Portland Marathon Recap

Ever have one of those races? The race where you toe the line with a goal in mind and the mental preparedness to do everything you can to reach that goal. The race where you feel you have worked hard in training, done everything you can to prepare. The race where you prepare mentally with positive thoughts and affirmations, picturing yourself in said race running the desired pace and achieving your goal. And then it all falls upon, almost before it even begins. That was my race on Sunday in Portland.

I toed the line with high expectations of myself. Maybe too high given my injury and physical health issues. Training was rough at best, but I persevered through it and worked hard. I didn’t skip workouts no matter what. I have been dealing with high hamstring tendonopathy. An injury I was told would take 8-12 weeks of no running to heal. Not what I wanted to hear during my second cycle of marathon training. I have had the injury since before my last marathon, but I figured if I could run through the pain then I could do it again.

This time it wasn’t as simple. Even though I had envisioned myself running a great race and meeting my time goal, I had done the work, and I had mentally overcome, I bonked early in the race. No matter how hard I pushed and tried I couldn’t stay on pace. I was crushed.

I woke up after a restless night got ready, fed R and then Marc and R followed me to my starting corral. It was 53 degrees so I shed my layers and had said my goodbyes with 15 minutes to spare before the race begun. I was in the first corral and planned to go out on pace and stay with any lead females. I started and felt good. We went through China Town and then out past my hotel seeing Marc after mile 2. I was already feeling dead. Legs heavy and hamstring screaming.

I thought “this is going to be a long race.” I forced myself to stay positive. We watched the sun come up, and looped back around to go back past our hotel and down Naito Parkway for a long, long stretch. passed Marc again right before mile 5 (I didn’t see him though).

• Mile 1-4 no splits Mile 5: 6:27 (these are approximate since my watch wasn’t working the first 3-4 miles)

My watch didn’t start working until 3.2 ish miles into the race and was measuring my pace all weird. One second it said I was going 8 minute pace, then 10 seconds later 9 minute pace, then 5 seconds later 5:30 minute pace. I didn’t know what pace I was going, nor really what mile I was at. I kept missing the mile markers, and finally spotted them, trying to re-calibrate my watch. I finally noticed it was 3.2 miles off.

We made a long stretch down Naito Parkway. One of the worst parts of the course. So ugly and industrial. I was already feeling pretty miserable, and the thought of such a long stretch of road I was going to have to run back down only made me more mad. I was hating the course, and didn’t see how anyone thought it was a pretty course. I stayed in first place for the first 9 miles, and then the second female passed me. I tried to stay with her, but my legs wouldn’t move. I felt I couldn’t race. I felt defeated.

• Mile 6: 6:34 Mile 7: 6:31 Mile 8: 6:39 Mile 9: 6:31 Mile 10: 6:25

I haven’t prayed so much in a race before in my life. I told God He was going to have to help carry me through this, because my leg was hurting so bad I had already almost thrown up from the pain (swallowing my puke back down), and I wanted to quit. After mile 10 we turned off Naito Parkway and went through a cute neighborhood, before heading onto a highway.

I kept my thoughts positive and tried to think about a million other things. I wished I knew what my pace was at, and I wished there were timers at certain spots on the course, but there wasn’t. I knew I was off my goal pace by a long ways, and went to plan B a sub 2:50. I could at least hold onto that.

I ran a lot of the course by myself or within 10-20 feet of someone else. It made the long stretches lonely. I wasn’t expecting that in a bigger race. Finally the number 3 & 4 females caught up to me around mile 15. I surged ahead, as they tried to use me as  wind breaker. It was really windy for a 4-5 mile stretch. The headwind was annoying. I drafted behind a guy for a ways, until he slowed down and the females caught up, I surged ahead again.

Trying to smile over the St.Johns bridge.

• Mile 11: 6:24 Mile 12: 6:42 Mile 13: 6:29 Mile 14: 6:33 Mile 15: 6:41  1:23:37 at the 13.1 mark

After mile 16 I fell behind the females going through the aid station. I slowly inched my way closer to the number 3 runner and passed her before going up the big hill. I lost her on the hill and was gaining ground on the number 2 runner. We turned on to the St. John’s bridge, my favorite part of the course. The bridge offered a great view and I had a surge of energy, but couldn’t quite catch number 2 runner. I knew I would be seeing Marc, R and my friend soon and they would have an orange waiting for me. This kept me keeping on.

