Rachel Portner
Rachel Portner started running in Ann Arbor Michigan in 1975 and fell in love with running right away. She was coaxed into running her first race, a 5-miler, which she ended up winning with a time of 29 min.
In 1981 Rachel moved to Hawaii with her family and quickly became one of the fastest female distance runners in the state. As a mother of four children, she always put her family first. But through her discipline and dedication to her sport, she somehow found the time for training.
Rachel qualified-for the 1984 Olympic Marathon Trials at the Detroit Marathon, with a time of 2:50:41. She then went on to run her personal best marathon at the trials in Olympia, Washington in 2:46:51. Her two best Honolulu Marathons came in 1984 and 1985. She ran a 2:49:33 in 1984, 6th overall female and a 2:53:08 in 1985, 2nd overall female.
Most of Rachel’s road races were distances between 10K and the marathon, where she had great success. But she also enjoyed an occasional trail race and even an ultramarathon. She is a 5-time winner of the Kilauea Volcano Wilderness Marathon, and a 2-time winner and women’s record holder of the Run to The Sun; she was the first overall finisher (men and women) in 1993.
Rachel also had a passion for coaching. She wanted to help others have the same positive experience that she had with running. She coached the intermediate students at Punahou for two years, and then worked with Duncan MacDonald coaching at the varsity level for the next four years. She then accepted a position of head coach at Sacred Hearts Academy and coached four more years.
Rachel is married to Bernie Portner and they have four children. Maya, Talia, Liat, and Elan.
Running Achievements:
First place finishes:
| 6:12:06 | 58.26 km | Kahului | Run to the Sun |
| 3:46:29 | Marathon | Volcano | Kilauea Volcano Wilderness |
| 3:43:08 | Marathon | Volcano | Kilauea Volcano Wilderness |
| 5:39:08 | 58.26 km | Kahului | Run to the Sun (Overall) |
| 3:38:26 | Marathon | Volcano | Kilauea Volcano Wilderness |
| 3:40:23 | Marathon | Volcano | Kilauea Volcano Wilderness |
| 3:19:44 | Marathon | Volcano | Kilauea Volcano Wilderness |
| 3:12:51 | Marathon | Kailua | Windward |
| 36:10 | 10 km | Honolulu | Women’s 10K |
PRs:
| 36:10:00 | 10K | Honolulu | Women’s 10K |
| 2:46:51 | Marathon | Washington | US Olympic Trials |
Coaching:
- Punahou Intermediate students, 2 years
- Punahou Varsity students, 4 years
- Sacred Hearts Academy, head coach 4 years