Embedded Files
(this was after training from my sub 3 marathon in jan 2011 and then 10 months of dedicated training and racing on my own.... prolly @ about 50 miles training per a week avg. Then in December 2011 I started training with BARC and Chris, Kerry, Virginia, and Brad (whom i met and kept racing at local 5k, 10k, Half, races) . They taught me lots of things like speed work and intervals and more mileage... things you gotta be crazy to want to learn. Things you learn at 5:15am :( ouch. Hard but fun. I'm always thankful for this group! For my friends.)THE HOUSTON MARATHON 2012
okay i wrote this up real quick, to remember the little things about the race, before I forget. Wow what a day.
Standing in a corral at the starting line @ 6:30am. Race starts @ 7am.
Really packed at start, I couldn't get close to start line this year, started like 10 seconds back. I don't know what some people are thinking lining up so far up front when you're gonna start slow. Oh well, got 26.2 miles to sort it out. Weather is 55deg. Perfect. We're warm, packed together in this corral. Bending down to tie my shoes is hard, not enough space. People poking my buttocks when i bend over. Sickos. J/k. Too packed
Oh yeah the pre-race prayer by a christian-athlete-guy was awesome, about giving it your all to the glory of God... seeking God with the tenacity we train with and the determination we run with, finishing, never quitting. Loved it. Pumped. He even threw in a prayer for the Texans football! Gun goes off sounds like a cap gun, usually they have a cannon?
I was gonna run with some of my fellow BARC running club members that I train with but the Marathon is just too big. Much different from the little local races that i run where u know a lot of people and can kinda pace together. This is just chaos. Finding anyone is impossible. Keeping with them impossible too. On my own. In the end, always gotta run your own race. But you can work together with people during certain times of the race- I like this.
My theme for this year's marathon became just relax. Zone out. Chill out. You can't get all the details right. I think runners are largely a detail oriented group. Running engineers/ programmers perhaps more so. Train this many miles, eat this, rest this much, hit your splits. Gotta let things go. I was way too uptight the day before, not good to anyone, so selfish - with all my little race preparations. Find space to relax, zone, enjoy... do what u can let the rest go. In the end all u need is shoes and go run. (some parts of the world not even shoes.) I gotta work on this in my life.
Mile 1 - 6:22
Kinda slow and crowded lots of weaving in and out to get around people.
Finished at 6:22. Doesn't bother me I need to be made to start slow.
Mile 2 - 6:12
okay starting to groove. Feeling good. Lots of people around. See the Marine corps runner that I met at La Porte Half Marathon, small efficient runner.
Mile 3 - 6:08
Starting to run a bit hot on the pace... i was thinking of pacing around 6:15 per mile at the beginning of marathon, then turn it up at end if I got anything left. I've never had anything left though. During local warm-up race series I ran a 6:02 per mile for 18.6 miles and had some left in the tank... but marathon is different- i've crashed before, but i've never trained like this before, definitely in my best running shape ever. Also, i can't do this pace in training, I really can only get around 6:30 pace on long runs... but races you taper(decrease training), fuel up, rest up, and have competition, and at marathon you have people cheering you on. So pacing for me is not an exact thing.
Mile 4 - 6:09
a bit better. Well a second closer to 6:15.
Hello Heights. Saw Vineyard church downtown. They were out cheering, playing music. I yelled "Hi" to Pastor Michael.
Mile 5 - 6:13
Still in the Heights. Hey saw Bry, Laurie, and Eric, I was expecting them at mile 8... i got confused yeah mile 5 closer to their house, its easy to zone out. They saw me when I was already passed them. I waved. I was mid gel cube chew. Good to see them. Always pumps u up to see friends. Ahh hecks the Stone's were there too, I missed them.
Mile 6 - 6:14
Getting on the 6:15 mpm plan. I like this. A guy out on a city brige playing the saxophone, beautiful. I look over at him and he's silohetted by the sunrise coming up on the city. Nice. Beautiful- perfect day. I share this with a fellow runner after he said something to me. He looked at me like I'm a weirdo. I get runners highs. Love it.
Mile 7 - 6:18
Hmmm.. over 6:15, but my garmin watch (first race with my bday present-thanks mo!) and the course mile markers are always like +/-15 ft in disagreement. Mentally, chalking this mile up to difference in measurements.
Mile 8 - 6:22
I gotta get back to 6:15 mpm. No rationalizing this.
Half marathoners turn around here... now the course gets much less congested and a lot quieter. Just the marathoners go on. Alone.
