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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 271 to 281]
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A Runner from los angeles
(7/1/2002)
 "sorry sir, strictly no tshirt size exchange" (about: 2001)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 I ran Portland last year. Organization is just as good as anywhere else. Great start 7 am sharp when it's still dark. By the time it gets warm it's almost over. Not too many spectators if you're looking for some. But, the gypsies & residents at M17, 20 & 26 deserve a 5 rating for showing up where it counts. I liked the course except for some narrow streets & industrial areas. Ideal for walkers to finish a marathon. No racewalker division here. After you finish, it's still a good walk to claim your finisher shirt. If you have dead legs, that's too bad. Otherwise, no big deal. The big deal is STRICTLY no tshirt size exchange. I have run so many races (5k's to marathon) but this is one for the books. Your time is posted ASAP (super!!) Overall, I'll consider coming back. It's a beautiful city with hospitable people everywhere. | |
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A Runner from eastern Oregon
(6/3/2002)
 "Good enough to run 5 times" (General Comments)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 5 Portland was my first marathon back in '92 with a time around 3:25. I loved it and came back 4 more times, my last being in '97. The spectators and support are the best. The entertainment throughout is very unique to Portland...haven't found it in any other marathons. I have run marathons with prettier scenery, but some with a lot worse. Portland pampers their runners at the finish. I recommend this for first-timers and those who don't mind running in the warmer climate...drink tons of water or you'll end up in the first aide tent like me. | |
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A Runner from California, formerly Portland
(5/1/2002)
 "Best organized?????" (about: 2001)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 4 I have heard from several sources that this was one of the best organized marathons in the country. Pure propaganda! The water stations didn't have enough water/sports drinks poured and ready for the runners as they arrived. The race felt more crowded than larger races I've run, because the course is so poorly set through narrow streets. Then at the end they send you down into the basement of a building to get your finishers shirt. I don't know about most runner's, but I know when I'm finished with a marathon I don't want to go on a hike to find my shirt. I don't mean to sound bitter, but it makes me angry that they bill this as one of the best organized marathons. I've run 4 other marathons in the last year and they were all better organized than this. It was a beautiful course with the exception of the industrial part of town. Even though this is my old home town I won't run this one again soon. | |
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A Runner from Silverdale, WA
(3/26/2002)
"The Best I have seen so far" (about: 2001)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Portland was my second marathon and I had a great time! Yes, that awful out and back through the industrial area could be changed, but overall I enjoyed the course. I train on hills, so the course was an easy run for me. I do admit the hill up to the St John's Bridge at mile 17 is tough, but it is still doable. Compared to the RnR in San Diego, I thought the spectactors were a lot better. The finish line was great. I was through it much faster than San Diego. The volunteers at the end were just great! The food was awesome. I loved the ice cream and thanks to the volunteer who opened the package for me. Yes, it needs some improvements, but remember this race is organized for the everyday runner. I will be doing this one again and again! | |
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A Runner from San Diego
(1/23/2002)
 "Industrial scenery & stop for the train" (about: 2001)
COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 3 This is touted by the PM organizers as being one of the best organized with beautiful scenery. I'm sure that's the intent, but that's not how the 2001 event came off. Got stuck standing around at the midway point for over 3 minutes waiting for a freight train to leisurely pass by. C'Mon, stopping for a train to pass in the best organized race? They need to drop that advertisement because it's not true. I half expected the drawbridge to go up as we crossed back over the river. Must be saving that gem for the 2002 race. Really glad my Boston qualifying time was 3:20 and not 3:10 or I'd have been screwed. Sorry, but for me that immediately knocks it out as being a well organized event. And the scenery was primarily warehouses and dilapidated roadside businesses....that's the best of Portland? I don't think so. OK, some was through nice neighborhoods, but the primary impression is gray, drab, and industrial. Won't be recommending this one to any friends. | |
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A Runner from Austin, Texas
(11/2/2001)
 "Not what I expected" (about: 2001)
