race report

2.17.08 up at 4am with the regular pre-race routine, coffee, vitamins, shake, t-p rollers, recheck of the weather and the post race bag...bathroom about 100 times...and off on my bike to the downtown start point at 5.20ish...

i parked my bike in front of the gym...right by the "clothing management" tent...took off my warm-up pants and sweatshirt that i wore for the ride and shoved those into the plastic bag with my name and bib number on it and crossed my fingers that my stuff would be there when i got done...it was a little chilly out (43 or so) but going to be sunny and rather warm...so i was in a long sleeve toss-able t-shirt and my gloves...that i was hoping to pawn off on coach amy if i could...then off to the rogue tent

a few folks were there warming up by the heaters and just checking in with each other to see what was going on...we were all excited...a few port-o-potty stops...then at 6.30 ish, beth ed and i headed to the start line...coach had given us a hug, temporary tattoo and two note cards for focus at the line...but i was nerved up for sure...more nervous than 3-m day...i tried to focus on my cards..."you are well trained and prepared for this race...start easy finish strong"...and close my eyes to visualize the finish...i tossed my shirt after the anthem (gloves had been pawned to amy before) a few yards of walking....stop...a few yards of walking....stop...boom! the cannon and the fireworks started the race...walking...walking....jogging over the mat to start...only three minutes...not bad for a huge race...

then it was just running...that felt good...the first mile was slow...as it always is...the second faster...it is hard to figure out your pace with all those people around...i did a lot of...one too fast...the other a bit slow...saw my in-laws on the first street bridge....then around that weird block on fourth...then back out to ceasar chavez...saw my in-laws again :) then it felt like we were really running...when we were squeezed over to the left side of the road towards austin high...several people were falling...there were those bumpy reflective things on the road (higher and bigger than most) with a few pot holes thrown in...it felt like a hardcore mosh pit where you protect the person that fell and others grab them off the ground...at the water stop there they were playing jack johnson that made me smile...and found the 4hr pace group...they were a lot harder to find than i thought...

it was still pretty crowded with people on lake austin blvd...but soon after the half marathoners went right and we went left...feeling pretty good here just running...keeping the four hr group in sight...saw jon around mile 12 he was out on his bike...up and down the rollers here and over mopac...just running...clicking off the miles...keeping up with my nutrition and hydration really well...amy was totally right when she said the first 13 miles will take care of themselves...it seemed fast...we were at mile 20 and i was taking my last gel....and i could tell my effort level was going up...

keeping "strong body strong mind" playing in my head...we plowed our way to 22...it is nice to have had the experience of running parts of the course several times to know where the hills are even when they don't seem like hills during those training runs...the turn from red river to 41st brought a much needed and too short down hill where i just let myself go no brakes...up a rise...these little rises were hills...hard hills...at this point...i never thought they would feel this hard...but they did...left on duval...i knew mile 24 was just ahead...24!!!...this is where i was convincing myself that i really could run the last two mile...that .2 was going to take care of itself...jon was at 24.5...ed was pulling ahead i head him say "you are going to have to dig deeper than that" and i was trying...left on san jac...i was digging...caught up to ed at the bottom of that san jac hill from hell and gave him a few choice words of encouragement...and we hit that dreaded hill head on...man i was running as hard as i could at that point...my quads were on fire...i wanted to throw my shoes off...but i knew what was awaiting me when i crested that hill and turned the corner on 11th...

i heard a "go rogues" on that hill...no idea who but that was good...much needed...jon was somewhere behind/beside me on his bike but i was not looking up at anyone...i was in my head pushing...pushing those last few steps to get to the top!!!....right on 11th....left on congress...there was notcoachamy....a huge smile from her...and i know i had a huge smile on my face....running towards the finish....across the line....arms raised...amazing...