Mile 9 - 6:23
Okay it's a trend i'm slowing down, oh no this could be bad, I'm thinking.
Running all alone. No one close. I don't feel tired. But my mind is extrapolating out the pain... and saying '26.2, 26.2, long way'. You've bonked every time before on this course.
Still slow, but better @ Hermann park2 guys pass me, I decide to stick with them and form a threesome. One guy in Grey, the other in Red with neon orange shoes.Mile 11 - 6:12ahh yeah loving this Trio.We're taking turns leading. Starting to working it. Passing people. Some try to stick with us... nobody can hold on. Trio is hot. Mr. Grey points out a sweet tangent as he cuts across to other side of the street. He's got a thick 'russian' accent? Trouble
understanding. I say nice tangent... he says 'straight line' i think?Mile 12 - 6:11Trio in tact. Reforming after water stations. I'm liking these guys Grey and Red. Kickin' arse. (Hey I found a pic of Mr. Grey and my BARC friend Chris is there with him- Thanks to Michelle Lee for the pics- lot of good pics by her.)Mile 13 - 6:09Trio yeah. I'm getting in race mode now as we leave Rice U area... maybe to early for this but I'm feeling good. Starting to get into gear. My mind is saying, 'Remember it's a marathon.' My other mind is saying, 'But the Trio is good for us... my precious'
Mile 14 - 6:08
Trio becomes a Duo. Mr. Grey had to drop off. He was starting to breath heavy and work- and eventually fell off the back- these things are sadly temporary. Good luck Mr. Grey. Maybe we see each other later? We go up the big Weslayan Bridge incline. Mr. Red says in an Aussie accent "I thought it was flat, no hills." I said, 'This is the only one really... in Houston we gotta make hills.' The Duo is going good. Me and Mr.Red side by side in lock step. I thought he might be from out of country cuz his watch was beeping off the miles at weird places- not miles mate, es kilometers.Mile 15 - 6:10Westpark @ 610 loop. Duo in tact. Kicking it side by side with Mr.Red. Who says, 'Man no other runners out here in this part.' I said yeah this is the 'lonely part'... And I thought i've cratered at this stretch many years. Thanks for being here and pushing me Mr. Red.
Mile 16 - 6:07
@ Galleria. Me and Mr. Red juicing it. Passing people and they ain't sticking with us. Frickin' teflon.
Mile 17 - 6:08
@ San Felipe and Tanglewood. I'm liking my aussie Mr. Red. We're just kicking thru this together. Still taking Gatorade at all the stations, breifly slowing and guzzling. Then me and my Mr. Red just pick back up together. No one passing us. Lock step. Barnstorming the countryside.
Mile 18 - 6:12
@ Woodway. I love taking a right back toward downtown. Feels good. Homeward bound. But what? What say u Garmin watch? A 6:12 mile. I'm not liking that. Mr. Red falls back. He started laboring. Ahh Don't take Red... It was so good. Thanks Mr. Red, you brought me through and woke me up, el booster shot. I owes you a cold one. (The Chronicle had a picture of Mr. Red at the finish line)Mile 19 - 6:07It's just me, myself, and I now. But as my fellow BARC club runner Chris says... I can smell the barn... running good. I know 'the wall' is coming up next mile. But I'm just passing people. Laying waste to the back 9...Mile 20 - 6:12@ Memorial Park. Okay what? 6:12? What happened, I was feeling good. I wasn't gonna do the Wall this year! It ain't going down like this... I tell myself. Race is on now. Marathon starts after mile 20. Just 6 miles left. Suck it up time.Mile 21 - 6:07oh yeah. I likes it. Pumpin' it through Memorial park area.
Mile 22 - 6:04
Thinking about finishing now. Entertaining thoughts of sub 2hrs 40 minute finish time. I know I gotta pick it up though. Doing the math, sub 6 min miles will get me in 2:40s neighborhood... 4miles x 6 min = 24 min of work left. Let's go. Why not? I feel good and fueled. Sweet downhill on Memorial coming up on Shepherd, never noticed it... usually I'm suffering here and on the ropes. Not this year...
Mile 23 - 5:55
@ Allen Pkwy Ok i'm going for it, trying to get in 2:40 finish time area. Feeling good, just passing people. Got so much left. Crazy. Hitting the up-down hills of Allen Pkwy. People cheering, I'm cheering back. One lady yelled, "You're killing it!" That's exactly how I feel lady- grooved. You nailed it.
