Students, faculty prepare for Sunday's Portland Marathon
By Andy Matarrese
Although the first person ever to run a marathon died, this gruesome tidbit of sports trivia did nothing to stop the 9,000 participants in last year's Portland Marathon.
Nor will it stop many other thousands of runners, including some UP community members, from trying out the Portland Marathon for themselves this Sunday.
Reasons for choosing to run differ between participants and are often very personal.
"My mom used to run marathons when I was little so when I was little I decided I was going to run a marathon before I turned 20," sophomore Jessica Hamilton said, adding, "I just wanted to do it to prove I could."
This will be Hamilton's first marathon ever. Hamilton ran cross country in high school and has always enjoyed running. For Hamilton, one of the biggest obstacles has been the time commitment required to train.
"It's hard to fit in," said Hamilton, who had a full-time job over the summer and now has to schedule training around class.
Hamilton intends to continue training after the marathon, but is looking forward to toning it down.
"I'm not going to have any 20-mile runs after the marathon, I think," she said.
Hamilton began training early last year, starting with low mileage weeks, working up to 40- to 45-mile weeks. The process hasn't always been easy.
"(I'd be) looking ahead in April, wondering 'how am I going to be able to do this?'" Hamilton said.
Capt. Joe Lontai, a professor of military science, will also be among the field of participants this year. This will be his first time running the Portland Marathon and his third marathon. He's excited for the challenge.
Lontai is looking forward to the experience, saying the Portland Marathon is well-supported by the city and spectators, as opposed to the Las Vegas Marathon he ran once.
"Those are tough, long miles," said Lontai about the lonely desert run in Nevada.
The Portland Marathon committee prides itself on the structure and support system for participants. Last year it boasted more than 4,600 volunteers and distributed 250 pounds of Vaseline, 475,000 paper cups, 58,800 safety pins and provided 585 portable toilets.
"That's going to feel great with these folks all around," Lontai said.
Lontai got into distance running while running with ROTC in college. He enjoys marathons, in part, due to the events' atmosphere and the attitude of the participants.
"It's great to be around all those positive athletic people," he said.
During his experiences with marathons, Lontai has seen many miraculous performances by runners facing great challenges, like disease or disability.
"There will be folks running who are overcoming all sorts of obstacles," Lontai said.
He met an overweight doctor who lost 70 pounds in order to compete, telling Lontai that he believed he had to be healthy to be the best doctor for his patients.
This year's marathon will be senior William Dana's fourth overall and second Portland Marathon.
He said his running career started out due to his brother, sophomore Andrew Dana, who may also run this weekend.
Years ago, Andrew challenged William to a race on their way to work out at the gym, two miles away. Figuring that two miles against his younger brother was easily won, he accepted.
"He smoked me hardcore," Dana said. By the time he arrived, his brother had been waiting for awhile.
"He's chilling out there in the sun with two Gatorades," Dana said. His brother had already finished off one of the bottles; the other was still full and for Dana.
"Ever since then he kind of got me into running," Dana said.
Dana has run several marathons, so for him the focus has become less on completing the race and more on improving in time.
"My hope is to qualify for the Boston Marathon," Dana said. To qualify, Dana will have to run the marathon in three hours, 10 minutes, his previous best being three hours, 43 minutes.
Dana has been training with friends and they may join him in the actual race. Having company, according to Dana, makes the training and actual marathon much easier.
"Also, the iPod helps," he said.
The marathon starts Sunday at 7 a.m.. The last half of the 19th mile goes along North Willamette Boulevard, so spectators may watch from campus.
