Ya know you run marathons faster than you write!

Shudder!!

Not sure if you saw this comment I posted in Ennay's report...but when I saw your bib (I was calling out people's names), I guffawed..."McLovin!" Then -- duh! -- it's Stevie Ray! You'd think the pink shirt would be a major clue... Anyway. You looked great! At the dreaded 20.8 mile point -- quite possibly the most dispiriting point in the course, before it finally turns & goes downhill. Attaboy! This confirms it for me, though. Portland is a tougher course and if Stevie Ray sez so, it iz so. Just a wee bit hillier than expected. And thanks to you, I now have a better idea of what Napa might be like. If I run Napa. I dunno.

I saw you, even though you weren't wearing the promised cow. Actually, I don't think Portland is an overly challenging course in the big scheme of things... aside from the bridge hill, that is. I do think their elevation chart fibs about M18-M21, though. Anyway, I think Seattle's course is harder... the hills towards the end are much harder, and we usually have a weather penalty (though last year was nice) whereas Portland usually has good weather (though this year was not).

I just liked that word and where you put it in your report! I can't wait to do Portand some day.

... other folks from the Masters forum were also there and each completed their own levels of ass kicking in the pouring rain...

Well, some of us from the Masters forum didn't do any ass kicking, but still had fun. A couple comments... Rain? That was nothing. Just enough to cool things off a little. The only thing that bugged me was that the people who had slowed way down or were walking didn't move to the side but took the (high) dry pavement, so those of us who were running a more constant pace had to go through the wet/water spots. Hill? the hill up to the St. John's bridge is an incline, but it's not steep at all. Goes up for a little while, but not that long (nothing at all like the Barr Trail on Pike's Peak, which is maybe a bit steep in spots.) Downhill at mile 21-22 . Yes! Most of my 8 minute negative split was in that last 5 miles. Why were all those people walking or going so slowly? Lots of us Maniacs out there. Ran along with #31 and his daughter #1010 for a few miles, talked briefly to #372 and one of her friends (?#?) and a bunch of others. Great fun.

Rain? That was nothing. Just enough to cool things off a little.

In comparison to Tampa 06 or Seattle 06, this is true. In comparison to 20 years of Portland Marathons, it was worth noting. Feel free to write your own race report.

Hill? the hill up to the St. John's bridge is an incline, but it's not steep at all.

It's a pretty serious hill. Feel free to write your own race report.

Will you pace me next time?????????? YOu are one awesome runner and friend. It was great meeting you at Mama mia. Next time I wanna sit next to you so I can get a chance to know more about your story.........of course...you can always pace me for the twenty six point two miles and that would be better yet.