Diary of a Race — Portland To Coast, 2009

By Louis Landre

The gauntlet had been drawn. It was time to call in the big guns, the racewalkers from the East Coast, at least two of whom who had helped to establish the fastest time in the history of Portland to Coast Relay,* an average team pace that broke the nine minute barrier. Perennially the big contest for Portland To Coast Realy (PTCR) is between Sierra Racewalkers and Racewalkers Northwest. In 2008, for the first time in more than a decade, the perennial favorite Sierra Racewalkers beat Racewalkers Northwest (RWNW), after Sierra recruited a big gun from San Francisco.

“2008 Champs” placarded all over Sierra’s van in huge letters, an “in your face” proclamation to RWNW. This year, RWNW sought revenge, calling their team “Sierra You Later,” a team half of which had either participated in the Olympics, been U.S. National Champions, or who had gone to the Olympic Trials. RWNW sought nothing less than to regain the championship. And for the first time in several years, the lead wasn’t going to continually change hands during the course of the race. From a spectator perspective the plan was to make this race extremely boring… to watch RWNW systematically catch and pass every team, once and only once.

At 11 am, on a picture perfect Friday morning with temperature in the mid 60s, the gun sounded, with former Olympic hopeful Erin Taylor starting for RWNW. Nearly 400 other teams were given at least a two-hour head start. Several teams were given as much as a seven-hour head start. Purposefully Erin lollygagged the first 30 yards of the race so RWNW could honestly say they started in last place. By time she reached the top of the Hawthorne Bridge, a mere 300 yards later, she had passed all other elite racewalking teams, taking the pole position.

Her challenge was to stretch the lead to at least five minutes by the end of her four-mile stint. About two miles into the race, stomach cramps set in, changing her gate from elegant and graceful to labored determination. It was this gut wrenching competitive determination that set the tone for the rest of the team; it was time for the “fun” to begin, time to get hundreds of roadkill. “Roadkill” is the term used when a racer passes another along the course. Team vans look like chalkboards on wheels, sporting rows of tick marks that show off the team’s roadkill body count, proving how fast they are. When walkers return to their van, they often say things like, “Did you see me smoke that guy?” Or “Woo-hoo, I got 12 roadkills!”

By the end of her first leg, she had passed nine teams, and had a commanding four minute lead on the next best team, Beware of Sierra. Sierra had no chance, not this year, not with former Olympian Ian Whatley and former US National Champion Steve Pecinovsky about to take the baton for RWNW. This year no rows of tick marks were required to tally the amount of “road kill” for RWNW. The only thing that read under RWNW’s road kill sign was “All 399.”

It was 3 am Saturday morning, only 42 teams left to beat. For the most part, the race had gone as planned, gaining at least one minute per mile on the next best team. Interestingly, the next best team wasn’t Beware of Sierra. It was a team of six women, who called themselves the Six Pistols, obviously a play on words referring to the famous punk rock band. Although never a true threat to RWNW, the Six Pistols passed Sierra. The excitement of beating Sierra kicked the adrenaline into high gear as the race became a question — could they, too, beat Sierra by several minutes?

Into the start of leg 31, with six legs remaining, RWNW had passed more 90% of all the teams and had 37 teams left to go. Whatley, on the last leg of the race, helped establish a commanding two hour lead over the next best team. Near the end of his leg, with the finish line a mere several thousand feet away, he was directed down a trail by one of the course volunteers. Unfortunately, a few minutes later, the trail ended at a dead end, and Ian realized he was directed down the wrong trail. Back tracking, he stomped uncontrollably in anger, knowing this year won’t be the year the team will set the second best time in the history of the race. Frustratingly, the mishap happened again, and Whatley was finally directed to the correct trail a full 18 minutes later.

Whatley was livid; and anyone who knows this former Olympian knows it. This man loves to race. True to his form, he kicked into high gear, leaving all others minutes behind. Thanks to him and the rest of the team, RWNW did it again, to be the last to start and the first to finish.

What is great about PTCR is that it draws out the best in us to support and encourage each other, even under the most arduous conditions. All participants, regardless of skill level, dig deep, put forth their heart and soul, and come out with a great sense of accomplishment, just because we did it. We walked one of the longest relay race, giving all of ourself with every step along the way. Sure there are always disappointments and mishaps, but they are minor in comparison to the challenge of accomplishing the walk. Putting forth our best efforts to fulfilling a team’s goal is why it is worth a deep heart-felt celebration.

And as odd it sounds, after walking through sore or pulled muscles, foot cramps, blisters, dehydration and churning stomachs, we proudly finished on the beach in Seaside 127 miles later, whole heartedly congratulating each other, swapping a few memorable stories, and planning for next year to be an even better.

Landre started racewalking when he joined Walk About’s team six years ago for the Willamette Valley Relay. After the event, he started to get more serious about the sport. Gaining speed he joined Racewalkers Northwest about three years ago and has been racewalking with the their elite team ever since.

*For more information on the Portland to Coast Relay visit www.hoodtocoast.com and follow the link to Portland to Coast walk.