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 4 I ran the Portland Marathon this year, it was my third marathon after doing Austin and Seattle last year. Despite claiming to be ?best organized in North America?, I found this not exactly to be the case. There were not enough portajohns at the start, and the water/Powerade stations were too infrequent. A water station was nowhere to be found between miles 15.5 and 18 (or maybe I was too delirious to see it at this point), the toughest stretch of the course where runners climb up and down the St. Johns bridge. The weather wasn?t optimal either ? the high in Portland on Sunday was in the mid-80s. However, it is a fairly beautiful course, but if you?re looking for a PR, look somewhere else. I did like the goodies they had at the finish line, the rose and Douglas fir seedlings were nice touches. | |
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A Runner from Seattle, WA
(10/31/2001)
"A highly overrated event." (about: 2001)
COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 4 The muscle division competition was cancelled without advance notice and without explanation at registration. The food at the awards ceremony was not very good and was overpriced. Good number and spacing of water stations. Entertainment was good. The course is not scenic - Vancouver and Seattle are more fun and visually appealing while on the run (than Portland). | |
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A Runner from Atlanta,GA
(10/8/2001)
"Overall I loved Portland" (about: 2001)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 I do agree with everyone about the ugly stretches you have to run through. The out & back stretch early on was particularly unappealing. And the highway after the halfway point leading up to 'The Bridge' was disappointing. I'm sure Portland has much nicer areas they could take the course through. Even if it made the course hillier I would not mind. I would give up ugly & flat for attractive & a few hills. I did not get caught by the train but a few of my friends did. Overall I had a great time in Portland and a PR to boot! I thought the music on the course was great & as far as I could tell, it was well organized. I could have used a bag at the finish line to haul all the food they gave me. The BEST finish line food (peanut butter bagels & ice cream!) I've had in 16 marathons by the way - just no beer! As far as the spectators, people in Portland need to know that you wear your name on your shirt so they can call out your name & encourage you on. Usually by mile 18, I'm tired of hearing my name, but I think maybe 3 people in Portland noticed my name on the front of my shirt. Great t-shirt & medal AND a fir seedling & a rose too. I would recommend this one. | |
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A Runner from Portland
(10/7/2001)
"Support is adequate - course is not" (about: 2001)
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 5 It's unfortunate as I live here that this could be a fabulous city to run a marathon. Unfortunately, the dreariness of the Front Street Blues once you head away from downtown is just depressing. Once you exit the industrial windy section out towards the hill at the St.Johns Bridge it feels like an oasis to be back in greener pastures as you run past the University of Portland. The last six put you back in the north industrial section (remember if you are not from Portland there is more to this city than this) before heading by the Rose Quarter and over the Steel Bridge towards the finish back in downtown. The only negative experience I had is I needed some aid at the end of the course and I was met by five first aid bodyguards who refused me entrance to the medical area, interesting? If PM selects a different course and makes it a bit easier to meet your family after the marathon they could have such a better event. The crowds are great and the number of water stops is a real plus if you are a first time marathoner. | |
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A Runner from washington state
(10/4/2001)
"not meeting my expectations" (about: 2001)
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 Portland was my 10th marathon. And it's not quite as organized as I hoped. They should stop using that 'best organized marathon' slogan, because it just creates expectations that couldn't be met. This year was hot, close to 80F. Saw many runners/walkers being carried away by ambulance. To me the course is not too hilly. I live and train on hilly roads that are longer and steeper. (I didn't think Seattle marathon was hilly either, so just a personal feeling) But running so much through the industrial areas was not so good. The added bands were good, but some of them were playing across the 4-lane road over traffic that you could hardly hear them. The one thing about the finish area, they had all kind of food and snacks. But they didn't hand out any bags, how much can you carry with two hands when you are already trying to hold on to a cup of water? There were no signs to direct runners to the area where you pick up your finisher shirt. It was down a block hidden in the basement. Both Vancouver Marathon and Victoria Marathon in Canada are better races. |
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