Houston Marathon 2017

Didn't know what to expect. This year we got warm weather and humidity. At start time weather was 64deg, 100% humidity, 9mph wind. I didn't want to give up on my goal of getting back into the 2:30's. My last 3 marathons were in 2:42 NYC'15, 2:42 Houston'16, 2:45 Woodlands'16. So I really wanted to get back in the 2:30s. But i knew warm weather would make it tough.

I did a crazy thing. I wore brand new shoes. I got them the day before at the Expo. Skechers GOmeb Speed 4. I wanted a bit of a lighter shoe. So I went for it. Thinking even if i get blisters I can grit it out- I've done it before (time cures the painful memories). I would not advise this to anyone else. But I wanted to do it, so I took a risk. Look at these shoes, how could I resist?

mile 1 5:49.3 (downtown Congress Ave)

So I start off on my own, well, on my own pace among the 25,000 fellow runners (10,000 marathoners, 15000 half marathoners). I love being here.

mile 2 5:52.7 (Washington Ave)

Well this is feeling a bit more labored than I had hoped for. I'm sweating and already heating up a bit. Balmy hands. Just keep running.... Long distance runners are always gauging effort and thinking how long they can keep up the pace??

mile 3 5:49.1 (Heights/Waugh Blvd)

A pace group goes by me. I'm surprised they were behind me. I thought I was starting modestly. It's rare to see elite groups start so conservative. But then again they have coaches that know how the weather effects you in the end.

I see it's led by Cal. I talked to him a bit at the expo on Saturday. Funny, he calls me 'Pistol Pete'. Hey I'll take that! The Pistol was a heck of a basketball player. I was mistaken though, I thought he was taking the men's group out. I guess he meant the ladies group at 5:50 pace. I thought he was taking the men out at 5:00 pace or something. That's why I asked him... how long can u keep that up??

As the group goes by me, I think about it for a while... they are probably too fast for me. But, suffer on my own or suffer with a group? I'll take the group suffering and see how far I can hang on. What's the worst that can happen? (answer: laying in a ditch at the halfway point) Screw it I'm going with them.

The group seems to be Pacer Cal, Pacer Will, Becky, Mary, Rocio from Peru, Zach, Ohio Joe, Arizona Boone. And me - but for how long?

On Waugh bridge, we go over Memorial and Allen Pkwy.

mile 4 5:51.3 (West Gray)

Going by Luke's locker, the group is chatting some but I can't hear much in the back.

mile 5 5:56.8

By the River Oaks homes, someone is talking about one of the nice houses.

A coach of one of the elite ladies yells to Cal... 'right on time, don't speed it up though'. Coach's are smart. They don't have the bias that the athletes mind has- the we must win this right now mentality of the athlete. They have an outside perspective. Patience.

mile 6 5:58.6 (Kirby Dr)

Going up Kirby Dr, this is a long fast stretch. But it's windy today. The breeze sure feels good on sweaty steamed skin. We're already dumping water on our heads. People shift around and get in formation from time to time, to hide from the wind. I down a second gel. Don't need it now, but will need it later. I just shoot the gel and try not taste their sweet nastiness. (Side note: Can someone make a gel that tastes like mild apple sauce but is easy to carry?)

mile 7 5:58.4

We go by Goode Co. BBQ. i try to hold my breath cuz that heavy smokey BBQ smell might knock me out in my present mind and fragile stomach. I'm hanging on, just not thinking, staying with the group.

mile 8 5:57.1 (Bissonnet)

By the big metal Armadillo, i guess, I don't even see it. I'm just looking up the road. Staying with group. And trying to not hit any potholes. Cal tells everyone to smile for the camera that's over the course at one intersection.

We turn right onto Rice Blvd by the Medical center. I think about my mom here. I'm out here free, breathing, thrashing, traveling our beloved city on foot. She's always my biggest fan and supporter. We're gonna do good today mom.

mile 9 5:55.8 (Rice)

We go by different groups cheering us on. It helps so much. The pack laughs cuz everyone is cheering on the ladies, Becky and Mary. "Go Becky, Go Mary." Becky went to and competed for Rice U so she is right at home here. Every once in a while the pacer's get a 'Go Will' or 'Go Cal' and the group laughs as they say 'Finally!' The group is in good spirits. Cal, our tour guide, says he loves this stretch of road with the Oak trees overhanging the street.

mile 10 5:52.4 (University Blvd)

We go past mile 10 at 59:15 or so. The pacers seem pleased. Right on time they say. I start to think. 59 minutes is a good effort for me at a 10 mile race on a warm day.... but i tell myself stop thinking... stop analyzing. today just stay with the group.

