Les Smith and his Portland Marathon 2013

Our Thanks To All,

As we now have time to reflect, it is clear that our 2013 Portland Marathon was a success. And it was a fun event for our Committee to produce. We have received many wonderful and constructive emails and letters from our participants. Your reflections and comments are of great value and an inspiration to our Committee. So we thank you!

A Big Impact

The Portland Marathon is Portland's largest three-day "convention." Participants from all 50 States and 32 Countries filled our downtown and area hotels. The impact of this presence on our local economy is huge. Indeed, the portion of the hotel taxes that go to our City… pays the costs the City incurs for the Event almost three times over. The other benefits to the City are huge as well. Yet all this goes on while our participants have fun and enjoy the many aspects of our Marathon. Again, we thank you for that.

Community and Charity

As a nonprofit, we now turn our attention to distributing monies to our Community, including other nonprofits, service organizations, school activity groups and school athletic teams. We also will be making the donation of the money that so many of you provided… the donations from our "Speak With Your Feet" campaign… which will be used to help victims of the Boston bombing. And, as most know, we support and reward the organizations that help provide our nearly 4,600 volunteers. Part of our contributions are donated to those groups as well. We thank all of you for helping us to be able to do this.

(Consider making an end of the year donation to one of our partner charities today by going here.)

A Local Based Event

We hope you will spread the word about our Event and our goal to help our Community. I am always pleased to tell groups I have the opportunity to speak to – that 95% of the money from our Event stays in Portland. Indeed, our shirts, awards, bib/numbers, and other supplies and event equipment are all purchased here. And we are "green." We are a Portland destination event that welcomes runners and walkers from all over the U.S. and elsewhere. And we thank you for allowing us to do this.

Next Year

As I have said before, despite the success of our last Event, the measurement factor will be how well we do our next Event. – scheduled for October 5, 2014. We hope you will not miss the 43rd Portland Marathon and our 5th Portland Marathon Half. Sign up early. And tell your friends to do the same. And we will thank you for that.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving and Holiday Season,

Les Smith
Event Director

Join the Portland Marathon First Responder
Assist Team today and Pre-Order
your Race Day Wristband

Thank you to our wonderful community of Portland Marathon participants, spectators and volunteers for all your support of the First Responder Assist Team 2013!

Metro West Ambulance has been a proud partner of the Portland Marathon for 18 years, providing medical coverage of the start/finish area and on course. Metro West Ambulance has also provided emergency services for 60 years to the communities served, responding to emergencies that we know happen without warning.

The Portland Marathon, in partnership with Metro West Ambulance, initiated this program to identify all those interested in providing assistance to our city's First Responders in the event of an emergency during race day.

The intention of the program is to raise awareness in order to ensure the highest level of safety for everyone in attendance of the Portland Marathon.

"IF YOU SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING"

We encourage you to identify yourself with a First Responder Assist Team wristband. These wristbands are free to all participants, spectators and volunteers with a suggested donation.

Pre-order of 2014 First Responder Assist wristbands is available now right here on this page. We will continue to grow this program and update you throughout the year, providing incentives and appreciative support to all those who pre-register.

Spectators, volunteers, participants, register for the team by clicking "Join the Team" below. Use coupon code WAIVED and you will only be charged based on the donation you choose to make. Suggested donation is $5. Thank you!

What Moves You? | A Documentary for Runners

The human race starts with a story. What's yours?  

Filmmakers Bruce, Dave and Jason are on a quest to discover the real running spirit. To determine what the magic ingredient is that makes runners so…well… 'different'. Over the coming months their goal is to interview runners from all walks of life to discover that intrinsic connection. Watch scenes from the Portland Marathon:

Virtual Goodie Bag – Time is Running Out!

There are tons of deals and opportunities available for you inside the Portland Marathon's Virtual Goodie Bag, including becoming a product tester for Nike Running! Access it now by clicking the link below!

Only $15 Each!

Order a Portland Marathon training shirt today for those chilly fall runs.

Portland Marathon HALF

Portland Marathon FULL

Portland Marathon Stories

Run For A Reason 2013 | Story of a Champion

Over the summer, Duncan led and participated in arts/crafts, and soccer with the children at Kateri Park, to help bridge the gap between the first and third world. He got to know the kids. Seeing the hardships that these children have faced growing up in a completely different environment than they're used to, with very limited income, motivated him to try to raise money to buy them equipment for sports, and art supplies.

Duncan first reached out to the Portland Marathon in June 2013 about running the Portland Half Marathon using our Event as a platform to raise funds and awareness for the Catholic Charities Kateri Park Program. Though Catholic Charities was not yet an Official or Affiliate 2013 Charity, we found a way to get Duncan registered and set up to fundraise.

Duncan ran 25-30 miles per week to train all summer, in addition to tennis, soccer and hockey. On October 6, 2013 he ran a very successful Half Marathon, crossing the finish line in 1 hour and 36 minutes, which is around a 7:20 pace.

Duncan exceeded his fundraising goal of $200. Duncan's spirit to Run For A Reason makes him a Portland Marathon champion. We know many of you who cross the finish line with us in October have similar stories, determination and the spirit of giving to others along with your own amazing accomplishments.

The Portland Marathon is dedicated to giving back to our community. One way we do this is through providing an on-line platform for fundraising for Charities. In 2014 Catholic Charities will be an Affiliate Charity with us and we are excited to see Duncan and others continue to support this worthy program.

In addition, the Portland Marathon writes over 200 checks each year from the general fund to support many local charities, educational and civic causes in our community, and special projects such as our Speak With Your Feet Campaign for the victims of Boston.  This year, in our appreciation for Duncan and the spirit he personifies, we will match his fundraising efforts and make our own donation to Kateri Park.

