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Portland Marathon Reviews
Portland Marathon
3.6 Stars from
13 Runners
Hilly
By PT105 about 2022
Review
Overall for a race and expo, the experience is great. The expo is superb, and the course has good spectator support along the route. There is a lot to see and experience. The race organizers are the same as Revel races, so it is incredibly well done. The one drawback is it's very hilly (unless you like that).
Race Tips
Relentless hills throughout. Be ready mentally for that.
Staying just across the reviver from downtown worked well for our group.
4 /
5 Stars
Nice course, unfriendly city
By AO about 2019
Review
Well-organized, good swag, great pacers, good weather for marathons. Probably the most unfriendly race I've ever been at. No spectators, no music, no cheering, no camaraderie from the other runners, silent start line and lonely finish area. None of that chatting with strangers over your shared accomplishment while you have your free beer, not one person tried to be friendly. The course is nice and you can achieve a good PR or qualifying time, but you'll have to do it without support.
Race Tips
There are a huge number of 90-degree turns but the race is very small so you don't have trouble running the tangents. The elevation is spread out very evenly and isn't as bad as it looks when you see the 900 ft.
Portland has many hotels that are more like brothels or SROs. Don't try to go cheap, just pay for an overpriced room by the start line so you're safe. Don't try to take public transit to the race, it's unreliable and unsafe. There is absolutely no need to arrive early, it's a very small race and there was really no wait for porta-potties. No staging, so you can just walk onto the course whenever you're ready.
3 /
5 Stars
Portland is redeemed
By AO about 2019
Review
Sum total: I loved it. Some things will be worked out as the race gets settled but for a first time race the organization did a great job, with generous swag, great course support and an interesting course.
Pros: great organization with responsive management, beautiful city course in a combo of urban and scenic views, pacers ran a few minutes under BQ times as is required these days, great swag!, lovely rolling hills course, great post-race refreshment/entertainment, Nuun Endurance instead of the Gatorade crap every other race uses, aid stations every mile in the second half
Cons: so many 90-degree turns (75, by the pacer's count), it became really hard to run the tangents because they were always crowded; I heard complaints that the fastest marathoners ran into half-marathon walkers and were slowed by the congestion (but no trouble for me); not a lot of music or spectators on the course since it's new, but the locals were very friendly and I assume this will grow as the marathon becomes more stable
Race Tips
Expo is small and not a lot of swag for sale, so purchase whatever you think you might need (like gloves!!) before you come rather than assuming it will be at the expo. The course is gentle rollers that are barely noticeable in the first 16 miles, and not worth stressing over. Total elevation is 900 ft with a net-zero elevation change. If you pamper yourself training on flat terrain, yes, you will probably suffer. But it didn't feel at all like a hilly course. The later part of the course has the steeper hills. Temp was mid-40s at the start and into the 50s during the race, but some areas were quite cold (mile 17-18, mile 13) due to winds. All-in-all the climate was helpful and contributed to a good race.
I didn't find that it was difficult to book a hotel pretty close to race date, but there was very little event pricing so do not expect that the sponsoring hotels will give you an event deal. Expect to spend $175-225/night on a good hotel, and just a little less (around $150-160/night) on a crappy run-down hotel. I chose to spend a little more and get a hotel with free breakfast, a pool and great service (Hyatt) and I don't regret it. Lots of hotels 5 minutes from the start line, but this is not a location where you will get a deal on lodging. Bad hotels are only slightly less pricey than great hotels, for some reason. I found downtown Portland to have a nice selection of food for pre-race meals, within walking distance of the start line.
5 /
5 Stars
Terrible route
By Avd about 2017
Review
Changed last minute to out and back. Ran along warehouses, factories, and highway. Bands played slow music better suited for brunch. Roads very rough and hard on feet. Saw very little of city sights. Huge hill near bridge.
Race Tips
Do not select this race!
