After this weekend, only two Portland Marathon Clinics remain before the 2014 Portland Marathon. This is a big deal. You are just a few weeks away from toeing the line at our city’s signature 26.2.
You’ll run this weekend out of the Pearl District lululemon store. This is a nice run to the Portland Waterfront and across the river on the Steel Bridge, heading down the Eastbank Esplanade. Then you’ll join up with the Springwater Corridor, turning around not far after McLoughlin Boulevard. View the course with mile markers here.
Now is a good time to start thinking about the mental aspect of your training. Focus on the positive; think about how you’ll feel during the race (strong and fit), your race plan (to which you’ll stick closely), and how good you will feel with that medal around your neck. If any of your running partners start to fret or worry, try and turn the talk around to the positive – you can’t afford any “stinkin’ thinkin'” (as Bill Cosby puts it) at this point in your training.
Things to remember:
1. Bring your own hydration and nutrition
2. Practice your anti-chafing plan
3. Pay extra attention to what you are eating
4. Try to remove stressful projects from your life; and get to bed earlier!
5. Sunscreen
Here’s the rest of the schedule:
All runs are on Saturdays and start promptly at 8a, so be there by 7:45 at the very latest for instructions and to use the restroom before you start. Click on the location for a Google map showing you where to go. For directions, click on “Get Directions” and enter your starting address.
September 13, 2014: 16 or 20 miles from Lululemon Pearl in Portland
September 20, 2014: 16 miles from Road Runner Sports in Tualatin
September 27, 2014: 8 miles from Lululemon Bridgeport in Tigard