Once off the bridge, we were on the bluff and you could see downtown Portland and the river. It was beginning to get toasty with the sun, and University of Portland was in sight. There were few spectators out cheering, so I spotted Marc and my friend right away. I ran across the road to grab my orange and baby girl was asleep in the stroller. Passed them around mile 19.5 (my closest guess). I even smiled (or attempted).

Second place female wasn’t too far ahead. I almost threw up again because I was in so much pain and swallowed it down. I wanted to cry and quit. But then I realized I didn’t get my finisher shirt or my seedling until the end, so I thought better at least finish only 6 miles to go. At least it was a boost seeing familiar faces.

• Mile 16: 6:46 Mile 17: 7:15 Mile 18: 6:52 Mile 19: 6:40 Mile 20: 7:01

A few miles on the bluff, and we weaved through some streets, up a steep, short hill and down a steep hill to go under the interstate. It was loud with the cars and the sun was so hot. I told myself less than 5 to go. I passed a few guys and was told I was only 25 seconds from the second place female. I don’t know if I surged or she fell behind, but eventually I caught the second place female who I realized was the first place female at the beginning.

• Mile 21: 6:53 Mile 22: 6:37 Mile 23: 6:47

I caught her after mile 24, and I could tell she was struggling. I cheered her on and said she was doing great. I started to accelerate as I passed her and lengthened the gap between us. I told myself to just keep picking off people and putting one foot in front of the other. Less than two miles to go.

Went over the last bridge, and made it downtown meeting up with the halfers back on Naito Parkway. I was so mad to be back on Naito. I thought the finish would be closer than it was. The last mile was the longest mile of my life. I had no more energy. Turned a few blocks and the last slight uphill was the hardest. Finally had .2 left, which actually turned out to be more like .4. Something was off. I could see the finish line.

This is my pain, I am pissed face!!

The announcer said “Here comes Bryanna….” long pause as he tried to figure out how to say my last name, then aborted and said, “Good job Bryanna from Spokane. Looks like you could run another marathon” I shook my head at him and mouthed no way, and he chuckled. I was FINALLY done.

• Mile 24: 6:46 Mile 25: 6:46 Mile 26: 6:34 Total: 26.48 miles

Official time was 2:54:44. So yes I PR’d (by a mere minute), but it was still disappointing. It wasn’t my goal and I felt so defeated. I tried so hard in the race and felt like I couldn’t race. Nothing I did worked. I hated the course and I failed at my goal. I realize not every race goes as planned, but it’s still disappointing even with a PR and 2nd overall female. It wasn’t want I wanted or tried for. I didn’t even want to see my family, as I felt I had let them down. Totally not the case. It was hours before I updated anyone.

My legs were wobbly and I could barely walk afterwards. R wanted me to hold her, but I could barely stand and she was too heavy for me, which has never been the case. I was simply exhausted, but yet felt so dissatisfied with myself and my performance, like I should have done more. My pace started at a 6:15 average through the 5k, to 6:21 by the 10k, 6:23 through 13.1, 6:35 average through 17.5 miles, to 6:37 through 21 miles. As you can see it slowly kept getting slower as the race progressed.

All my work for nothing. I am throwing myself a little pity party right now. Probably being a little more than dramatic, but it’s hard to accept failure. It’s not complete failure in that I finished the race, pushed through the pain, and didn’t give up. Totally paying for it now though, with a leg I can barely stand on, and life goes on. As everyone keeps telling me “it’s just one race.” And it’s so true.

Everyone raved about how great the Portland Marathon is, but I beg to differ It was the worst course I have done. I guess everyone has their own opinions, but I wouldn’t recommend it. There were few pretty parts. Maybe having a bad race just made it worse. I just didn’t see the beauty in it. Still riding out my post race slump. It’s almost funny how one race leaves a bad taste in your mouth, but yet so eager to find the next marathon to sign up for for redemption purposes. This is me!!

Until Next Time Be Whole and Be Fit