When there are big races going on that I have done in the past, or maybe that I wanted to do, if I don’t end up doing them, I still always think about them a lot while they’re happening. I especially enjoy it if I’m doing something completely different at the time, because then I imagine how hilarious it would be if I was doing that same thing while I was running.
Today was the Portland Marathon. I had no intentions of running it this year, but I did run it in 2010, and last year I ran the last 8 miles with my sister. This year, here are the things I did instead of running the marathon:
1. The race started at 7AM. Today, I was asleep at 7AM, and I didn’t stop this activity until about 8:30. Imagine how ridiculous it would be if I was sleeping on the race course.
2. Around 9AM I ate a chocolate chip waffle and an egg on a piece of toast. This wouldn’t be very funny to do while I was running, but it would probably be pretty good running fuel, which after 2 hours of running, I would need. Maybe not the egg.
3. A little after that, I took a couple of dogs to a park, and we played on the play structure. This would be a really weird thing to do during a race, and dogs aren’t allowed, so I would be in trouble.
4. My next move was to watch television until 11AM. There would be several problems with this during a marathon, the biggest one being that I was actually watching Hulu Plus on Playstation, and I’m not sure the marathon course has wifi on the whole route.
5. At 11, I drove downtown, which would be appropriate marathon conduct in that I was getting closer to the finish line, but inappropriate in that I know for a fact that driving during a footrace is frowned upon.
I was still driving at 11:15, which based on my previous marathon times, is around when I finished. After that, my head-thoughts went back to normal, because then I was just doing my usual stuff, and not doing just doing my usual stuff instead of running a marathon.
To everyone who actually ran the marathon, nice work! I just hope you’re not disappointed on all of the things that you could have been doing instead, like watching television.
4 Comments
You missed out on a GREAT marathon! It was almost literally stuffed with pink Ultima. Plus, you probably would have won.
I don’t remember your previous marathon times, but this one looks pretty good – nice work!
I probably would have won, but at least the winner’s name is Colleen. It might as well be me.
I’ve been stalking your blog in preparation for my trip to Portland in December. I live in San Diego, and my partner and I are staying in a sweet loft downtown for 5 nights. We plan to do a lot of coffee drinking, trail running and eating! Any recommendations on the best places to trail run?
Love your blog by the way. Did you ever wish you were actually running the marathon? Or were you psyched that you were watching TV instead? I tend to feel like I am missing out when there is a race that I’m not running. But that feeling quickly dissipates when the race ends. 🙂
First of all, I’m glad you found a way to work stalking in to your trip-preparation. Most people forget to do this, but I find it to be essential.
Second, yes I do have recommendations. Forest Park is the best – I usually start at the zoo (take the max to the zoo, and turn right as you get off the max and walk up that street and if you walk through the little parking lot past the zoo parking lot, you’ll get to some trail heads). You could also run straight up (west) Salmon, which turns into Park, which will take you to Washington Park, through the rose gardens, and onto Forest Park trails.
For a less trail-ish run, but a Portland classic, run down to the waterfront and go along the Esplanade and cross whatever bridges you feel like, and that’s pretty nice too! The Niketown run club does this run or something like it fairly often, and they meet at Niketown (downtown) Mondays and Wednesdays at 5:30 (if you end up doing that, either call and check first or don’t get mad at me when I’m wrong).
Hope that helps, and glad you enjoy my blog! I wouldn’t say I wished I was running the marathon, since I was in no way prepared for that, but I was a little sad to not participate at all this year. I try to push thoughts of races I’m missing out on when I’m injured so I don’t get too sad, and just plan on not being hurt for too long.
Have an awesome time in Portland, it’s a great place!