I Ran Austin: The Austin Half Marathon

What a great day for a run! What a great city in which to run! What a huge hill at mile 11! The Austin Half Marathon completes a total of nine half marathons for me, and it was the hilliest yet. I had heard reports from both camps "Don't worry, the Austin Marathon isn't that hilly" and "Oh Austin, that is a hilly one." I am here to tell you that the 1st group is a bunch of fibbers! Either that or they are from the mountains.

The morning was beautiful, but it was so very early. The race packet suggested that we arrive at 5:30 for a 7:00 start time. Erik and I heeded this advice as we had encountered epic traffic problems getting to the marathon expo the day before. We arrived at 5:25 and found a nearly vacant parking garage. The weather was not cold, but chilly if one is standing around in running gear, waiting for the start. We found a small coffee shop that was open and full of runners. Erik got a cup of coffee so that we wouldn't feel guilty using their space and we shared a table with a couple of other runners. One was a teacher from Richardson who was there for the half as well. We had a great time talking about all the snow and how her students reacted to it on Thursday. The other gentleman at the table looked to be in his 60s and told us that this was his 80th marathon! He had run one in Huntington Beach the week before and hadn't been to his home in Connecticut in 2 weeks. His great advice was to "have fun and don't worry about your finish time--it isn't like you are going to win or anything." He was wearing a Fifty States Marathon Club hat and told us about some of the more interesting races that he ran.

We headed out to the start area around 6:45, I hit the restroom line and Erik decided to take our extra clothing to the car. I was having a great conversation with a man in the line when I realized that I had left my iPod in my jacket pocket. I have not run more that 5 miles without and freaked out for just a moment. Turns out that I didn't need it after all, the crowds and bands on the course were awesome. The man in the restroom line had a great story too. Upon asking about what I did in Dallas, and giving me the typical "does music need therapy? do musicians need therapy" reply, he told me that his daughter had experienced cardiac arrest 10 years ago that day and had been in a vegetative state. She recovered with the help of some great therapists (speech and physical) and has run a half marathon with him and returned to college.

The race started in a steady uphill climb, and once I got warmed up I really felt good. Like I said, the crowds were just great--really thick in some places, and the bands were fun too. I held a steady 9 min/mile pace for the 1st half of the race, including some of the rolling hills that I mentioned before. I felt a little tired around mile 10 and then came mile 11....I rounded the corner and looked up at the biggest hill I had ever seen in my entire life! I swear it went straight up into the sky! It took everything that I had to run up it, refusing to walk even one step! It probably looked alot like I was walking, but in my mind I was running! The last mile might have been the best, we ran onto the Capital grounds and around the building. It was great to see it from that view, I am always amazed at what a beautiful building it is. I really tried to sprint it in at the end to get under 2 hours, but I missed it by 11 seconds....darn that huge hill!!

A huge thanks to the Shehans! It was really cool to know that someone was there to cheer for you. We rarely have that at home, aside from our runner friends who are ahead of us in the race. I didn't actually see them because I was so focused, but I am pretty sure that I heard them. It really made the finish that much sweeter. Way to support your runner friends, Shehans!

A general review of the race: thumbs up! At packet pick-up we received a nice backpack monogrammed with the race logo and upon finishing we received a beautiful medal and a cool finisher's shirt saying "Ran Austin". The race is supposed to be the greenest one and that was evidenced with the numerous recycling and compost bins (no trashcans). The exit from the race was quite crowded and a little overwhelming, I think that they could come up with a better way to distribute the t-shirts. It took me a good 20 minutes to find Erik even though he finished about a minute ahead of me.

As for my performance, I am generally satisfied. I would have loved to finish under 2:00, and blame those 11 seconds on the hill at the end. I have to remind myself that this is the 2nd of what will be 3 half marathons in 28 days. I have never run them this close together before and I would have been thrilled with a 2 hour finish just four months ago.

Next stop Cowtown Half Marathon, February 27!