Race Report: Austin Marathon!
Feb. 18th, 2014 01:16 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
jephmatLast Sunday I ran the Austin Marathon. It was my 13th completed marathon and my first marathon outside of California.
I decided to run this marathon despite the fact that three weeks prior to this race I strained my left calf so badly during a long run that I was limping around like Frankenstein. Through rest, light workouts, and multiple visits for ART massage therapy (Thank you Doctor Jess!), I was able to recover enough to actually run this race.
Because of my calf strain, (as well as one other random non-running injury I sustained during my training,) I ran far less training miles in the month leading up to this marathon than in any of my previous marathons. Because of all these factors, I was worried that I might have to DNF this race, (As what happened to me in my first out-of-state running attempt in Portland last year,) and I seriously considered not running it at all. (I also thought about switching from the full marathon to the half, but I had missed the deadline to do that.) But one of my running goals was to run a marathon outside of California, and I decided to make the attempt with my gumption and a lot of spider tape.
The race started just outside the Texas State Capitol. I showed up with my cousin Terri who was running the half. (And who also got interviewed for local TV before the race because of her involvement with Black Girls Run!) The Capitol was shrouded in fog, and a light mist was falling.
The race had nearly 20,000 participants, so even though Terri and I were close to the 4 hour pace group in the crowd of runners, it took us about 8 minutes to shuffle up to the start line after the starting gun went off.
I started off at a very casual pace, trotting out the first miles as if I was running a long training run. I resisted the urge to trample with the herd and let people pass me up, pacing behind slower runners to make sure I didn't push myself too hard. Occasionally I'd zip around other runners, but I was generally very good about reigning in my need for speed.
We ran around downtown Austin and across a bridge, then back over the river once more. I was told it was a hilly course, and we did hit a couple of inclines that Texans refer to as "hills", but I'm from the bumpy state of California. If Texans want hills then they should come out to the Bay Area and run the Oakland Marathon. (Eep!)
After 8 miles my calf felt fine. Virtually no pain or tightness. I decided to push it a little more. I knew I wasn't going to get a good time, but I at least didn't want it to be totally embarrassing. I wasn't holding back my general pace just for the sake of my calf, I was also trying to preserve myself because we were informed it was going to be hot, with highs in the 70's and 80's, so I was bracing myself for the appearance of the infamous Texan Sun, which was still behind the morning clouds by the time I reached the Marathon/Half Marathon split just before mile 11.
At mile 13 I was 99% sure I would finish the marathon. Virtually no pain or tightness in ny calf, and I had kept my pace. It was at the halfway point that I strapped on my iPod and took it up a notch. We were running through residential streets now. All along the route we had been treated to bands and supportive spectators. We were serenaded by rock and roll bands to mariachi bands to a senior citizen church band. So many people came to support us, holding up signs and cheering us on. Water stations and race volunteers were plentiful. There was also an unusual amount of liquor offerings, from beer to margaritas to "quitters lounges", where people offered drinks from impromptu front yard bars for people dropping out of the race. One couple was even offering shots of Jagermeister! ("Whoa, did I run a marathon last night?")
I still felt good at mile 16. I knew that if I made it to mile 20 I would finish no matter what. Even if I restrained my calf on or after mile 20, I would just walk the last six miles. By mile 20 my calf not only still felt fine, the Sun still hadn't shown up. It was not only still cloudy, but a cool wind started kicking up. The dreaded Austin heat lamp never showed up for the entire race.
I finished in downtown Austin, a measured pace the whole time, a few more walking breaks than I would've liked, and a somewhat embarrassing time. Even so, I got to check off another one of my life's running goals!
Other things about the Austin Marathon: My cousin Terri wanted to take it easy on her half, so she wore polka-dotted socks and mouse ears for her run to remind her not to be so serious. A woman along the route holding up a baby for baby high fives. The baby was smiling and holding up her hand. (I gave the baby a high five!)I high-fived a priest who was wearing full priest robes and cheering on runners. After a now oft seen "Worst parade ever" sign, a woman holding up a sign: "Thousands of men in running shorts. Best parade ever!"
The State Capitol shrouded in fog, a half hour before the start. So much for the predicted hot weather!
My cousin Terri is a star! Getting interviewed by local news before the race.
One of the "hills" on this course. In many Californian races, this would be a gradual incline. :P
A sign just after the full/half split, right before mile 11. I assume there was a similar sign for full marathoners going the wrong way. "Wow! What a PR!" :D
Me and my medal, shortly after the race. I wore my Portland Marathon shirt from my first out-of-state marathon attempt for this race, that race that I had to DNF.
I decided to run this marathon despite the fact that three weeks prior to this race I strained my left calf so badly during a long run that I was limping around like Frankenstein. Through rest, light workouts, and multiple visits for ART massage therapy (Thank you Doctor Jess!), I was able to recover enough to actually run this race.
