Portland Marathon/USA – see the 2013 Finisher’s Medal design!

Portland Marathon Registration & Closing

As July approaches the time comes for the Portland Marathon to begin wrapping up registration and moving toward finishing the many details that truly make for a great event.

Administratively the Portland Marathon is nearly complete with its 2013 registration. The next increase in the registration fee will take place July 5 or 6. The timing of this last increase depends on registration numbers.

"This year we will again have a spectacular Event. It is fun when you are doing something to really please the runners and walkers as well as the Community," said Mamie Wheeler the Event's Assistant Director and long time Medical Director.

"We are excited about all the visitors who come to Portland to participate in our Event or accompany someone who is participating. We are truly a "Destination Event." Right now every State is represented, along with every Providence of Canada and 24 other Countries. And we are amazed that Texas is the source for the most participants after Oregon, Washington and California."  

"We are also very pleased with the terrific volunteer support we receive. Without the help of our Volunteer Groups there would be no Event. And our charity side is in full swing too. Some of our charity partners have really learned how to make effective use of the Event," said Wheeler.

Please follow our Website, social media and email announcements for important up coming information!

About Our Medal

We hope you like our idea for our 2013 Portland Marathon medal and matching pendant. Can you tell which side of the medal is the front and which side the back? Read on.

We have had a wonderful run for 30 years with our unique proof struck, high-quality medallion style medals. And, we were very pleased that our 2012 Portland Marathon medal was judged (by 25 judges of Marathon & Beyond) to be the best of all the North American Marathon Medals of 2012. That is truly a high honor.

Our medals are produced by Always Advancing, Inc, a Philadelphia firm. Because of the production expertise and capabilities of that Company we have decided to move the quality of our medals up a notch or two. So this year's Portland Marathon medal and future Portland Marathon medals will involve a new series of what will be very unique and beautiful designs.  

The quality of our new line of medals will be the same if not better than our past award winning designs (we were 5th and 7th the previous two years). But we are now adding a color and uniqueness to the medals which should be well received. And, the medals will continue to reflect Portland, Oregon in some special way. In short, they will continue to be works of art… not funny whimsical bobbles. Finishing a Marathon or Half Marathon is an achievement… which deserves a noble reward.

As we often note, Portland Marathon medals always have had two significant sides. This year's medal will also have two complimentary sides. All true medals and medallions always have two sides. Indeed, I have seen medals from events which are totally blank on one side.  Sometimes those medal backs allow for the inscription of a name. But who does that? Surveys show 1/2 of .001%, maybe. And if inscribing is available, it is always over priced.  

We also believe that a medal should be a piece of art that endures. Thus, if a medal is found 200 years from now, that medal should clearly state the "who, what, where and when." And the medal should look good at that future time too. It should not be made of junk medal which begins to corrode and change color in a few years… or fall apart and be prone to breaking if dropped.

Our 2013 medal will keep its basic size (50mm) although the arms of the Maltese Cross design will add to what can be said is a 50mm center. A wide blue ribbon with a gold stripe near each edge will set the medal off well. And regardless of which way the medal hangs, one of the beautiful sides of the medal will be evident.

The pendant will be about 3/8" across. But with its gold wash it will be a wonderful addition for a necklace or bracelet that can be worn as jewelry. Or it can be given to a friend or relative to serve as a reminder of the significant feat of finishing the Portland Marathon. The pendant will be presented in a soft drawstring bag at the finish. And at the same time finishers will receive the fourth edition of the highly collectible Portland Marathon Event Coin, also in a soft drawstring bag.

And the Half Marathon Medal: I am pleased to say it repeats all of the attributes set forth above. But instead of blue Maltese cross arms the cross will be red and the medal color silver. Again a matching pendant will be awarded all finishers in the red and silver with the circle of white… on the reverse side.

So we hope you like our 2013 medal designs. We look forward to presenting them to you on October 6th!

Les Smith
Event Director
Portland Marathon

You can still get into the Portland Marathon HALF!

At this point to get into the Half Marathon, you must enter with a charity entry since all the general registration entries are sold out. A charity entry does not have any difference from a non-charity entry as far as what you get. There are two options for a charity entry:

Option 1: A complimentary entry can be obtained free from one of our 2013 Official Charities by fundraising on their behalf. To do this, click here.

