A Tribute to Our City: The Portland Marathon

I’ve done 10 marathons in my 20 years of running and there’s only one that I liked enough to do more than once. I’ve done the Portland Marathon three times, (though I hardly count the first one because it was the old course in 2006.) I did the not-so-new-anymore course its inaugural year in 2019 and liked it so much that I did it again a couple years later.

This year, I’m running the Portland Half Marathon for the first time and I’m so excited. What is it about the course that makes me want to return over and over again? In my opinion, whether you’re from Portland or not, this race is such a great love letter to the city.

This year, the race will be on Sunday, October 5th and you’ll be able to run the full marathon, the half marathon, or the 10k. There’s also a kid’s race, open to youth of all ages, and all participants will get a finisher ribbon, shirt and race bib. The 1 mile out-and-back loop can be viewed here.

The full marathon is touted as the “best way to experience the Rose City” and on this, I wholeheartedly agree. The downtown course crosses 4 bridges (or 2 bridges if you choose to do the half marathon instead) and tours the city. You’ll get to run through some of the most iconic PDX landmarks and some beloved neighborhoods. Enjoy Eastmoreland, Reed College, The Moda Center, Old Town, the Brooklyn neighborhood and the Esplanade in addition to so much more.

The MindRx 10K is a new distance option and a great way to see the northwest neighborhoods including Downtown, Old Town Chinatown, Pearl District, and Northwest District. The neighborhoods get to compete in the Neighborhood Cheer Challenge where they bring signs, play music, and do the best they can to show their support to runners like you!!

You can read more about the course at the Course Map page.

There will be a lot of aid stations along the way for this race as well, stocked with water, Skratch Labs hydration, porta-potties, muscle pain relief gel, and basic first aid as well as medical personnel. Some aid stations will also have fruit and energy gels. For the marathon, there will be aid about every 2 miles between miles 3 and 15 and every mile between miles 16 and 26. The half marathon participants will see aid every mile beginning at mile 2.5. The 10k has 2 aid stations at mile 3 and 5.

The start and finish for all distances is by the waterfront at 1000 SW Naito Pkwy. Runners are encouraged to get to the race no later than 6:30AM, as it’s super busy downtown on race morning and parking will take some extra time as well. There will be a bag check, lots of restrooms, and water and electrolyte beverage.

There will also be music to get you pumped up and it’s generally really beautiful on the banks of the Willamette before the race starts. The vibe is off the charts.

Half marathoners will line up on Naito Pkwy north of Salmon Street and marathoners will face south. There will be pace groups, so find your people and get ready for some fun. Marathon and 10k take off at 7:00AM and half marathoners will leave at 7:15AM.

There is debate over how “flat” the course is, the max course elevation is just 178 feet, so it’s totally doable. I’ve found the course to be relatively flat in my experience, but I’ve also run a lot of hilly ultras in the mountains, so maybe don’t ask me for advice on that. You can check out the course maps here for yourself.

There are time limits for race day, as downtown can only be closed off for so long. The course time limit for the marathon and half marathon is 6 hours and 33 minutes. 10k runners have 1 hour and 33 minutes to complete their race. All race participants who arrive at the finish, no matter how they arrive, will receive a finisher’s medal.

The finish line at the Portland Marathon is always super fun too! The same zone that us used at the start is transformed into a finish line party, where you can enjoy food and beverages and have fun celebrating your win!! All participants of legal age are entitled to a complimentary, Oregon-brewed beer. Also available will be chilled protein drinks, electrolyte beverage, water, fruits, and carbohydrates.

Race bibs will also have a tear-tag on the bottom of the bib that may be removed and redeemed for a uniquely Portland culinary treat. The first year I ran this, I got a Voodoo donut – so Portland!!

Now might be a good time to also discuss other perks for this race. All participants will receive free photos and a short highlight video of the race emailed to them after the race. Runners will also get a performance tech shirt (or a tri-blend shirt for a small upgrade fee) and a finisher’s medal. Shirts and medals are sourced through Portland-based organizations, which adds to the spirit of the race. If rain is forecasted for race day, runners will also get ponchos in their race packets and iced towels will be handed out in the Runner Services area after participants cross the finish line.

One thing worth noting about this race is that there is NO packet pick up on the morning of the race. You’ll either have to pay to have your packet mailed to you when you register or you can pick it up the day before at the Health and Lifestyle Expo at the Oregon Convention Center. Don’t forget to bring your photo ID, which will be required. (You can pick up for a friend but will need a digital or hardcopy of their ID along with a written note authorizing the pickup to do so).

I will say that the expo is always super fun and very well organized. I’ve also found the merch for the Portland Marathon to be some of the best and I love shopping the expo booths. It’s Runner Heaven!

I’m so excited for the race this year, and you should be too. If you are a Pacific Northwest runner, you need to do the Portland Marathon at least once – or maybe a few times.