The Magic of Time, Energy & Miles with Rachel Peters
Photos from the Portland Marathon
Tell us how it feels to win the Portland Marathon. What does it mean to you?
It took me a while to really grasp the reality (and the enormity) of it all, but now that it's finally sunk in, it feels pretty incredible. I think what makes this win so special is that it happened on the cusp of my 38th birthday. When I turned 36, I was honestly feeling some type of way about being in my late 30's - as if I had suddenly reached my full potential, and that everything was going to be downhill from there. I know that sounds overly dramatic, but there was quite a bit of sadness and fear within me at the time. It's such a funny thing to look back on now though because I currently feel the healthiest and strongest I've ever felt, while also running some of my fastest times. I don't think I could have ever predicted that I'd relate so deeply to the saying "age is just a number," but it's been a pleasant surprise, to say the least.
Can you share any parts of your running path that allowed you to get to this level?
11 years ago, I ran the Portland Marathon - my very first marathon. I was underfueled, underprepared, and genuinely had no clue what the heck I was doing, but wow, did I discover how much I loved pushing myself beyond what I thought possible. After one more road marathon under my belt and experimenting a bit with my training and fueling, I eventually found trail running and ultra marathons. In the beginning, I mostly relied on my genetics and the bare minimum amount of training required to do those races. It took one year of spraining both ankles multiple times for me to finally take my training more seriously. I very quickly learned that putting the time, energy and miles into this running thing can net some pretty amazing results.
Since that seemingly obvious discovery, I was able to pull off a handful of 1st and 2nd place finishes at some bigger races, including a 2nd place finish at last year's Portland Marathon. I'm a pretty competitive person by nature, so that 2nd place finish really lit a fire under me. At the beginning of 2024, I resolved to religiously stick to a training plan, increase my mileage, and incorporate an at-home strength training plan; all things I'm embarrassed to admit that I had never been willing to fully commit to previously. I was determined, but also genuinely curious to see how my body would react. Needless to say, it's led to some pretty memorable performances.
Was winning something you had on your radar before the race or during?
Yes and no. It goes without saying that the Portland area has some ridiculously fast women out there. I knew that any one of them could show up on race day, so the idea of winning initially felt like more of a pipe dream than it did a reality. I essentially went into it just aiming to hit my time goal rather than stressing too much over a potential podium finish. During the race, I was drafting off of, and leapfrogging with, two of the other top women up until mile 14 when I finally managed to settle into the first spot. Being in that position with so much of the race left was incredibly nerve wracking, and I often found myself trying to gauge whether the crowd was cheering for me because I was in first, or because I was in first and about to get passed. It may have been a mix of shock and doubt, but I guess I never really felt like I truly had the race in the bag. As you can imagine, the relief and elation I felt as soon as I crossed the finish line was palpable.
I know you spend a lot of time on trails and racing trail. What do you love about mixing it up with road marathons?
I love the varied complexity between the two. During my marathon training block this year, almost all of my training was on road, with a handful of trail races thrown into the mix. Although my preference is trail, I think I've probably always been a road-runner at heart. I appreciate that after a long work day, I can put on a pair of running shoes, head out the door, and instantly be running. I enjoy the intense, fast-paced workouts and then deep diving into the analytics of each one. I'm also a creature of habit, so I probably have a higher tolerance for the monotony that's often associated with it. With that being said, I live in a pretty small town, so getting a 15 to 20 mile run in usually means running multiple loops around the entire city. That can get old pretty fast - I do have limits - so it's always a nice reprieve to hit the trails. Overall, I think mixing trail and road into my training has greatly benefitted me. During a road race, the hills seem so small in comparison to the hills you'd find out on the trails. And during a trail race, it's always fun to be able to incorporate a little speed.
It was awesome to see you rocking our Long Haul Cap as well as another Portland brand’s (The Athletic Community) PDX Carpet Socks. I have to ask, what do you love about the cap and/or our the Territory Run brand?
I first discovered Territory Run Co. on Instagram at the beginning of 2016. The posts were chock full of single track trails, moody forests, mountainous landscapes, and inspirational quotes - it all looked so cool! The trucker hats looked so cool. The people looked so cool. I was captivated by all of it. At that point, I had only just contemplated signing up for a trail race but was too scared to actually go through with it; I felt like such an outsider looking in. One year later, I finally worked up enough courage to sign up for a 50k race - the Elk-Kings Trail Race. I was absolutely blown away by the camaraderie and the sense of community felt not only on race day, but during my training runs through Forest Park and all the nearby trails. For me, Territory Run Co. represents all the best things associated with running - purpose, passion, inclusion, growth, etc. I'm so grateful to have found the brand and the trail community that welcomed me with open arms from day one. And while I discovered that I look absolutely ridiculous in a trucker hat, I'm more than happy to continue supporting the brand that played a role in inspiring me to step out of my comfort zone.