile 19? I loved it! All these people were doing it for us! And then coming in on the waterfront, one man kept yelling, 'No more miles now! Just minutes!' Crossing the finish line was spectacular and we were treated so well. How many of those volunteers looked me in the eye and said, 'You are awesome! Well done!' After reading previous comments I dreaded getting my t-shirt. What were those people complaining about? You walk with the sea of foil-wrapped runners, down a little incline to a speedy table to get a sappling and then to the table for your shirt, oh yes, and we were congratulated the entire time. You loop back up and there are pictures and family. It was awesome. I had my slowest time of 4 marathons but the best time of my life! It was my sister-in-law's first marathon. She had told me that she was afraid of what it would be like and that she hoped it wouldn't be so bad that she would never run one again. I turned to her as we crossed the Steel bridge at mile 25, 'Are we doing this next year?' she looked through corner of her eye, 'Oh yeah!' RIGHT ON! | |
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A Runner from Bend, Oregon.
(10/7/2002)
 "Most fun i ever had in a marathon" (about: 2002)
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 Course: Some camber, hills not too bad, no much scenery, pretty fast, awesome spectators and volunteers. Aid stations: wicked awesome. I wouild like to add that, here and there in the first 18 miles, the road surface was slick with moisture and motor oil, that doesnt affect most people but some will be unable to use a natural stride. The Volunteers and pro's were always there for you!!! Go to Port! its fun, fun, FUN. | |
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A Runner from Beaverton, Oregon
(10/6/2002)
"Just a fun run" (about: 2002)
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Ok, I read all of the comments about this marathon this morning at 3 o'clock as I prepared to run it. Yes, the damn walkers get VERY annoying. They stay all over, left side, right side, down the middle. With that said, I loved it! The people were great, volunteers, spectators and runners. The music, cheerleaders and food along the way were awesome and saved me. Gummy bears? Skittles? Ladies dressed as hula girls? Signs quoting the bible? Garage sales? Industry? Autumn leaves? Portland! It was so fun! Even my friend who watched and husband who skipped it vowed to do it next year. It was awesome and I am tired.... | |
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A Runner from kelso, washington
(9/20/2002)
"what a hoot" (General Comments)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 A very nice course to run. The entertainment is great and the crowds are great. Just an all around fun event to run. Looking forward to it again. | |
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Bigboy Running from Boise, ID
(7/17/2002)
"EXCELLENT!" (about: 2001)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This race was great! The course is really flat and fast. There is an industrial park which you go out and back through but sometimes that is unavoidable. Only one major hill on the course. The finish is mostly downhill. Yes, the train that people had to wait for in 2001 must have been a real downer for those trying to qualify. Kudos: If you have to stay in a hotel, stay downtown. You can then walk to the starting line! T-shirts are long sleeve, Cool-Max, but they are the same every year except for the year. Awards are great. Plaques go 3 deep in each age group. Finisher medals are huge. Postrace food is plentiful. Expo was great. Finisher magazine was thick and colored with numerous photos. Gripes: Finish line is tightly packed in an enclosed area. The train in 2001 that prevented some from reaching qualifying times. |
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