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Austin Hills

16 Sunday Feb 2014

Posted by Ed Mahoney in Marathons, Running

≈ 5 Comments

Tags

Austin Marathon, Results

IMG_3434 - Version 2I wake up at 4:30 central standard time.  I make the coffee and my mom is up shortly after.  I prep my race food by peeling two oranges and cutting up two small bananas.  My brother will follow me around the second half of the course to keep me fed.  He wakes up at 5:30 and we drive downtown.  Having a race crew is very nice.  Steve drops me off on 15th St., a couple of blocks east of the race start.  I teach him how to take pictures with my iPhone and he drives off into the darkness for breakfast somewhere.

I have 45 minutes to get my mind into race mode for 26.2 miles.  Naturally, I’m anxious over this marathon.  I’m also a little bummed though that I won’t be snowshoeing with Karen.  We went snowshoeing the last five weekends in a row.  Maybe not how most runners train for a marathon.  Karen and I will hook back up in the spring to snowshoe some new trails.  For this race, I feel like I usually do.  I simply can’t believe the people who typically suck my time are granting me four hours to go run.  The weather is pleasant for standing around in shorts and my short-sleeve jersey.  It’s 57° and is only expected to warm up another ten degrees.  The Mayor of Austin, who sounds very much like Kris Kristofferson, says some words.  A lady sings the National Anthem.  Next thing I know, I’m running through the streets of downtown Austin.

19 milesI’m in the top half of the 18,000 runners.  The crowd doesn’t begin to thin until we’re on South Congress after two or three miles.  I’m okay that my first mile is in 7:55 but suspect I’m running too fast as my second mile comes in at 7:17.  I consciously slow down.  My third mile clocks in at 7:40.  Still a bit fast.  The Congress Avenue hill helps to govern my speed by the fourth mile which is 7:58.  I hoped to average an 8:30 pace the first six miles.  Mile 5 is in 7:39 and mile 6 is in 7:45.

The mile 6 aid station begins a downhill segment heading north on South First St., back toward downtown.  I planned to maybe stretch out my legs on this downhill for a couple of fast miles but change my game plan and stay conservative given my fast start.  I stop monitoring my Garmin with the intent of not looking at it again until the half way point.  My Garmin upload though reports I run miles 7, 8 and 9 in 7:21, 7:31 and 7:34 respectively.  I’m seriously surprised by this given my dearth of winter training but suspect it’s due to the low altitude.  The half marathoners split off toward downtown half way into mile ten on Exposition.  This section is fairly hilly and the 3:25 pace sign passes me – which is probably good.  I run mile 10 in 8:01, mile 11 in 8:11 and mile 12 in 8:30.  Finally on pace.  I’m thankful I’m not hurting yet.  I try eating one of my FRS fuel candies but it’s hard and difficult to eat.  I start thinking about how old they are.  Five years maybe.  I switch to my Honey Stinger gummy bears and eat up the 200 calorie bag by the half way point, which the official clock shows me reaching in 1:42.  This pace would have me qualify for Boston, but I’m beginning to slow down.

I encounter Steve around mile 16 at Allandale, captured in the first picture above.  I eat some oranges and banana.  Miles 13, 14, 15 and 16 come in at 8:36, 8:26, 8:22 and 8:39.  This is the pace I want to run but begin to slow down even more.  I feel good in terms of energy and breathing but my legs tighten up on the 16th mile.  Miles 17, 18 and 19 come in at 9:01, 8:42 and 8:48.  The second photo is at 19 miles.  Mile 20 marks the turn south back toward downtown.  I run this in 9:09, mile 21 in 9:01 and mile 22 in 9:23.  Mile 23 is a bummer as my right hamstring cramps with very little notice.  I hit the pavement to recover and only lose about a minute, running mile 23 in 10:48.  I’m careful after this and purposely keep my pace slow in order to successfully finish.

Hyde Park Bar and GrillI pass one of my favorite Austin eateries at mile 24 – the Hyde Park Bar & Grill.  Karen and I lived nearby before moving to Colorado in 1989.  I recall running down this stretch of Duval back then.  It’s a downhill slope toward the UT campus.  I typically ran loops around the Hancock Golf Course one block east of Duval on 38th St.  Both Steve and my sister Nancy are here.  Nan gives me two PowerIces that contain the electrolytes I badly need.  I hand her my sunglasses that I haven’t needed.  Thankfully the sun never breaks through the clouds today.  Still, the humidity is high.  I’m not used to running drenched in sweat.  We perspire in Colorado too but it’s a dry sweat.  I run mile 24 in 9:49.

