What a difference five years makes! I ran the Portland Marathon in 2003 when I was six months retired from the Navy, out-of-shape and also quite sick, but I finished. It was a horrible experience as I then developed shingles a few days after the race due to completely breaking down my system. In my eyes for many years it was not a good marathon to run due to my own inability, certainly not Portlands masterful organization.
I had aged five years and was 50 when I ran the marathon a second time in 2008 and I had one thing in mind, actually running this marathon correctly. It was raining during the race, but it actually felt good and you hardly noticed. Even with the rain the crowd particiapation was the finest I've ever experienced to date. When I reached the bridge at mile 18 I was still very strong, I had memories of having to walk that bridge five years earlier and I couldn't help but smile.
I am a believer in the Portland marathon now and will run this race many more times, Lord willing, as it is set perfectly on the schedule for fall marathons in my eyes and only three hours from my home. I was in my best marathon shape for the fall and was nearly an hour and a half better this time around, so my one time so-called-failure was evenged!
