40th Annual Portland Marathon on 10-09-11.

Portland Marathon Puzzler

It's our 40th Anniversary this year, and we're having fun with it! We're adding fun and special details to every aspect of the event…including the newsletter.

Check out this Portland Marathon Puzzler. Can you find the nine things that are different between these two photos?

Be the first to submit all nine correct answers to info@portlandmarathon.org and we'll send you our signature Portland Marathon woven throw blanket.

Event Director Les Smith shares Portland Marathon history and encourages folks to "Sign up now!"

Photo courtesy of Portland Tribune

Registration

First, the status of registration for the Marathon…from my point of view:

We are now averaging between 60 to 80 registrations a day and the pace is picking up as it always does at this time of year. In fact, we are almost two months ahead of last year. And, remember we sold out on July 20th in 2010. Right now we have nearly 9,000 registered and we have space for about 3,000 more. So you can do the math. We are suggesting our local runners (and all others) not take registration for granted…but register Early!!!

Portland Marathon Veterans

We are collecting data on multiple Portland Marathon Finishers. Our goal is feature some of them in upcoming newsletters and in our pre-event literature as we gear up for our 40th Anniversary.

The transition between the computer base we now have and the paper base of 30 years+ ago does not allow us to directly determine who has run our event multiple times. However, when we receive notice of those who have run a multitude of Portland Marathons, we can back check on their finishes both on our computer system and the paper files we have for results over those years from 1972. (Note: Please give us the range of your times so we can locate you faster.)

The First Portland Marathon

I did not run the Portland Marathon until 1976, the last year it was held on Sauvie Island. There were 406 participants that year and the event like the three that preceded it was held on the Saturday of Thanksgiving weekend. We ran two laps around the island starting and finishing near the current bridge and general store.

A number of years ago I was given a set of the results of the First Portland Marathon from 1972, as noted, held on Sauvie Island. Although called the Portland Marathon, the Oregon Road Runners Club which organized the event on the Finisher's Shirt termed the event, "The Island Marathon."

Today the average age for women and male finisher's for most marathons, including The Portland Marathon, is usually 34 and 35. In the first Portland Marathon the average age of all 173 runners who participated was 20.6 years. How could the average be so young?

The reason was two fold. In those days there was little "science" known about marathon running. (Indeed, Runner's World was sold out of an ORRC club member's car trunk.) More significantly, by the event's Thanksgiving date all the high school cross-country schedules were complete. Little wonder that high school cross-country coaches told their students, "Sure, go run the event…you are ready and trained." So an abundance of those in the first Portland Marathon event were 15 to 17 years in age.

In that first event, there were five women, which was actually a lot considering the nature of running in those early years. Only five people were in their 50s. Amazing how times have changed.

To learn more about Portland Marathon history, its courses and past pictures you can purchase or download the now out of print and somewhat rare "Going the Distance," a commemorative coffee table book published at the time of the 20th Anniversary of the Portland Marathon. See our website and go to the icon. To order an actual hard-bound copy, go to our store at www.portlandmarathon.org.

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In closing, remember…register for the Portland Marathon NOW if you haven't already. Do not be disappointed later.

Les Smith

2011 Portland Galloway Training Clinic

Jeff Galloway's Run/Walk method is a run-walk-run training program that can help runners prepare for the Portland Marathon or 1/2 Marathon without the risk of injury. Olympian Jeff Galloway, is the author of the best-selling running book in North America and a columnist for Runner's World magazine, and has helped runners of all abilities reach their running goals.

Jeff's run-walk-run method will get you through to the finish line. If you interested in the full marathon training program, it kicked off on March 19th and the half marathon training program is kicking off June 19th. Please contact Aaron Simpson at aaron@jeffgalloway.com for more information. You can also sign up online here at: 2011 Galloway Training Program.

Training and Motivation Tips

By Olympian Jeff Galloway
www.RunInjuryFree.com

Benefits of Running:

• When paced correctly, running delivers the best attitude boost you can get.
• A well-paced run enhances vitality for the rest of the day.
• If you have enough walk breaks in a run, from beginning, it's possible to feel good after every run, even the marathon.
• Running is the best stress reliever I've found.
• Research shows that as runners get faster, their stride length shortens.
• The finishing of a marathon bestows a sense of achievement that is unique and empowering.
• The training journey for a marathon or half marathon raises your body's physical performance capability and your sense of what you can do in life.
• Running helps to bring body, mind and spirit together in a unique and wonderful way.
• The continuing flow of benefits from running improves the quality of life.