I know I’m going to finish my ninth marathon as I pass the Posse East, my old UT watering hole, and begin running across campus.  Confidence is always a good feeling.   Endorphins alter my consciousness.  Emotionally charged thoughts of my sister and brother waiting for me at the finish race through my mind.  My throat tightens and my eyes moisten.  If you’ve ever run a marathon or ultra, or done something similarly stupid, then maybe you’ve experienced this too near the end.  I find myself in awe that I’m still alive and doing this.  I “find religion” as they say.  I fully appreciate God letting me know He’s there, although happy to know He’s simply passing through.  Running this marathon is my way of letting Him know that when He comes for me for reals, He better send all four horsemen riding white, red, black and pale.  I’m going down swinging.  I run mile 25 in 9:43.

I regain composure as I spy the hill after 15th Street.  I need all my faculties as this incline challenges my cardio.  It’s like the blood flow reverses direction in my arteries and veins.  My heart is rewinding.  What sort of twisted race director designs the course up such a steep hill right before the finish?  I’m finding his email address.  Two seconds ago I was near hallucinogenic believing I was a couple of minutes away from finishing.  Part way into this hill, that result suddenly becomes much less certain.

race crewI look up to the top of the hill.  Form.  I pump my arms.  I begin popping up my knees before my feet can fully hit the pavement.  I could run up a waterfall with this form.  I look at my Garmin to see I’m only running a 10:50 pace.  Hmm.  If only effort equaled speed.  I crest the hill and turn right onto 11th St.  I pass the 26 mile sign and let my legs unwind downhill toward Congress Ave.  I think again of my sister and brother meeting me at the finish.  Here’s their picture eating brunch later at Hyde Park Bar & Grill.  Just as powerful as the tearful emotion earlier, euphoria washes over me strong enough to make heroin jealous.  I’ve felt this way before near the end of a big run.  I got a little emotional near the end of my first ultra.  Same with finishing the 500 mile Colorado Trail.  There is something about successfully completing an objective with such high odds of failure.  Like Sandra Bullock taking her first steps on the beach after riding that Chinese rocket down to Earth in Gravity.  This is why I run marathons.

bloody maryI run the 26th mile in 9:44 but my Garmin has that completed right before the hill.  My Garmin mile 27 is nearly a half mile long, although it should only be about 200 yards.  Garmin has me running the final half mile in 4:19 – which captures the hill.  My Garmin does agree with the final result though with a 3:45:50.  About 15 minutes faster than I thought I could run with my limited winter training.  551st place overall.  At this point in time I am giving credit to good execution on my nutrition plan.  I think this because I finish feeling good.  No post race cramps or vomiting.  Not to say walking to the car isn’t a bear as swelling consumes my legs.  I counter this with a Bloody Mary at the Hyde Park Bar & Grill.  I’m fine now.

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Denver Marathon 2013

20 Sunday Oct 2013

Posted by Ed Mahoney in Marathons, Running

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

Denver Marathon, Platinum Lounge, Results

burning tree I wake up at 4:30 this morning for the Denver Marathon.  First, I shower and shave.  Not something I would generally do before a run, but I didn’t do either of these things Saturday and I’m a bit ripe.  I never made a decision on what socks to wear the night before.  I go for the knee-high compression socks.  I don’t wear them much because I don’t like dressing like a girl.  I’ve had issues lately with my calves cramping though and they are supposed to help mitigate that risk.  Plus, I suspect I might appreciate the warmth today.  Pulling on compression socks is a chore.  I check my toes first because they can be a bit sensitive.  One of my toe nails falls off after touching it.  Think of leprosy, I did.  There’s a new toe nail growing about half way to where it needs to be.  I wonder how long it will take to become a real toe nail.  Good thing we’re headed into winter.