Because of my calf strain, (as well as one other random non-running injury I sustained during my training,) I ran far less training miles in the month leading up to this marathon than in any of my previous marathons. Because of all these factors, I was worried that I might have to DNF this race, (As what happened to me in my first out-of-state running attempt in Portland last year,) and I seriously considered not running it at all. (I also thought about switching from the full marathon to the half, but I had missed the deadline to do that.) But one of my running goals was to run a marathon outside of California, and I decided to make the attempt with my gumption and a lot of spider tape.
The race started just outside the Texas State Capitol. I showed up with my cousin Terri who was running the half. (And who also got interviewed for local TV before the race because of her involvement with Black Girls Run!) The Capitol was shrouded in fog, and a light mist was falling.
The race had nearly 20,000 participants, so even though Terri and I were close to the 4 hour pace group in the crowd of runners, it took us about 8 minutes to shuffle up to the start line after the starting gun went off.
I started off at a very casual pace, trotting out the first miles as if I was running a long training run. I resisted the urge to trample with the herd and let people pass me up, pacing behind slower runners to make sure I didn't push myself too hard. Occasionally I'd zip around other runners, but I was generally very good about reigning in my need for speed.
We ran around downtown Austin and across a bridge, then back over the river once more. I was told it was a hilly course, and we did hit a couple of inclines that Texans refer to as "hills", but I'm from the bumpy state of California. If Texans want hills then they should come out to the Bay Area and run the Oakland Marathon. (Eep!)
After 8 miles my calf felt fine. Virtually no pain or tightness. I decided to push it a little more. I knew I wasn't going to get a good time, but I at least didn't want it to be totally embarrassing. I wasn't holding back my general pace just for the sake of my calf, I was also trying to preserve myself because we were informed it was going to be hot, with highs in the 70's and 80's, so I was bracing myself for the appearance of the infamous Texan Sun, which was still behind the morning clouds by the time I reached the Marathon/Half Marathon split just before mile 11.
At mile 13 I was 99% sure I would finish the marathon. Virtually no pain or tightness in ny calf, and I had kept my pace. It was at the halfway point that I strapped on my iPod and took it up a notch. We were running through residential streets now. All along the route we had been treated to bands and supportive spectators. We were serenaded by rock and roll bands to mariachi bands to a senior citizen church band. So many people came to support us, holding up signs and cheering us on. Water stations and race volunteers were plentiful. There was also an unusual amount of liquor offerings, from beer to margaritas to "quitters lounges", where people offered drinks from impromptu front yard bars for people dropping out of the race. One couple was even offering shots of Jagermeister! ("Whoa, did I run a marathon last night?")
I still felt good at mile 16. I knew that if I made it to mile 20 I would finish no matter what. Even if I restrained my calf on or after mile 20, I would just walk the last six miles. By mile 20 my calf not only still felt fine, the Sun still hadn't shown up. It was not only still cloudy, but a cool wind started kicking up. The dreaded Austin heat lamp never showed up for the entire race.
I finished in downtown Austin, a measured pace the whole time, a few more walking breaks than I would've liked, and a somewhat embarrassing time. Even so, I got to check off another one of my life's running goals!
Other things about the Austin Marathon: My cousin Terri wanted to take it easy on her half, so she wore polka-dotted socks and mouse ears for her run to remind her not to be so serious. A woman along the route holding up a baby for baby high fives. The baby was smiling and holding up her hand. (I gave the baby a high five!)I high-fived a priest who was wearing full priest robes and cheering on runners. After a now oft seen "Worst parade ever" sign, a woman holding up a sign: "Thousands of men in running shorts. Best parade ever!"
The State Capitol shrouded in fog, a half hour before the start. So much for the predicted hot weather!
My cousin Terri is a star! Getting interviewed by local news before the race.
One of the "hills" on this course. In many Californian races, this would be a gradual incline. :P
A sign just after the full/half split, right before mile 11. I assume there was a similar sign for full marathoners going the wrong way. "Wow! What a PR!" :D
Me and my medal, shortly after the race. I wore my Portland Marathon shirt from my first out-of-state marathon attempt for this race, that race that I had to DNF.
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no subject
Date: 2014-02-18 09:25 pm (UTC)Congrats on a race well run! Looks like you had perfect weather and good crowd support...and a stand-in for Bashir when it was all over ;)
no subject
Date: 2014-02-18 09:55 pm (UTC)I have to say, even with the ART therapy, I surprised myself that I was able to come back from this injury so quickly.
no subject
Date: 2014-02-18 10:47 pm (UTC)I'm glad this went well for you!
And, great photos!
no subject
Date: 2014-02-19 03:05 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2014-02-19 12:19 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2014-02-20 05:22 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2014-02-21 03:21 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2014-02-19 05:39 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2014-02-20 07:58 am (UTC)You must have quite a collection of medals now - do you have them all hanging in your house somewhere?
no subject
Date: 2014-02-20 05:21 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2014-02-27 06:26 am (UTC)