By Roya Ghorbani-Elizeh
For junior Carolyn Farris, the 2009 Portland Marathon is the jumping board into her new career as competitive runner.
"I couldn't even run a mile on a treadmill two years ago," Farris said. "Next thing I knew, people were calling me a runner."
Farris, along with other UP students including two of her housemates, has been training for the 2009 Portland Marathon. It's scheduled on Oct. 4 and consists of a 26.2-mile course through local Portland streets. It is open to both runners and walkers.
During the 20th mile of the race, the runners pass by the UP campus, a grueling uphill stretch. Junior Nate Banet, who ran the marathon last year, recalls how challenging it was to pass campus during the race.
"I was running great through the first 20 miles, but after I passed UP, it was all down hill, " Banet said. "People are expected to break down around the campus area."
Banet finished the 2008 marathon with a time of 3 hours and 35 minutes. He was sequestered in the medical tent for over an hour with the beginning stages of hypothermia. Banet hopes that this year's marathon will end differently, without the need of medical attention. More importantly, Banet plans to make a time under 3 hours and 10 minutes, which is the Boston Marathon qualifying time.
Although some runners like Banet are serious about their qualifying times, other runners are running in the marathon for the experience.
Senior Ashley Rochholz, who ran cross country and track in high school, is one runner who is just excited to be involved with the process. After studying abroad this summer, Rochholz found that she had a more free time then previous summers.
"I have always wanted to train and run a marathon, but never had the time or drive to actually do it," Rochholz said.
Although nervous about the upcoming race, Rochholz has remained optimistic about finishing the 26.2-mile run. "I know I can finish it, I just don't know how bad it will hurt," Rochholz said.
Even though the Portland Marathon is just for individual participants, Farris and Banet, along with junior Jayme Schroeder, have all been training and helping each other while living in the same house.
"We don't run with each other, but there is healthy competition," Banet said. "It's cool because there are three people in the house supporting each other with training."
Although runners usually begin their training in early summer for the Portland Marathon, Schroder is the exception to the rule. Schroder signed up for the marathon in early August at his housemate's urging. Schroder's main objective is to "show Nate that I could run with him."
Now Schroeder, who previously ran a half marathon in Australia for fun, hopes to finish his first marathon in less than 4 hours. Schroder, unlike Banet and Rochholz, has never been a competitive runner.
"I never did cross country in high school," Schroder said. "I just liked running because it was a release from school."
It is through support and intensive training that the runners become ready for the brutal run through Portland. Banet went to his former cross country coach for help, devising a training schedule for the summer while Farris, who studied abroad this summer, started her marathon training while abroad in June.
"I started training in Salzburg because I had to get my 12-mile runs in," said Farris. "It was weird because I had no idea where to run."
Marathon training for these students has not come easy with other responsibilities at the beginning of the semester. Between balancing homework, labs and studying, the students have found it difficult to maintain a social life while training.
"Since school started, I feel tired all the time and can't wait for the marathon to be over so I can get some sleep and have more free time," Rochholz said.
Preparing for the marathon not only takes up time, but requires multiple training strategies to obtain the best results on race day. Banet's routine for training consists of 18-mile runs, and stretching and strider routines with occasional weight lifting on the side.
"It takes up a lot of my time, but it's a sacrifice that I'm willing to make to reach my goals," Banet said.
Another vital part of the training process is the diet the runners must maintain for their daily runs. Banet, along with his housemates, consume "glorious amounts of pasta, cereal, and produce." With the race fast approaching, Rochholz has started eating mostly carbohydrates and proteins to stack up on the energy the 26.2-mile race will require.
The past month of training has produced some interesting stories from the runners that include almost getting hit by cars and unfortunate run-ins with poison oak. According to Banet, running in the local North Portland community has led to some humorous comments and weird looks from homeowners and even their children.
"The kids I pass always yell at me saying I'm wearing booty shorts," Banet said. "This happens quite regularly."
The 2009 Portland Marathon is on Oct. 4 and begins at 7 a.m.
