Austin Marathon 26.2

Austin Marathon Swag 2019

It feels like eternity since I last posted but its now officially the 2019 race season! I took a bit of time off after Waco 70.3 last year and stirred around some ideas for what I wanted to do in 2019. When it comes down to it, my heart is in running, and I never have really loved Ironman like most of yall crazy folks. I decided to focus on the 70.3 distance for my triathlon season and really learn how to race it good and hard before returning to the ironman distance in 2020, but also to follow my heart which means running!

I was all geared up to get back to training and I just signed up for the Austin Marathon. Why? Because I stinking love Austin, and I dont care if its "hard" or what you say. It was on my birthday and a holiday weekend, making it the perfect weekend to get away. So here we go I have 12 weeks.

Because, Texas.

Except I didnt. While out in Kona training one day I woke up and felt this deep soreness in my upper right chest. It didnt hurt too bad so of course I trained through it. I raced Waco and figured 2 weeks of off season would do the cure, except it didnt. I went to get an adjustment and was told my first rib was severely out of place. I had been down with a little cold, so the adjustment to my rib cage sent my ribs into a full blown panic attack. I came down with some severe costochondritis, which I have dealt with before. Its inflammation of the rib cage and can take weeks to months to calm down. I put an immediate holt on training (both because it was super painful and because I knew it would not heal without rest). 2 weeks passed and I was starting to see some reprieve. So now we are at 10 weeks.

Coach Matt cleared me to run a whopping 8 miles for my "long run" that first week back. How the hecks was I gonna run 26.2? Trust the process. Trust. During some of my biggest ironman builds I put in my final work the last two weeks before the race, so I knew my body could shed the fatigue if I was just smart enough about my build to not get injured. We jumped into a run block. Minimum = 30 mins a day. Easy days Easy. Fast days Fast. Simple right? The long runs stayed around 90 mins to 1:45 for about 4 weeks. Ok, But what about the 20 miler?

I built myself up to a 15 miler steady state long run and decided to jump into a half marathon the following weekend (4 weeks out from race day). With warm up and cooldown this was about a 17-18 mile day. Ok so we are getting there. I didnt want to wreck myself so we decided to see what "race pace" actually felt like rather then running it all out. I surprised myself and ran 7s comfortably. So maybe I was on pace after all?

Two weeks to go....19 and 20. Snow and cold streets kept the miles fairly easy, but I was starting to see the light. Hey, atleast I could manage the time on my feet without fatiguing at 12 miles like the first couple weeks of training!

When I first started the build I set out an ambitious goal of running a sub 3. I proclaimed it to the world. No fear in the face of failure. It is not wrong, or a failure, to set an ambitious goal even if you are not quiet there yet. I have only ran 1 (2 sort of) marathons before so I have to really learn how to race the distance. Race week snuck up and with my 10 week build I knew I was ready for about 305-310. Aint nothing wrong with that as long as I race it smart, its a PR.

Texas.
We flew to Austin on Friday before the race. It was an AMAZING 90 degrees. I am not kidding when I say amazing. The kind of 90 degrees you wanna sit outside and drink a beer and go hang by the pool. And thats what we did.... I am 100% into my races and doing well, but over the years I have found the best races come when you are happiest. Enjoy life and have fun. Tacos, pizza, margaritas, and beer consumed my friday. You heard it right folks.

Texas knows BBQ...and beer

Swimming in Barton Springs. A few of my favorite things...

Saturday was just a little shake out run, and Okay ok, back to reality. Clean up the diet, take a nap, legs up! Its racing time. I began to think about how bad it would hurt, and how I would face the low moments. Coming up with a game plan is super helpful in adverse times. The week leading into the race was not the easiest on my family. My stress levels were through the roof. I decided to think of my family during my low points and remember to stay strong for them. Its funny that running is really my only outlet where I can just feed off emotion and focus.

Pre-race shake out along the lake. One of my fav places to run in Texas!

Race day!
I woke up with my stomach in a panic, but just those race day butterflies. Excitement. I was nervous because I care. Fellow DC Tri teammate Bryan was also racing and we had about the same time goal so we lined up together and reminded ourselves to not get too excited. Patience. Patience.

Running past the capital

The first 3.5 miles is straight up the congress hill. I knew that if I wanted to run about 700-710, my pace up the hills would need to be about 20 seconds slower. The 305 and then 310 pace groups charged ahead of me and I shook my head knowing I was not toasting myself. Mile 4 was a "let it rip" back down to the city and was when I decided to open it up, holding 655 for a couple miles. I was tired but not overly exerted. I focused on my nutrition, aiding at every station, and staying relaxed. I shook my arms out and dropped my shoulders proving I was relaxed.

Around mile 8, I was almost chatty and I recognized we were on the west wing of Cesar Chavez about to ...about to turn... up a HILL. I warned Jacob and Bryan and we make a sharp turn and UP we went. This section was by far the hilliest, and we were definitely not prepared for it. Jacob turned off at the half marathon point and Bryan and I made a slow 3 mile trudge up the north-side of Austin. It was STRAIGHT into a headwind and on a marginal climb.

Running with B and JG at mile 6. Thanks Scott Flathouse Photography

This is where things start to get mental. No one likes a headwind, and any athlete knows it can be sure to mess with you. It was almost exhausting. Around 15.5 we made a turn and found, at last, some rest from that dreaded Texan wind. I was struggle-busing it here. I told Bryan I was full of negative thoughts. As I kept quiet, I reminded myself to eat, to stay focused, one mile at a time. I reminded myself that it was all mental. We ALL want to slow down and take a nap. We MUST choose to go on. I kept running...

And then it was mile 20...21....22...23, holy crap only 3 miles to go! Luckily this was all fairly flat by then, but I knew what was coming. I looked at my watch and thought I could snab a 308 finish. Except that the last .5 mile was straight up a mountain. haha ok not really, but at 26 miles it sure feels like it. I am pretty sure I could have touched the ground I was so close to it climbing the hill. I could see the crest of it and they even had a banner where you ran through because after that it was all downhill to the finish line. I made it! Bringing it in just a few seconds short of my goal, 1100ft of gain in 309, and 7th OA female. 7th!? What.... Crazy....exciting.

I crossed the finish line ready for more. It was motivating. I want to go faster. I lit the fire.

Follow me in 2019 here:

Marbella 70.3 April 28

Chattanooga 70.3 May 19

Mt Tremblant 70.3 June 22

Musselman (double) July 12

Savageman Triple (Sept 12)

Swim Run Richmond (Oct 20)

Swim Run NC  (Oct 28)

CIM Marathon Dec 8