Mile 24 - 5:58
@ Allen Pkwy
Passed some more runners here. Much respect. In back of my mind creeps thoughts of getting tired, and burning out, but just thinking 2 miles left. Only one option keep churning, keep burning...
Mile 25 - 5:49
Getting back to Downtown. Keep pumping. It always becomes suspended motion here. Knowing the finish is near. But you're pumping, just trying to get it here quicker.... like the building scenery is on a roller that you're turning with your feet. Faster, Faster, man.
Mile 26 - 5:52
Downtown. Sniffing the finish line passing more runners. Thinking back, I never got passed from like mile what.... mile 9. Crazy. Last people to pass me were Mr.Red and Mr. Grey. I held on with them, took off with them. Going over race strategy, I guess I started too slow to have this much left. But this is the way to run a marathon, much more encouraging than bonking while everybody passes you and dances on your grave. Tons of Half Marathoners on the right side of the street make it seem weird. Street cones separating us- they look pained. Just a trickle of marathoners I'm passing on the left side- getting to every last one of them, i can. Knock, Knock. Special Delivery...
Mile 0.2 - 1:50 (5:14 pace)
Okay back at the GRB Convention Center, the end.
Past Discovery Green. And turn and see Finish line. Ahh yeah there are my parents they made it out. I high five with my Dad and then run on in- passing one more guy at the finish line. Ruining his finishing photo, sorry. I gotta finish this off, no stopping till the line.
What a day. So excited. I agree with marathon star Ryan Hall... each race, especially a marathon is an adventure, sort of a work of art... you give it all you got, keep working at it, and sometimes it works out... some times it just blows up- and you always learn from it.
Afterwards I talk to my Mom and Dad, and saw Robert from work, and talk with fellow BARCer friends. And even Mr.Red(Simon from Perth, Australia) and Mr.Grey(really thick accent didn't catch where from) come over as they finish and say thanks for pacing them for a while... I say, 'Na thank you guys. Welcome to Houston.'
I had a really good day. Thank you God. Thank you family and friends. Thanks mom and dad for coming out- makes it special- great talking and sharing it with you. It was beautiful. Never thought I could run one like that and feel so good at the end of a marathon. No Puking!! I think I'm capable of more. But also capable of less. You never know how training will go or if life turns and will not let you train. And i just turned, ahem 40!! But I'm just thankful for this day. It gives me hope in all things, lets me see the sweeter things. Forget about all the projects i've failed at lately. Car not working, holes in my ceiling, kids flooring project, being reassigned continually over the past year at work- feeling lost. This was a victory. Hard work paid off. So beautiful. I felt closer to God out there... where I've felt distance and detached lately.Inside the GRB, I ate some eggs with a half-marthoner-Manvel football coach, big muscular ol' boy- he got the same time in the half as I got in the full marathon. We talked a bit of football and running. He hates running but its the hardest thing for him, so he likes to challenge himself in that way. Pretty cool. I guess in that respect, i'd have to take up weight lifting?
I talked to a few runners. I like to listen to the stories... about Boston Marathons, and PR's (personal record- best time), their good days, bad days. Runners are kinda loners. Like me. Just chasing... something. I like finding the community of it. I'm just starting to do that.
On the way home I listened to a sermon on the radio- a pastor from Humble, something Light church? It was about staying close to God, always seeking, not moving away, and also running your own race- no lie. Wish I could remember more. Also wish I could talk like this guy. It was good. I enjoyed it. Gotta look it up.
I love the runners high. Feels so good. ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE.
Chip time: 2:41:58 (6:10 pace) (PR)
Place: 66 / 7000
Place in Gender: 58
Age group: 8
Gun time: 2:42:09 (6:11 pace)
Garmin Watch time: 2:42:05 (i clicked it a few seconds after finish)
Garmin Distance: 26.35 miles. 6:07 pace.
Garmin Map of run: here
i love the garmin mapping of your run- makes me want to run all over and map it.
Love capturing the Houston route on the Garmin.
PS. Dang Texans lost in playoffs. But they played well. Can't blame yourself too much when you play well.I feel for Jacoby Jones, everyone blaming him for fumble. Anyone who's played a sport knows your gonna blow it sometimes- give him a break. Texans showed well.Also running lets me chill a bit on rooting for my teams and fave tennis players. I was getting intense there for a while. With running, I can get my competitive fix in, and not have to live vicariously thru them anymore as much... or my kids. What can u say about us ex-jocks... forever replaying the past.
Google Sites
Report abuse