Option 2: Purchase a charity entry for $250, and no fundraising is required on your part. Also, half of the $250 goes directly to the Going the Distance Foundation and is a tax deductible, charitable donation. Note the original price for the Portland Marathon Half entry was $125. Click here to register.

After Boston, my brother and I were talking on the phone, and I said, "Let's do it!  Let's run in the Portland Marathon." I made the executive decision as an eff-u to the Boston-marathon terrorists. The problem with this executive decision, my brother, Jason is in the Navy, currently stationed in Nebraska, and relocating to Everett, Washington, where he plans on arriving sometime around October 4th, if he's lucky, later if he's not. He is driving, most likely 2 1/2 to 3 days with his two children, his wife, their dog and cat. Details…details.

Jason has run the Portland Marathon before. I ran the last 6 miles with him, and wore my homemade "Jay pride" shirt with pride. I am so inspired by my brother.  He battled a rare form of cancer called Burkitts Lymphoma when he was 28. It's so rare, spell check doesn't even recognize the word. He's also fought in a war, and missed the birth of a child whom he didn't meet until he was six months old. He persevered through it all, and then ran a marathon, then another, and another still. Marathon-ing is his thing, not mine, and I most certainly don't want to barge into his territory. We have both always been driven by athletics, and thus, very competitive. I asked him, "Jay, will you be okay if I beat you?"  He responded, "I will most definitely be okay if you beat me."  I don't think he will be though.

– Angela

You are the Active Ingredient

The community of Portland brings much enthusiasm and support to the marathon. Our finish-line spectators are some of the best in the nation, cheering wildly for every participant coming down that home stretch.
 
We are pleased to announce the names of more than 95% of our participants at the finish line, and we would love to be able to personally identify you!
 
Please tell us an interesting fact about yourself and we will do our best to make sure your friends, family, and the rest of Portland hear about you.
 
Check out the "about you" section of our website. Also don't forget to share your story on Facebook at "Portland Marathon" and Twitter @pdxmarathon.

What's the strangest thing you've seen on a training run?

We asked and here are some answers from you fellow Portland Marathoners:

I thought it was interesting all the people who take their little dogs on bike rides, then i saw the lady who rides a bike with a parrot on her shoulder. She takes the cake.

Well apparently a woman ran down sprague street completely nude the other day in Spokane.

On a trail run in the middle of nowhere, saw a guy come out of the woods wearing a business suit and a carrying a briefcase. Really glad I wasn't alone on that run!

Two young women (both blonde) walking up the road on the outskirts of town in the Tucson desert as it was getting dark, asked me for directions, very creepy. They seemed healthy and had a weird glow to them. I am sure they were ghost.

Not one, but two completely dessicated and flat squirrels with fluffy tails.

3 unsupervised goats on a running path in Seattle.

A few homeless men BBQing (it was a mini aluminum foil type bbq) hot dogs along the Springwater trail, behind Gresham DEQ! It sure smelled good!

A rattlesnake on the shoulder of the road in Ashland, OR

Sellwood- man with a baby on his back walking his two pigmy goats

I found a single puzzle piece just off the Cedar River Trail…

Was training in central Oregon and a cougar crossed my path. Thank goodness he was hungry!

A baby seal on the beach that I mistook for a piece of driftwood until it turned its head and looked at me

Keep up the training!

Thirsty? We've got you covered!

Ultima Replenisher will again be providing on course hydration during this year's Portland Marathon weekend of events! The flavor? Their most popular! – GRAPE! Not only does it taste great, but it is their first formula to include a functional color: grape skin. Grape skin is full of antioxidants and has all 8 essential electrolytes.

Hi from Thierry & Jerry Lopez (son/father) at the Great Buddha, Kamakura, Japan.  Between us, we have completed the Portland Marathon nine times and look forward to another great event in 2013!  Wish all participants an equally terrific adventure!

Darlene, Lake Oswego, Oregon

Our mailing address is:
Portland Marathon200 SW Market St.Suite 1900Portland, Or 97201