Moving On...the Austin Marathon Post

Okay people, it has taken me three weeks to get over the Austin Marathon and I have finally moved on.   So here is the blog, in all it's glory.

First, I want to say that Susan and I had an AWESOME time in Austin.  It was our first time to the Texas capitol and let me tell you,  it lived up to all the hype we've heard about it.   We took off early on a Friday morning so that we could have as much time there as possible.  It felt good to get away from the eastern New Mexico plains and to get into the Texas hill country.  We got there about five o'clock and headed straight to the expo.

Saturday began with a light drizzle.  We loaded up the doggies and headed to Magnolia Cafe for an awesome breakfast.  That powered us up for a big day of exploring and shopping.   We checked out Mellow Johnny's Bike Shop and Espresso Bar (Lance's bike shop).  It was cool to check out all the TdF and Team Radio Shack gear.

 We toured downtown, the capitol and later had a picnic lunch at a beautiful park.  It was cool and dry by then, perfect running weather.   Saturday night was pasta at Mandola's (on my friend Betsy T's suggestion).  It turned out to be one of those marathon experiences that really makes the trip.   The line to this family run Italian Deli was down the street when we got there.  It took us an hour to get in, but their hostess brought out ice water with lemon, and their cook brought us squares of cheese pizza that was to die for.  Most everyone was either a marathon runner or athletic supporter.

It turned out to be the highlight of my entire weekend!

And then it was Sunday, race day.   It was humid and cloudy, but no drizzle.  We got downtown early enough for me to drop my gear off at the finish line.  Susan took a couple of snap shots and then it was off to the starting line.   I was nervous (as usual), but I felt good.  The leg hadn't been hurting for a week and I was ready to get going.   Twenty thousand runners towed the line.  The state capitol looked like a refugee camp for runners.  We were everywhere.

I tried to line up near the 3:10 marathon pacers.  I was a 100 yds or so behind then when the gun went off.  It was 44 seconds to cross the start line...and I was off.   The start was surprisingly fast as we tore off downhill, then up, then down, then up.  Hmm?   I tried to pace myself at about 7:00/mi pace with the hope to catch up to the pace group in a few miles.   I caught them at about mile 3, the beginning of a three mile climb.  I settled right in.

The pace was a little slow, about 7:45 as we climbed, and I felt good.   At the top of the hill was a dip and rise, then it was a three mile downhill back into downtown.  The pace down was 6:45/mi.  The heat and humidity were really beginning to get to me now.

Susan was at mile 8, camera in hand.  Check out my sweat!  I handed her my shades as I wasn't using them, and we were off.

keeping up at mile 8

We turned the corner from there and followed the lake.  By mile nine I knew that I wasn't going to last with the group and I finally let them go at mile 10 and yet another hill!  

My legs were beginning to ache, and I could slow down some now.   But the damage from running ten miles of hills in 71 minutes or so had been done.  My legs would soon be toast!

Mile11 through 12 were a killer hill that slowed my pace down to 8:06/mi and at the half way point, I just wanted to turn right with the Half Marathoners and call it a day.   But then I thought, "If I do that, I won't get my T-shirt or nice finisher's medal"  so I kept on running.  Besides, maybe I'd still be able to pull off 3:20 and BQ (Boston Qualify).

The second half of the marathon was just painful.  My legs hurt EVERY step from mile 12 on.  I really had to focus on the smoothness of my running and to just keep going.
   

The 3:15 pace group caught me about mile 15.  They dropped me like a bad habit.  The 3:20 pace group caught me about mile 18 and I was only able to hang onto them for a mile or so.  Wow, was I tired!

It wasn't until mile 23 that things started to improve.  It was the start of a downhill and my friend Betsy was manning the aid station.  Man was it good to see her.  She gave me a hug and a piece of banana, and most of all, a reason to stop for a moment.  Her big smile and words of encouragement helped me carry on toward the finish.   Moments later, the 3:30 pace group caught me, but I was able to hang with them all the way to the finishing hill.   I tried my best to salvage a 3:30:00 but alas, was only good enough for 3:31:38 by the chip on my shoe, 44 seconds more by my watch.

So, the Austin Marathon was all about survival, and was the single hardest marathon that I've run.  I was in decent enough shape, but the three H's: heat, humidity and HILLS got the best of me!   I left humbled and determined to someday return to the Texas hill country so that I may redeem myself and conquer those damn hills.