Confessions of a coach -19 "Grand Slam"

Austin Recap:

Everyone knows Austin is called Hill Country, so the Austin Marathon is one tough course. The rolling hills start at about mile 7, for the runners doing the half marathon the course tries to finish them off with the biggest and meanest hill of them all - right at mile 12. Yep, mile 12! For the Marathoner's, they get a fairly good beating from miles 7 through 19. Marathoners have to push past some inclines all they way until about mile 24. However, at that point, going up or down a hill feels the same. With all that said, the Austin hills didn't stop a few of our Runwell Runners from hitting some nice PR's (personal best) and few hitting PW's (personal worst) LOL.

Jay smoked up the hills finishing his race at 1:50 taking off 5 minutes from his last 1/2 Marathon Race.
Jhovany followed right behind with a PR of 2:10 taking off 4 minutes!
Molly still recovering from the Houston Marathon she just ran, felt every mile coming in at 2:09.
Marcus showed up 15 minutes after the race began - LOL - Which means he started behind the walkers, and got to fight his way through the crowd for several miles. Finishing at 2:08. Not a PR or PW.
Mark O. ran 1:32 - he will nail a 1:27 to 1:32 every time. The boy is a running machine!

Nikki's Recap:

Start: Not feeling any fear nor excitement, I really just wanted it to be over - just get it behind me. I've run the Austin Marathon 1/2 a few times, so I know it's not a user friendly course. :) I still love the race and will be back next year to run the HALF! That's right, the HALF!

Start to Mile 6: Feeling just OK. Not feeling strong, but trying to listen to my body. I didn't wear a watch or anything!

Mile 6-9: I was feeling a pull in both of my calves. At mile 8, there is a really mean hill, and I had to walk because my calves locked up.

Mile 9: I stopped to stretch out my calves. Also, I needed a minute to think. I had a serious decision to make. The Half Marathon splits at mile 10, and I knew at this point, I couldn't run anywhere close to my pace and running up any of these hills was absolutely out of the question. So, do I throw in the towel, do the half, or take on this marathon walking/running the next 17 miles - Knowing I would be lucky to come in under 5 hours.

Mile 10: Decision made! I need to finish what I started and make the best out of what I had to work with! I had to walk all hills, but in between hills, I would run and allow myself to stop at each mile marker and stretch. The mile markers were a bright lime green color, so I would be looking straight ahead and trying to get my banged up body to hold on, until I saw the next bright green mile marker. I was let down a few times, school zone markers there are in the same bright green color! I was thinking that's really a mean trick - LOL

Mile 14 - 18: I really started to have fun with the other runners, most that are at the back of the pack. They either normally run 12-13 minute pace or they are runners fighting their way through a marathon with mental or physical issues. There were about 20 or more runners that I ended up sort of bonding with. They would run past me, and then start walking. I would pass by them and then I would walk. We started making funny comments and tapping each other on the back as we would pass each other saying, "I'll see you in a minute" or "tag your it". I met several like me, doing the "Marathons of Texas" challenge. We would walk and talk, questioning why did we want to do this in the first place. My favorite quote of the race came as I was standing in one place for so long, that a runner came up and high-fived me saying, "Thanks for being out here all day volunteering". I said, "Hey!" and pointed at my bib. We both got a big laugh out of that one.

Mile 18-19: I had to stop and lay on someones grass. Really bad charley-horse with a little cursing fit! Of course, my fellow runners did u-turns to come back to rescue me. Some helped me stretch them out and offered their water and electrolytes! Runners are the best!

Mile 19-24: About the same as above - just having fun and working on getting to the finish line.

Mile 24: Mark O. and Molly were waiting for me. They were a little worried about how long I had been on the course. Up to this point, I had been in pretty good spirits. But now, mentally I was starting to hit the wall and really ~ really ~ really wanted to see the Finish Line.

Mile 25: Jay and Jhovany were waiting for me. So by now, I have the whole Austin team running me in to the finish. Jay was coaching me, like I did with him at the White Rock Marathon. Can you run to the stop light, can you run past that building. I'm started to feel a little overwhelmed with emotions. I'm feeling all three marathons now! The crew waited for me and they had to wait a long time, and now they were coaching me, guiding me to the finish line - like I have done for other runners so many times. Its a good and humbling feeling. But now is not the time to start getting all teared up. I still have 1.2 LONG MILES left to go.

Miles 26.2: Done - 5:17:55 @ 12:09 pace a "PW", my slowest ever - However, my funnest ever! I/m not feeling anything right now. I was just happy to have all three behind me. I got my medal for the Austin Marathon and Molly reminded me to go pick up my Grand Slam Medal. All I wanted was to get to Starbucks and lay down at our hotel. I picked up the Grand Slam Medal, I looked at the medal and said, "hmm...where's the closest Starbucks" LOL.

My body is hurting badly. I'm running fever and getting up or down is quite a scene. I look and feel like a 120 year old person. Seriously, I could use a cane! I didn't feel much of anything on Sunday, right after the marathon. I think my body was in too much pain. But Monday, on my way to work, I started to feel really good about what I did. I completed all three freaking marathons in 90 days. My goal was to run all three without be injured and to get mentally stronger at that distance. Once again, through running, I started and finished something that once seemed impossible! And that feeling is overwhelming! I love Running!



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