Race to chase dollars?

Oregonians jogged before it was cool, before they had iPods to entertain them or high-tech fabrics to wick away sweat.

But even Portland is part of a national push to transform the marathon — the ultimate race — from an athletic competition to a tourist attraction.

As participation soars, runners are getting older, slower and wealthier. They know they won’t win; they do it for the experience or the health benefits. And race organizers do whatever it takes to show them a good time.

 – Excerpt from The Oregonian, March 25, 2007