What a great trip it turned out to be, and it almost didn't happen.
My running buddy Jessica had signed up for the half marathon earlier this year, planning to go run the race while her husband and children visited friends there. She asked if I wanted to go, but I had planned to run a half marathon in Kansas in late April and then do the Komen 5K in Las Vegas. I just couldn't do another half marathon that soon, and I couldn't afford another trip that soon.
But when the Kansas trip didn't pan out, I realized I could do the Portland race and trip.
We flew in on May 15 for a four day stay.
Downtown Portland is a great area for a pedestrian. We took the light rail train from the airport and never needed to rent a car the whole time we were there.
Our first full day on May 16 we went to the expo to pick up our race numbers, did a little shopping, and then did a really fun urban winery tour via PediCab, sort of like a rickshaw. To get there, we crossed the Hawthorne Bridge, which has a pedestrian and bike path on each side. It also has this warning:
So people with hair can't cross?
Once a copy editor, always a copy editor!
Crossing the Hawthorne Bridge
Jessica on the PediCab with driver Matt
Our first stop was Clay Pigeon Winery, where I had the red flight as my tasting. Jessica had it, too, and I really enjoyed two of them. The middle one, the reserve, wasn't my favorite.
Trying the red flight
What I had
Our second stop was Enso, where I tried the whites and rose flights. In hindsight, I wish I'd gotten the red flight like Jessica did. I wasn't as wild about my flights..
Inside Enso winery
The white/rose flights
What I had
We decided to buy another appetizer and a bottle while we waited for Matt
Matt had to start a brewery tour, so he left us for a little bit, but as you can see from the photo above, we found something to kill the time. :D
Me in the PediCab with driver Matt
The final stop on the tour was Vie de Boheme. There, Jessica and I both had the red flight and we ordered another appetizer.
More eats!
At the end of the tour
All I can say is I am so glad we did the tour Friday and not Saturday, the night before the race, and I am glad neither one of us was driving! The walk back across the bridge helped walk off some of that wine.
Saturday we visited a farmer's market, an arts market and visited Powell Book Store in downtown Portland. That night was quiet, as we tried to get ready for the race the next morning.
Now, let me say, as you can see from the photos, we had BEAUTIFUL weather in Portland Thursday through Saturday. But Sunday was a different matter.
As Jessica and I said, it wouldn't be a half marathon for either of us if it wasn't raining!
Jessica is ready for rain
Rain soaked starting line
Nearly ready to run
Thankfully, the rain stopped during the middle distances, so it wasn't horrible for the whole route, as it was during the Country Music Half Marathon in Nashville in 2013.
The course was fairly picturesque, too.
Iconic Portland Oregon sign
Across the Hawthorne Bridge, note the carpet over the steel grating
The carpeting over the steel grating of the Hawthorne Bridge was great. Kept me from thinking about that bad fall I had in Jacksonville into the steel grating of the Main Street Bridge. Wish all races could do this!
Alas, the rain did not hold off at the end, and began coming down harder right as I was coming back over the Steel Bridge, probably the final two miles. But, I got across the finish line!!
Finisher!
Finishers!
Jessica and I were a little slower to walk back to the hotel after the race, but it allowed us to notice, again, some of the public art all around Portland.
Portland stag
And look at these cute public water fountains! These were near City Hall, but really they are all around the city.
public water fountains
Once we were cleaned up, we found a really nice little pizza place called Hot Lips Pizza near our hotel, and thankfully, it sold wine by the bottle -- and good wine, too!!
How every race should end, with a nice pinot noir!
Really good wine, and at a pizza place, no less!
Rock N Roll Portland finisher's medal
I will consider this one of my wonderful trips, and it just happened to be part of a race. It was a wonderful way to pick up state No. 14.
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