Foot Traffic Flat Marathon

Published July 4, 2019

Independence Day 2019, a Thursday. Add: an unexpected Friday holiday from work. Stir in: a summer weekend. dash of: the Pacific Northwest. Recipe for my first QUADZILLA. Never ever more than two marathons back-to-back (doubled twice in 2016, both times returned injured). 2019, my time.

Whatta journey. QUADZILLA? 4 marathons in 4 days. #luckyinlife

Late Wednesday PDX touchdown. Portland Oregon. Left leg taped calf-to-hamstring. Probably shoulda skipped the South Dakota ‘bonus‘ run after QUADZILLA-registering in May. Body still recovering from Saturday’s Black Hills ultra. Decision made, in the past, forward move. Shoulda, woulda, coulda.

Short 5-hour sleeps. Woodlark Hotel, ‘the House of Welcome’. Early start; Day 1 destination: Sauvie Island. Summer lush, summer green & summer COOL. Miraculously, a July race series with runner-friendly weather. And BERRIES. Strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, marionberries – Oregon berry OVERLOAD.

Bib pick-up at Sauvie’s Pumpkin Patch. Rental car clocked an add’l 30 minutes shuteye. 6:30 marathon start. Body still tight, first run since Saturday. Ice 3 days, heat yesterday. Day strategy: slow & steady, reassess after 2 miles. No Day 2, Day 3 focus. Today – this day – is marathon day. Thursday, Sauvie Island Oregon.

National Anthem, countdown 10 to 1. Cool, comfortable Oregon. First road miles since Colfax. Expecting to bake on the back-end – but WOW, whatta beautiful Start. Muscles warmed; aches-n-pain gone. Strong & steady thru mile 12. Fog burned off, exposing sheep, island-fronted houses and multiple berry farms. Holiday-morning quiet, leafy tree overhang & FLAT. Couldn’t have a scripted a more comfortable July run.

Half done, half to go. Hamstrings tight. Dialed back pace – slow ‘n steady, no injuries. 4 day run-repeat (4 days after Black Hills). Walk-jogged thru 16. 10-min mile to marker 17. BEST aid station of the weekend – STRAWBERRIES. Plates & plates of ’em. Stopped & feasted B-I-G, 9 or 10 in my belly. Easy to digest, natural sugar boost. Berries do a body good 🍓

Strong thru 19. 20. 21. Temps warming, passed markers 22, 23. Outta gas, tank empty, aid station stopped mile 24. Mentally strong, legs a-strugglin’. Unexpected relief found in an irrigation sprinkler (after the initial ‘cold water’ shock). Brrr, ahh – & timely.

Jog-pace mile, Day One FINISH. Marathon 153, my 3^rd in Oregon.

Showered, legs iced. Afternoon’d at the movies (short walk from hotel). Popcorn, Coke & a smile 🙂

Day 2 destination: Cook Park, Tigard.