By Rick Rodriguez
Excerpt Journal September 30, 1994
"I am here to run the Portland Marathon! I hope GOD can give me the strength & courage to complete this run. My 4th marathon! San Francisco, Dallas, Long Beach and now Portland. Who would have thought? I am glad that I am doing it. I am staying at the Red Lion Coliseum across from the Memorial Coliseum (Home of Blazers). It's a neat building. Someday I'd like to come back to Portland and watch the Trailblazers play Golden State."
Back in the early 1990's, I became an avid Marathon runner, and after a 3:36 time in Dallas; and a 3:52 in Long Beach, I figured I could only improve. Unfortunately, running three marathons in less than 10 months proved to be too much running (along with training) and I regressed rather than improved. It was a tough learning lesson and a painful experience (Portland) that year!
Journal Excerpt October 1, 1994 "My room was within easy walking distance to Downtown and the Willamette River. It runs through Portland. This morning I ran twice around Memorial Coliseum. Just a light run. Later, I drove to Vancouver, Washington to Battle Ground Lake State Park and found a nice setting." I was spending a lot of time contemplating during this period of my life. I was looking for the meaning of my running and I asked for a lot of support. Journal Excerpt October 1, 1994 "Tomorrow is a big day. I hope GOD can give me the strength & courage to run well. I ask that tomorrow be another terrific sign & hope that I am moving in the right direction. Good luck. Start easy. Finish strong!"
On race day, my attitude was optimistic, I was in a beautiful part of the country, and I was about to see it on foot. Additionally, the marathon excitement was quite prevalent and I was caught up in the enthusiasm, too! Journal excerpt October 2, 1994 "The day has come and gone. Another tough struggle. The Portland Marathon! I started out okay. The 1st 5 miles were a period of adjustment; at Mile 7 we got into the industrial part of the city. I did not feel well. 9 miles came and I finally began feeling well. That changed quickly. By Mile 11 I began to feel the challenge awaiting me. Although I came through the next 5 miles okay, by Mile 19 I was feeling the pain. As I approached St. John's Bridge, I got a burst of energy and felt great." This ebb and flow is typical in marathons and long runs. Sometimes, I felt like really running and other times I willed myself to put one foot in front of another. This is part of running that I have never mastered; however, recently I learned some techniques from reading the book BORN TO RUN by Christopher McDougall. It is a book about runners from the Tarahumara tribe of Mexico. It is a fascinating read. It leaves clues for non-runners and runners alike, wrapped into a great and intriguing story that will captivate the reader.
Journal Excerpt October 2, 1994 "Twenty miles came and the pain was here to stay. I stay well hydrated stopping at all water stops. I kept it up. I hung in there. At Mile 24, I crossed the Steel Bridge, famous in Portland, and those last two miles were painful. I turned into Marathon Avenue and finished strong the last hundred yards."
Yes, indeed, I finished the Portland Marathon, and got a good experience for it, along with a fascinating medal and seeing Portland. I've never returned to Portland! And, though I've wanted to go back and just visit the city; it remains on the list! Perhaps, I'll go up and see the Blazers play Golden State. In the meantime, I'll keep reading and running.....