The lady from Peru falls back. I see the other the 2 other ladies take note of this. They are hunting places. Racing. We've been getting shouts from crowd that they are in 4th and 5th. Sometimes people say 3rd or 6th. So you never really know who really knows.

mile 11 5:51.3

We take a right. Some more nice Rice U houses. And a full kids orchestra playing classical... I think this is perfect. Keep it low key right here. Not timed to get hyped up... yet.mile 12 6:02.8 (Wesleyan)

Up the bridge. We struggle here. I get my bottle off the table. It's the one I put some pickle juice in. i figure I'm gonna need some salt today. It gives me a good boost. The taste is no bueno. Marathoning is a bit of the battle of the stomach torture.

mile 13 5:56.5 (Westpark)

We go down the bridge. Heading toward the half way mark. I'm pleased as punch to still be here and feeling decent. Don't mind me y'all... i'm just having a whale of day. Cal looks back and sees me still hanging on. He smiles and exclaims, 'Pistol Pete'. Makes me feel good. Then he goes over to the far side of the street. Someone says what's he doing? Oh bathroom break - sort of. Very talented guy.

We make the U-Turn on Westpark at the Half marathon point. For about 2 minutes u can see your competition that is ahead of you, as they come back toward you on the other side of the street. You can see how their groups look. Are they looking tired? Is someone falling off the pack? We see some men elites then we see the ladies pace car. Then we see 2 more ladies battling. But the 3rd one looks to be falling off some. So Becky and Mary are in 4 and 5th place and closing on 3rd. Everyone is excited.

But i got my own old man battles going, I see my competitor for masters. He's from out of town and has beat me in the last 2 marathons we've done. He sees me seeing him and we give a short wave. Respect. He's maybe a minute up on me. But at that point I know if I stay with the group, we're gonna catch him. Things are setting up perfect for me. I didn't even plan this. Totally lucked out. Just stay with the group. We go thru the half in 1:17:15. Everyone seems happy with that. Now we take the U-turn and the people behind us get to take a look at us for a while. Now we're the prime beef on the menu. So it goes.

mile 14 5:56.8 (610 Feeder)

photo by Gerardo Mora

We go thru the down and up under all the freeways. Runners get to borrow this from heavy traffic for the day.mile 15 5:54.3 (Post Oak Blvd)By the Galleria.

mile 16 5:57.1 (San Felipe)

It's getting steamy and the effort is harder. We lose one of the guys here. When I get water. I make sure to get right back with group. Too easy to fall behind here. Gotta keep my butt on the plan.

mile 17 5:54.0 (Tanglewood / Chimney Rock)

More effort. Group starting to strain. But I'm watching my competition get closer and closer. Must stay with group when I go by him.

mile 18 5:52.8

Mary falls back. I think to go to restroom. I think Cal too. We don't see them again.

Stomach is a tough thing in marathons. You gotta get your gels down no matter what. Or you will be cramping and out of energy at the end. Especially on a warm muggy day like today.

My motto is if I throw up, I throw up. I'm not worrying about it. I belch some and the tummy rumbles, but it's full steam ahead. Marathons are not pretty.

We catch up to Matt who we've seen on the horizon since the half. His legs are so strong u can see the muscles working. I say hey to him. He says it's not a PR day. i say tell me about it. Houstonians have an advantage today cause we're more used to the humidity. He hangs on to the pack for a bit but then falls back.

mile 19 5:56.2 (Memorial Dr)

Pack getting strained more we're down to 5 people. People ask how you're feeling? We say good. We say hold on. I definitely want to hold on and pass my competition. It'll look all the better if I'm with the pack and not falling off the back like a wuss.

We go by 30k in 1:50. 3 minutes faster than my 30k race a month ago.... I tell myself to stop thinking.

mile 20 5:55.0

We come to the wall. It's tough now.

They have a clock that says 1:59 at 20 miles.

I start doing the running math: 6mi more x 6 min pace = 36 min , add that to 1:59 and we're somewhere in the 2:36 range for a finish.. Keep going. Stop thinking. Stop Math-ing. (note running math never includes the .2miles at the end. it's all in the art of lying to yourself. keeping hope alive.)

mile 21 5:52.3 (by Memorial Park)

Memorial park. Finally at last we reach my competitor. I make sure i'm right with the pack as we go by, and that I'm on the far side of the pack. Just trying to sneak by.

