Arrive Early
If you get here the day before, you’ll spend a bunch of time on your feet. Half of that will be at the airport, going through security. THEN you’ll find your luggage was sent to Denver and you have to walk all over the terminal to find the Lost Luggage desk. THEN you’ll have to rush to the Marathon sign-in and collect your start package when all the booths are closing. The freebies they were handing out will be gone by then. You’ll get to your hotel and find they’ve got you in a room across from a fire station. You won’t get a minute of sleep because emergency crews will be responding to Marathoners who arrived even later than you, and are panicking in the streets.You’ll want to take some interesting sights home with you. Portland has lots! So when you get home and your friends ask you what you thought of Portland, which will it be:
A: “All I remember from Portland was the Lost Luggage counter and the backsides of the people who passed me. Everybody in Portland has ugly butts. The guy at the aid station who treated my heel blister had a big bald spot and a hairy back.”
B: “Loved it. Got there early on Friday and walked around a bit to stay loose. Had lunch at one of their many brewpubs. I got to see their waterfront, where lots of people do training walks. On Saturday, I took a bus tour of the route, so I’d know what to expect. Chilled in my hotel room the rest of the day and watched “Chariots Of Fire”. Woke up full of LET’S GO.”
Tour the Marathon Route
One of the things the Portland Marathon offers is a guided tour of the route. While not vital, it’s pretty helpful to be familiar with the route. With any Marathon, a key to success is PACING. On an unfamiliar trail you’ll be tempted to walk faster than normal. On my first, second, third and fourth Marathons, I suffered from the “I’m Not Far Enough Yet!” syndrome. It took me HOURS each time to settle down and relax into my natural training pace.Stay Off Your Feet
Stay off of your feet at much as possible. I can’t emphasize that enough for a Marathon. Your petite feet swell every time you’re standing, due simply to gravity. Walk around some to stay loose, but otherwise plan to spend the day horizontal & lazy. You’re going to abuse your feet and legs tomorrow. Give them a break today.Do Nothing New
DON’T DO ANYTHING ABNORMAL THE NIGHT BEFORE A MARATHON. A lot of people swear by “carb loading” the night before. It works for some. I tried it ONCE at the urging of a friend. I went to bed feeling bloated, slept poorly, woke up burping and thirsty… I was dehydrated when I woke up, stayed dehydrated during the event, and turned in one of my poorest performances ever. Conduct experiments during your training, not the night before a Marathon.Prepare Your Gear
Before you go to bed, set out/set-up ALL of your gear. Shoes, sox, running number, shirt, underwear, Power Bars – EVERYTHING you plan to pack with you or wear during the Marathon. Make sure to attach your timing chip to one of your shoes.I’ve taken to pinning my bib number on my Lucky Shirt the night before as well – while I’m NOT wearing the shirt. It’s hard to pin stuff on yourself when all you’re wearing is a T-shirt. Pierced nipples & things should be arranged months in advance, not the morning of the Marathon.
You DON’T want to fall asleep wondering where to find any of your gear. Stay up late if you must. The person who says “I’ll look for it tomorrow” will probably find it then - at the last panic-filled minute! Been there, done that, not fun.
Next Up: Portland Marathon Mile by Mile: The Start To Mile 2