water, powerade...metal...coach!...my legs shaking...she held me up to walk me down the shoot to get my shirt...and hobble my way to get some food and my clothes and my shoes off my feet...to the rogue tent to meet the family...and some running buddies....and i was off to get my DC jacket, a latte and a soak in barton springs...where i saw mr. enstone...so proud of him...he qualified for boston...and looked like he was as fresh as a daisy...then food...a margarita...and bed...no sleep but just resting...then a second ice bath...Chinese food and in bed by 9pm...amazing day...

that is the nuts and bolts...i hope to have a more reflective post but perhaps that will happen when i am able to walk like a 29year-old not this hobbling that i am doing today...it hurts but it is totally worth it.

finished

4.01.24 :)

yikes!

this is it...marathon day!...i'll let you know how it turns out :)

great escape

so brownie the cat escaped from the house about an hour before j's parents were to arrive at our house...i was just doing a few last minute things...taking out the recycling...check the mail...i looked down on the porch and said to myself...hmm the neighborhood cats don't usually get this close...but then i saw the tail..stubby tail of my cat!!! zoom she was off...

with the help of our neighbor we were able to track her back and forth between our two yards...i did a lot of crawling around doing the here brownie call...and trying not to freak out...all the while j is at the airport picking up his folks...i kept thinking how sad he would be that i lost the cat...and how sad i would be...after 45 minutes of frantic chasing she started to recognize that i was trying to help her...and she hopped back on to our porch railing and started to MEOW!!! like i have never heard....

i tip toed up the steps and opened the door...in she went...wet and scared but unharmed...with a little food and brushing i was able to pet her and explain that i was sorry that i chased her but needed to have her home...then another shower...a glass of wine...and we were off to the clay pit for dinner...it was awesome as usual...but not usual since we got to share our meal with j's folks...they had a long...delay after delay...day of flying and i think were happy to finally be here...

and finally...for the first time since tuesday...i slept the whole night through until 7.30am...today is for baking and prep for tomorrow...the big day

packet

i just picked up my race packet...kind of scary...but very exciting

the last sunday!

i am having a hard time comprehending that the marathon is in a week...we had our last group "long" run today...seven miles...out on the first part of the course and a yummy (and free) pancake breakfast...it's sad when your pancakes are the last to come out...but worth it when they get comped! :)

i am feeling really ready for next weekend...lots of folks are saying they want it to be over...i am excited for the race but i don't want this experience to end...so i guess it is good that i have other fitness goals to achieve after this along with a few other folks from this group...not sure i would be feeling this good if i didn't have another goal beyond sunday...i'm not ready to break up with my running buddies yet... ahh! sunday

ed made a great logo for our team and i am trying to decide what to get...i am thinking tote bag and t-shirt...i kind of want one of everything...

had our motivational pep rally last night...it is a blast to be in a room with so many other people who are doing the same thing...very cool...but i must admit our team was the most united and the most excited about the night and about our coach...who, if you don't already know, rocks completely...!

i am sure that i will have more to say this week as the mileage comes down significantly and i have my pre-marathon freak out...i'll let you know when that happens...i kinda feel it a bit but it may just be i am missing j...everything seems a bit out of whack when he's away for conferences...i am glad he gets back tonight.

Team AME

we got a good shot of a group of us team AME (austin marathon experience) runners yesterday after our last long run. sigh and yikes! all at the same time. it is hard to believe that the marathon is two weeks away. we have been training together for six months and it is hard to imagine that it will be over soon. joining this group has been an amazing experience for me. not just as a running/athletic accomplishment. i have made some really awesome friends that i know are going to still be around when all of this is over. it has made my transition from Savannah to Austin smooth and a lot of fun. if you are a runner who has never trained with a group for a big event i totally recommend it. i thought running solo was the way to go but you have no idea what it is like to have the support of 20some odd folks cheering you on at a track work out, long training run or just to have a buddy to run with mid week. i love it. and to have the support of all of the members of Rogue when out on a big race like the 3M last weekend. awesome! so even if i don't hit my goal time for this, my first marathon, it has really been about the experience and the process of getting to this point that has been amazing and well worth it.