Then Becky starts to surge some and the pack is groaning.

mile 22 5:59.9

Becky and the pacer start to leave us- step by step.

Me, Zach, and Ohio Joe hang together.

If you lose a pack or the pack changes... just create another. 1st rule of fight club.

mile 23 6:01.5 (Shepherd)

Pace slipping some, all of us are back and forth.

mile 24 6:07.1 (Allen Pkwy)

Ah I see Bry, my best and childhood friend. He comes out every year to cheer me on. I give a yell out close to tears, close to cramping as I pump my fist. So great to see him. I know he thinks I'm crazy. But he knows me, we've been in a ton of battles on the tennis court and baseball fields as kids. He knows what this is all about. We lost his Dad a few months back. His dad was our childhood coach in little league. Our dads taught us about sports. They passed it down from their dads. If you didn't grow up with sports and desire to win so badly. To play well and make your parents happy and reward them ... then you don't know our childhoods. His pop used to call me "Peter-baby" I think about it now. "Cmon Peter-baby get a base knock, Right here", he would say to us during crunch time of a game. Nothing better than when a coach believes in you. Makes you feel 10 ft tall. I say to myself now lets go Coach Wags. Lets go. Let's get to the finish. (Thanks Bry!!)

Now I'm leading the mini-pack as we hit the up down hills of Allen Pkwy.

I'd like to catch back up to Becky but her lead is not shrinking.

mile 25 6:13.2

More yelling and venting from me. I'm looking for my BARC running club mates- they run a water stop here. They shout out to me. I shout out. It's so close now. Just bring it home. I know I scare people with my intensity. But this where I pour it all out. It's all emotion now. My pace is slipping I'm fighting for everything.

mile 26 6:16.6 (back downtown Lamar)

Turn into Downtown. Glance back. Looks like no one is right on my heels. But I gotta keep going. Gotta catch some more people.

photo by Lance Phegley

I see a guy I can catch. And I can see the 4th place woman, Ethiopian. So Becky has already gone by her and into 3rd place - congrats to her, much respect, tough. Mary too. Heck the whole group is amazing runners. I go by a guy from Mexico in yellow singlet, he's sweating and struggling probably cramps.

Former Rice U

runner gets 3rd

in women's race

Kenya's

Dominic Ondoro

the men's champ.

Last .2 mile 2:10.8

The 4th place women is coming back to me quick, but I'm gonna be about 15 seconds shy of her.

I take a moment and enjoy it the last 100 meters. What a race. Raising my hands. This is my town. I exceeded my expectations and bounced back from a tough last year. I found a great pack to run with and held on for dear life.

Thanks to everyone for all the help, my family, my BARC training buddies( Jeremy with a 2:53- big PR- nice!! ), HARRA and all the tough Houston racers.

Thanks to all the volunteers on the course and all the people that make a race happen.

Like Kerry Lee reminded me- the water stops were amazing- super long and well stocked. Also some w/ cold sponges. Houston knows how to do it.

Also thanks to the Local Invite crew, make you feel so welcome and take care of you. No place like home.

Houston! 2017 a redemption run.

MY STATS: Place Men: 28 Place in Division 45-49: 1 Place Overall: 32 Finish Net: 02:37:00 Finish Net: 02:37:02 Split

photo by Michelle Lee

Here I am savoring the finish!

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On Saturday at the ABB 5k my son Matt ran a PR of 20:20. A 6:32 pace for the 3.1 miles. 10 yrs old. He got to go to Nationals for Cross Country this year and qualified in the mile for nationals in track. (But he's still 100% sure he's the next Steph Curry, loves bball and soccer too). He's a coming. I gotta keep training :)

Here is the fam and friends at the Expo on Saturday.

I got to meet up with Matt Hall(black shirt)whom I met at NYC hostel at NYC marathon. He's from London and travels all over to do marathons. He ran Comrades last year. We keep in touch about races. He won an Alabama marathon in 2:46 last weekend and then turned around and ran a 2:54 here at Houston. I thought I was crazy.

Jonathan and Michael also pictured ran the Half. Jonathan in 1:28 for 2nd in 15 and under age group. And Michael in his half debut at 1:37 at 11 yrs old. Amazing runners. Xander and Dalton as well. They all come to 5:15am track with us. They are pushing us to keep up. I wish i had an ounce of their burst and energy.

photo by Michelle Lee

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