She set numerous age-group world records, and competed at events ranging from 800 metres to marathon.

Portenski took up running at the age of 30, and discovered a liking for long-distance events.

[1] Portenski was born in Lower Hutt on 26 August 1949, the daughter of Mary Coleman (née Caroll) and John Coleman, and educated at Sacred Heart College.

[2] When not running, Portenski ran a hairdressing salon in the Wellington suburb of Miramar.

[3] Portenski died in Wellington on 1 February 2017 at the age of 67 from the ovarian cancer with which she had been diagnosed the previous year.