1 /
5 Stars
Won't Run Again
By CN about 2017
Review
This will be the last year I run the Portland Marathon. I ran this marathon 2 years ago and it was great, but they have done nothing but go downhill since then. This year they had to change the course because of a couple mistakes they made last year and it is now an in and out course on the most boring section of the original run where the fans can't even reach. I wasn't even planning to run the Portland because they miss-measured the course last year but the marathon I had planned to run was cancelled last minute. I had to sign up 2 days before at the expo and the experience was awful. I had emailed ahead of time to check if I would be able to register and what the cost would be. I was told I would and that there would be no cost increase so it would cost $145. The person at the expo charged $170 even though I told her I emailed and was told it would be $145. I was so upset I almost didn't register, but you don't spend all that time training for a marathon to just not run one. My bib looks awful as well. I expected it would not be beautifully printed with my name because I sign up so late, but you can barely even read my name at the bottom of the bib and there is another word completely scratched out. I don'™t know what is going on to cause this marathon to go downhill so quickly but I certainly will not be wasting my time or training with it again.
1 /
5 Stars
By Anonymous about 2016
Review
Nice start and finish location downtown. Easy access on public transit.
Residence Inn Portland is a good place to stay. Have kitchenettes and healthy choices at included breakfast buffet. It is on the public transit rail lines and by the river path for Saturday easy run.
5 /
5 Stars
By JBR about 2016
Review
2016 was my third year on the course. I missed 2015, but the quality of the race organization has declined since 2013 & 2014. The course is good aside from the segment opposing fast-moving traffic on highway 30. In past years, there was name-brand athletic nutrition at the aid stations, a reusable backpack, and pace wristbands available. In 2016, there were only gummy bears and pretzels at the aid stations, no backpack or swag, and the red lizard pace teams said they didn't have financial support from the race organization to print the wristbands as they usually do. Additionally, there were news reports of a course mishap in the back of the pack which resulted in people running a 4h+ pace to run an extra mile. For an expansive large city race, these things combined to substantially change my opinion of this marathon.
Race Tips
If the aid stations are like they were in 2016, bring your own food. The only substantial climb is in mile 16, although there is a gradual climb around mile 24 that is worth saving a bit in the tank for.
3 /
5 Stars
By tsj about 2016
Review
Not the fastest course as there are some hills. Great scene with lots of bands around the course. Usually perfect running weather although 2016 was rainy. My main complaint is the mile markers were way off. The overall course was right on, but some mile markers were off by as much as 0.15 miles. This made for some added uneasiness that I did not need.
4 /
5 Stars
By SLD about 2016
Review
I'm not the best person to ask. It rained, the course was mismarked, they didn't adjust my time accurately.
The city was nice, and the brave folks who came out were awesome. There were a lot of aid stations that were fully manned and didn't run out of things.
Race Tips
There are some sections of the race in no man's land, out and back through a warehouse district, along a highway (with tractor trailer traffic). Those were tough miles in the rain.
I stayed near the convention center, it was less expensive, but the public transportation was great, ran early and took me right to the start.
Im used to really big races, so I was pleasantly surprised at how relaxed the start was. My spectating husband stood with me almost until I started running. The bathroom lines were managable.
4 /
5 Stars
By Ptd about 2015
5 /
5 Stars
By JW about 2015
Review
Some mile markers in the wrong spots, but this problem "averages out" as the race progresses in terms of one's overall pace. If you're a faster runner, be aware that you'll be doing your last ~1.5 miles on the same course as the finishing, slower half-marathoners, so a bit of dodging is required. And your near-finish photos will have other people in them for sure. Great weather to be expected!
Race Tips
The hill at mile 17 up to the St. John's Bridge is rough, so don't charge up it. It WILL be a much slower mile, so accept this and compensate elsewhere on the course. Bring your own source of sodium--the aid stations offer an electrolyte replacement drink that does not contain sodium. Tasty, though. I used Nuun tablets for sodium.
Take the MAX transit to the starting line, if possible, if you're not staying downtown.
3 /
5 Stars
By CB about 2014
Review
A little harder than I had anticipated after having run the half here in the past. A bit warmer than I had hoped.
Atmosphere is GREAT! Support is great.
Race Tips
Don't expect a flat race but hills are moderate and matched by some nice gradual downhills. Then,,,,there's the Train.
4 /
5 Stars
By Beach about 2013
Review
Lots of spectator to cheer you on. Beautiful scenery.