I have a doughnut on the drive to Denver, along with my coffee.  Not sure why I bought those last night.  Probably because they are decorated for Halloween.  The road closures are already in place but it’s straightforward for me to park at the Denver Art Museum garage at 12th and Broadway.  This close-up parking is included with my Platinum Lounge – where I head next.  They have gas heaters setup.  Nice.  I hang here and put together my gear – pin my race bib on, load my fuel and I decide to wear my iPod.

match strideI don’t catch her name but chat with the lady standing next to me in the corral.  She’s from Indianapolis so we mostly discuss the Broncos game tonight which is fairly hyped up over Peyton’s return to play the Colts.  This race will publish my splits to facebook, as well as text some friends who provided their mobile numbers.  I start my Garmin as I cross the starting line but for some reason don’t look at it much.  I read the race clocks and am a bit concerned I might be running too fast.  I feel fine though.  In terms of breathing.  I’m a bit nauseous from the doughnut during the first 10K.  Not the smartest food choice, but what better time to eat a doughnut than before a 3000 calorie marathon?

I know a 7:30 pace is too fast for the first 5k.  I try to slow down a bit but otherwise feel comfortable with this speed.  I’m not breathing hard.  The 10K comes in at a 7:40 pace.  A slight moderation.  I begin to feel fatigue in the second half but don’t slow down much.  I eat my first fuel – other than sipping Gatorade at the aid stations.  I eat a chia seed bar.  This takes me a full mile.  I see Chris with his daughter and mine while eating my chia bar.  Chris takes photos of me throughout the second half of the marathon.  These pics of me in this blog are what he captured.  Thanks buddy.  Afterward he took the kids to Elitch Gardens.

red tree After 16 miles my pace begins to slow down.  I turn off my iPod at 18 miles.  The 3:30 pace sign passes me at 19 miles.  I try to hang with it but can’t.  I’m still averaging 8:05 per mile at 20 miles but am now running closer to 9 minute miles.  Then my right hamstring cramps at 20.4 miles.  A couple of sweethearts come to my aid with a banana and water.  I lose some time here but recover.  Unfortunately I am forced to purposely run slower than I’m capable of from here on out to keep my hamstring from cramping again.  I suspect I lose a minute per mile on my pace, so this likely added 5 to 6 minutes to my overall time.  I’m OK with this actually.  I had a good run.  I cross the finish line in 3:47:16.

I don’t think the starting temperature ever warmed up.  They hand out foil wraps at the finish and I take one.  The wind was not an issue during this run but it did pick up a bit in the final miles and added a chill to my sweat-soaked shirt.  It doesn’t take long before I begin to shiver.  I head for the Platinum Lounge for a post-race recovery.  I meet some guys near a gas heater – Jake and Charlie.  They ran the half marathon so have been here awhile.  Jake has already had 3 massages.  The lounge is nearly empty and there’s little competition for resources.  I wonder how many Michelob Ultras they drank.

finishI change into dry gear but it’s still cold and I continue to shiver.  I know this is because my body is too depleted to defend itself against the cold.  I’m also on the verge of cramping.  Not just my legs but my stomach, torso sides and hips.  I keep things in check but vomit all the food and drinks I ate since finishing.  Sucks because I need those electrolytes.  I feel better afterward though and it’s my turn for a massage.  The massage lady freaks out a bit because of my shivering.  Or maybe because I’m overly vocal about my pain.  That’s my style.  Some of us are screamers.  She cuts the massage short because she thinks she might hurt me.  Wimp.  Then she calls over the medical staff because I refuse to go to their tent.  This is silly.  I’m delicate but am drinking my electrolytes and avoiding cramps.  Did I mention the masseuse spilled my beer?

I commend the race on this level of care but I’m experienced and know I don’t need any help.  I was in their medical tent last year and forced to drink a bottle of Gatorade spiked with salt.  It was like drinking from the Gulf of Mexico.  The doctor asks me some questions to ensure I am fine.  She wants me to go to the tent but I provide the right answers to remain in the lounge.  “Have this ever happened to you before?”  “Yes, this is nothing really.”  “Have you vomited?”   “No.”  Not only am I fine and just need a little time to refuel, but I can guarantee you the med tent doesn’t have gas heaters or beer.  The doctor lets me stay.

I drive home when I can’t stand the cold anymore.  The temperature continues to drop and the wind is picking up.  I pick up my first ever Five Guys Burger.  They are awesome.  Karen has a roast slow cooking and serves it later with twice-baked potatoes.  Watching Denver in a close game now with the Colts.  Another epic run and a great day.

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