Marla Smith

Member since 2017

Hometown: Priest River, ID / Spokane, WA

Current city: Portland, OR

Occupation: Corporate Travel Agent

Instagram handle: @marlasmith20

Best running experience:

Running through both of my pregnancies. It was quite challenging, but I learned so much about myself and what I am capable of.

My fiancé and I met on a group run in Nov. 2010, we went up to Salmon River Trail on Mt. Hood.  In July 2017, we went on a date run on the same trail.  We ran 3 1/2 miles up to a view point, and he proposed.  It was a perfect day.

Best racing experience:

CIM 2016. I had a goal to break 3 hours and it was one that I had been working on for 7 years, and my 2 marathons prior to this I blew up. It was a goal I was determined to meet before I had my second child. Sadly my aunt passed away 2 weeks prior to the race due to ovarian cancer. Her memorial was a day before the race in Vancouver, WA. I was advised to choose between the race or the memorial, but knew I had to attend both. I wanted to personally dedicate the race to my Aunt, she was someone who was important to me, and one of the strongest people I know. So I pinned the ovarian cancer ribbon on my bib and wrote “for Jody.” Throughout the race anytime the going got tough, I would look at my bib and the memory of my Aunt and her strength helped me push through. I met my goal and finished in 2:59:15 (with only 2 shoe stops 😜) and almost equal half splits. It was my best executed marathon to date.

Passions outside of running:

Health and nutrition, spending quality time with my family, my cats, and napping whenever I can.

Favorite post-run meal:

Plain dried mango, that’s it. I have a huge stash in my work desk and snack on it post run. It has been my go to post run food for at least 6 years.

Racing highlights/PRs:
Mile: 5:14, Rose City Mile 2019
5k: 17:32, Oregon Spring 5K 2019
8k: 30:14, Bridge to Brews 2015
10k: 37:34, Best Dam Run 2018
12k: 46:29, Lilac Bloomsday Run 2016
Half Marathon: 1:21:17, Corvallis Half 2019
Marathon: 2:59:15, California International Marathon 2016