More than 5,000 people are predicted to work their way through Portland Sunday on a revamped Portland Marathon route the city hopes will one day be recognized by runners as one of the best in the country.
It’s not quite New York City level (that would be upwards of 50,000). Or Chicago (about 45,000). Or Los Angeles (24,000).
But give it time.
“We want this to be a nationally recognized event,” said Jared Rohatinsky, the CEO of Utah-based race producer Brooksee, which charted the new course. “There’s nothing stopping the Portland marathon from taking its rightful place right alongside those others. It’ll just take a few years to get there.”
A nationally-recognized race is exactly what the city asked for this winter when it put out the call for companies to pitch them a new kind of marathon: specifically, a "unique and world-class marathon experience which is distinctly different from events held in other communities," according to The Portland Business Journal.
Rohatinsky said the company is making strides toward national acclaim. They’ve found a big name sponsor in OHSU. They’ve lured runners from 47 states and 19 countries. And they’ve designed a course that will weave runners through some of Portland’s most iconic neighborhoods in all four quadrants.
For decades, the city’s marathon has taken place largely in the industrial northwest with recent participants racing along a stretch of Highway 30. Poor attendance and a state investigation into the finances of the marathon director resulted in both the race and the oft-decried route getting scrapped last year.
“In the past, it almost felt the primary focus of the route was to be out of the way, unseen,” Rohatinsky said. “The new route puts runners front and center in the city.”
Naturally, putting runners front and center means getting drivers out of the way. All streets comprising the 26.2-mile route will be off-limits to cars until the last runner has passed (the race should wrap up by 1:45 p.m.). There will be no parking allowed on any of the route from 2 p.m. Saturday until 2 p.m. Sunday. One-way streets intersecting with the route are also a no-go.
Public transit riders will see their fair share of delays and detours. TriMet's anticipating 30 minutes delays on all five MAX lines between 7 a.m. - 9 a.m. Fifteen-minute delays are expected through the late afternoon. And, beginning at 6 a.m, 14 bus lines will make detours. Signs will be posted directing riders to temporary bus stops.
Residents can find more specific information about neighborhood impact here.