I didn't quite dance across the finish line, but this time I trained fully - and it made a big difference as I finished the Sept. 30, 2001 Portland Marathon.

My first Portland Marathon was in 1999. I finished in 7:17 with heel blisters. I didn't make those same mistakes in 2001 - I put in my long training days.

Training

More of this Feature • Part 2: Race Prep • Part 3: The Marathon

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I began training at the end of December 2000. I had to recover from a knee injury in September and so I was starting from scratch - 2 months of almost no walking, and packing on lots of extra pounds.

I started with a 1200 calorie diet and daily hour-long walks (3-4 miles), plus building my mileage on back-to-back longer days on the weekends. I was training for the May DC Avon 3-Day Walk, which I knew would leave me in marathon shape.

I increased my mileage steadily and completed many back-to-back 13-15 mile days a couple of 18 mile days before the DC Avon 3-Day Walk. I did no speed training at all, although I used racewalk form in my walking, generally at a 14-minute mile pace.

After the Avon 3-Day Walk, I continued working out at the same level - kept up with 12 mile workouts on weekends, with some longer 15 miles workouts and shorter 6-10 mile workouts interspersed through June and July. At the end of July and in August I did 4 workouts of 18-20 miles. In September I got in an 18 mile workout, a 16 and a 10 as my longest days.

I didn't do any speed training in particular, although I posted fast times in the Portland to Coast Relay, averaging 12.5 minute miles on my first leg. When walking alone I racewalked at a comfortable pace, about 14 minute miles. When walking with friends I went their pace. On several of the long days and the 12 mile days I walked the first 6 miles with a friend at their pace and then sped up to my own pace alone for the rest of the walk.

I trained mostly on paved routes that included some hills. In July I discovered the route from Butteville to Champoeg State Park, just south of me in Oregon. A great route with moderate hills and a paved shaded path, with restrooms and water every 2 miles and few others using it. The round trip was approximately 8 miles, so doing it twice and making up more loops in the park made for an excellent training day.

Throughout I tested out my socks, shoes, shorts, shirt, bra, hat, pack, sports drink, snacks, and especially my blister prevention.

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