It is Duncan's hope that others will be inspired to help in 2014. When you register for the Marathon or Half Marathon, consider running for a reason.  You can also make a one-time donation now, on behalf of Duncan for Kateri Park.  Indicate "Duncan-Kateri Park" in the comment section.

The Last Finisher

Molly attempted to run the Portland Marathon on October 6th 2013. Unfortunately, due to illness, she was only able to complete a half. Being more than disappointed, she suggested to her sister that she might just go out and run it again on her own!

On October 27th, following the Portland Marathon route, she did just that. With the support of her mom Jill and sisters Katy and Meegan who provided the mile markers, aid stations and encouraging signs to recreate the marathon she finished her 26.2 mile goal! Her husband, Jacob, even rode his bike behind her during sections that were not the most runner friendly when not in a race! It was the perfect way to successfully complete her Portland Marathon "Do Over".

Reed College at the Portland Marathon

I thought it would be cool to get my college involved in the Portland Marathon.  The marathon is such a great expression of the human spirit, of individual triumph and of community.  It is a challenge that pushes one's mental as well as physical endurance.  In short, it's not unlike attending Reed College.
 
The first plane trip I ever took was from Chicago to Portland.  I was in grammar school and on my way to visit my grandmother and other relatives.  I will never forget looking out the airplane window as the pilot called out the names of the mountains we could see.  We landed, and my first impression after I walked off the plane was the clean smell of the air.  I took a deep breath, and wondered when I would return.
 
I would later make flights between Chicago and Portland as a student at Reed College, then as an alumnus with a family of my own returning to visit friends and family, as a volunteer, and finally as a trustee of the college.
 
About two years ago, I thought it would be cool to have Reed participate in the Portland Marathon.  Reed alumni already populate the area as doctors, lawyers, public defenders, entrepreneurs, teachers, writers, musicians, etc.  In fact, about one fifth of Reed College alumni stay and become part of the Portland community, and Reed is in many ways, a product of Portland and Oregon.  Oregon continues to send more students to the college, than all other states except California.
 
I called Les Smith, Executive Director of the Portland Marathon to find out more about participating as a team.   Les gave me some great tips on how to get organized.  I thought running would be a fun way to raise money for financial aid.  The next step was to have the college bless the idea.
 
Our new president, John Kroger, liked the idea and I was soon working with Todd Hesse in Reed's Alumni Office.  With a shoestring budget and only word of mouth marketing, we soon had about 25 souls step forward to declare that they would run either the half of full marathon.  Our director of alumni relations, Mike Teskey, spoke with the folks in Athletics and worked it out so that students who ran could get P.E. credit! 
 
Although we are known for our quirkiness and individuality, I thought a racing shirt or singlet would unify us and identify our small band of intrepid runners.  The design incorporated a quote from Pheideppides, the Greek messenger who, over 2,500 years ago ran from Marathon to Athens to declare that the Greeks had been victorious in a battle to save their homes, freedom and, as it turns out in my opinion, western civilization – "Rejoice, we have won!" was emblazoned on the back of our running shirts. 
 
Over the summer months, more people began to emerge as members of the Reed team.  We had faculty, students, staff, alumni and friends who came on board – again, with almost no advertising.  By race weekend, we had almost 60 people on the Reed team! 
 
Reed had a booth at the marathon expo and tons of people stopped by who had a connection to Reed or were interested in Reed.  I ran into several people who were in Portland for the race and who had seen the Reed booth.  Meanwhile, there was an air of excitement about the race on campus.
 
On race day, we had great representation from the college.  I saw a couple of our students whip by at great speed.  I kept seeing others wearing Reed shirts.  In addition to our fleet footed student runners, we had a Reed community of faculty, alumni, friends and staff (including one who juggled while he ran) chugging along.  Volunteers, who did not run, worked at the finish line.  It was a great day for a run and a great way for Reed College to be part of a healthy and charitable community event.  Our first time out was a success, and we are already making plans to participate in the 2014 Portland Marathon.  We learned a lot in our first year and will build on that knowledge.  Reed College is part of Portland, Oregon and is now part of one of its great institutions – the Portland Marathon. 
 
I will run Portland again.  So will others.  I will once again look out at the scenic beauty of Oregon as my plane approaches the Rose City.  Look out for the racing Griffin. 
 
Rejoice!" – John Bergholz

Runner Confessions

We asked you on Facebook to confess things only your fellow runners would understand. Here are some of your answers. We've left out your names:

Run around a parking lot, up and down the block, etc, so I can end my run on an "even" number.

Peed myself because I was too close to a PR to stop at a Porta Potty

Picked out nail polish in a color that would cover my black toenails.

Swallowed my vomit at mile 18 because I didn't want to re-GU.

Spending hours looking up places to run and races online…

Forgot to bring my running socks to work so I ran in my black dress socks, just rolled them down halfway.

Started out with two socks and returned with just one (we know what that means!)

Shaved around my nipples so the bandaids would stick

Drinking maple syrup for sugar and potassium

Specifically planned my next pregnancy after I finished my first marathon but also to give me motivation to finish & finish well.

Read more…

Your photos…

What's amazing is that I ran the marathon in 5:52:22 – 20 seconds faster than my twin 10 years later.  Though this my be an interesting stat, Vance and Gina's inspiration (his wife)  made that 20 seconds inconsequential. My spirit to keep running until I crossed  the finish line was in large part due to their support, inspiration, and presence.  That's how twins are. Even if we compete against one another, we always win together.  Thank you Portland for a terrific experience.