Olympian Jeff Galloway has coached over a million runners to their goals through his clinics, books and ecoaching. Sign up for his free newsletter at www.jeffgalloway.com

Time to Train

Portland Marathon Training Clinic

Portland Marathon Training Clinic started earlier this month. They offer free runs, which are great ways to meet people, run with groups at your same speed and level, and have fun while training. They are FREE!

Established in 1984, the Portland Marathon Training Clinic has helped thousands of runners and walkers to successfully complete the Portland Marathon. Hundreds of others have achieved their personal bests. It provides proven, safe and supported programs. It is the sanctioned official training program for the Portland Marathon.

This weekends' training run meets at George Rogers Park in Lake Oswego, Oregon at 8 a.m. and will feature a 6, 8 or 10 mile out and back to West Linn. The FREE training run is open to anyone wishing to run with the group. Please leave your headphones, dogs and baby joggers at home. Water bottle recommended. For driving directions, see: directions to George Rogers Park. There is plenty of parking at the park. There are bathrooms and a water fountain at the park. For a map of the course, see: route map

For more information about the runs, go to training run info. Pace groups are by marathon goal times, see the finding your pace group chart in the run information. If you have raced, go to pace wizard and get your marathon goal based on your race times. Groups are led by volunteer experienced marathoners. Groups range from those able to run a marathon under three hours to those wanting to run five hours.

The FREE Saturday run is 7, 9, or 10 miles at 8 am. Meet at lulemon 1231 NW Couch St, Portland, OR 97209. For driving directions see: Lululemon Directions. Paid parking is available in the garage underneath lululemon. Whole Foods validates for 2 hours with a $10 purchase. Free parking is on street few blocks up on the other side of the freeway, the nearby meters are mostly 90 mintues. The run will go down Couch to the Waterfront, then across the Steel Bridge pedestrian pathway to the East Side Esplanade. We'll use the first 3.5 – 5 miles of the mapped run. See: route map. Water bottle recommended.

To sign-up and learn more, visit training.

Portland Marathon Online Training

The Portland Marathon has teamed up with ActiveTrainer coaches to create Marathon, Marathon Walk, Half Marathon, 10K Non-competitive Walking and 5 Miler-competitive run training programs that are a balance of aerobic, anaerobic and cross-training workouts. Training Programs. These training programs are built to get people of all levels across the finish line. From the first-timer to the seasoned veteran, you will find the right training program for you. Good luck with your training and we will see you at the finish line!

The online training programs are built to get people of all levels across the finish line. From the first-timer to the seasoned veteran, you will find the right training program for you. Active Trainer

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Team in Training

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Team In Training® is the world's largest endurance sports training program. The program provides training to run or walk marathons and half marathons or participate in triathlons and century (100-mile) bike rides. Since 1988, more than 380,000 volunteer participants have helped raise more than $900 million. For more information, visit: Charities.

Portland Fit

Portland Fit is a training program for runners and walkers of all abilities, each with a goal of completing events including the Portland Marathon, Hood to Coast and many more. Their coaches are devoted to getting you in the best shape of your life in a non-intimidating, fun and safe environment. Upon joining, you will receive day-by-day training schedules, weekly group runs/walks, access to trained coaches, information seminars, free massages, and a Portland Fit Marathon Training shirt. For more information, visit Need help training for the Portland Marathon? or Portland Fit or e-mail help@portlandfit.com.

In your words…

I ran my first Portland Marathon in 1979 and have run every year since then. I have completed 32 consecutive Portland Marathons and will be running in my 33rd come October.
Sonny (not shown)

This year's race I think will be my 27th in a row.
Randall (not shown) 2011 bib#4467

I have been running for 40+ years, and completed 221 marathons during the past 33 years. I have run the Portland Marathon 29 times.
Ron (Not shown. He will not be running in 2011. We will miss you, Ron.)

My husband Jesse and my daughter Cameron right after I finished the 2010 race. Cameron was pretty excited about my medal!

Facebook friend Cynthia at Glen Canyon in Arizona.

Facebook friend Michael Meenaghan finishing last year's Portland Marathon.

Our Facebook friend Catalina at the Edlinburgh Castle.

Portland Marathon helps you "gear up" for spring training

The official 2011 Portland Marathon training gear is here. Show the world you're training for the 40th Anniversary Portland Marathon. Click here to check out our full Portland Marathon online store.

Also, don't forget to send us photos of you in your gear. We'll use them in the next newsletter. Feel free to share your training stories and questions too! Just email them to info@portlandmarathon.org.