I’ve been thinking about this race report for a while, because originally it was going go something like this: I’m too fat and too old to ever qualify for Boston. The End.

Anyway, I’m over that and I think I can give you a little better account of the race. Lets start with the Expo – I finally got to meet Rebecca of Bondi Bands who happened to have a picture of the most beautiful girl in the world on the wall. That was really a nice surprise.

After the Expo, Marta, Milka and I headed over to a local Italian place where I proceeded to stuff my face with as much food as my stomach could hold. And just so there is no misunderstanding, my stomach is a black hole. I have in the past been so preoccupied with other marathon things that I don’t eat enough the night before a race, although that is never a problem any other day of the year, so for once, go me, I ate like a farmhand. And that is probably a run-on sentence, but I don’t really care.

When we got back to the hotel, we tried on our race shirts – they are pretty cool. They actually gave the women women’s shirts. For some reason, I was very impressed by this. Maybe because I’m not a man.

After the fashion show, I doctored up my foot. I tried several different medieval combinations of tape, blister aids and powder, but I ended up using simple padded moleskin. And it worked great.

Then I got my race shirt ready, and it’s a long story, but basically we watched Talladega Nights the evening before we left for Austin. And I’m sorry if it seems like we were making fun of NASCAR fans, but we were making fun of NASCAR fans. And it was funny. And I laughed until I cried.

The back on my shirt, however, was very inspiring. Have I ever mentioned how much I love that Austin is so liberal and progressive? EVERYONE LOVES OBAMA! Woo Hoo!

We get to the start line with no trouble, we line up and we start the race. This is the perfect place to insert the elevation map, because apparently, I forgot to look at it before I registered or I wouldn’t be running this race. It’s changed quite a bit since I ran it in 2005 when it was entirely all downhill.

Miles 1 through 13 I repeated this about 50 times OH MY GOD I’M GOING TO DIE IF I SEE ANOTHER HILL. And even though I was constantly climbing hills, I was right on track with a 2:22 at mile 13, a 4:45 finish was still within my grasps. But it didn’t last long because at mile 15 I started walking a whole bunch and then I started getting mad at myself for not putting in more distance before the marathon.

I did the strength work, but I just didn’t put in the miles. But then at mile 17 I started remembering that all of these marathons I’m doing before I run Chicago are to get my body more accustomed to the distance. And when I stopped pooh-poohing on myself, I actually got a little faster. So I started thinking to myself that my legs weren’t cramping nearly as bad as they did in New York and I did a much better job at hydrating myself this race. Those were good things. I also didn’t feel nauseous or dizzy at all during this race. And for some blessed reason, my blister didn’t bother me at all. Those were also good things.

I continued to try and pull good things from my experience during the marathon and I don’t think I said my first obscenity until mile 25.5 when I saw a hill that was 90 degrees straight up. I think I started cussing at mile 16 in New York.

I finished 5:09:26. Nothing to brag about, except it is a marathon. My 6th. And I finished it

We had a nice RBF meet up with Brian and Carrie that evening. We chatted about the race and exchanged pictures of spouses and kids. It was fun although I was exhausted and was still obsessing because I forgot to bring my hairbrush to Austin.

The Cowtown Marathon is this Saturday. And I have a little problem.

I’m not sure what the deal is, but this cankle showed up today. I guess if I have to I can always switch to the half marathon on Saturday, but I really don’t want to. I’m going to play it by ear and see what how it feels on Friday. It kind of hurts, but not like really hurts. Only a little achy when I walk or touch it. Other than that, I feel like a rock star.

I’ll have more pictures of the marathon up tomorrow.

5:09:26. I’m not sure what is going on with that my chip time thing link, seems like it didn’t work for a lot of people. Anywho, race report coming up later. MUST SHOWER NOW!

for all you you with nothing else to do . . . Follow me during the Austin Marathon tomorrow. You know, the one I didn’t train for, the one I’m going to run with a huge giant blister looking like a whale. Good luck and kick sand in Florida tomorrow David.

 

It’s looking and feeling better today. Still, I know it’s gonna hurt like the dickens on marathon day, but I’m prepared for Sunday. Feet are disgusting, this is why we have shoes. Shoes, glorious shoes.