Houston Marathon - RunMarathon

I had a goal and a plan...

The Goal:
Post a BQ time of 3:35 or better. I had set my sights on 3:30 just because I liked the way the math worked out and it would give me a 5 minute cushion.

The Plan:
Break a long race into 5 shorter ones of 5 miles each and focus on doing what I needed to do at each point along the way. A Marathon is too long to worry about 1 mile splits. I had written the split times on my arm with a Sharpie and carried 5 gels. 1 to be taken at the 5, 10, 15 & 20 mile markers and a back-up in case I dropped one. Drink something at every aid station and stay disciplined at the early part of the race, i.e., don't go out too fast.

I ran this for the first time in 2007 and did OK, but I never paid much attention to the scenery and surroundings; just kept my head down and pounded it out. This time, in addition to a specific goal, I was going to make it a point to notice where I was and what was going on around me. Really soak it in and enjoy it, because who knows when or if there's going to be another Marathon. I had memorized the street names, the neighborhoods and my 5-mile marker locations.

Got into the start corral for the first wave and stayed about 100 feet back from the line. No sense in getting up front to fight for a position that I didn't need or want. BOOM! The gun was fired and we were off.

0 to 5 Miles - Houston Heights:
It took me ~30 seconds to get to the line and it was typical big race crowding, but not too bad. Worked at getting into a rhythm and not tripping. As expected, I was running about a 7:30 pace and found myself along side the 3:20 pace group. A bit fast, but as long as I stayed comfortable, I was going to hang with them for a while.

Got a couple of drinks, took my 1st gel coming up on the 5-mile flag. Goal here was 40:00, I was at 37:XX. A couple of minutes deposited into the time bank. Great.

6-10 Miles - Montrose & Main:
The runners have spaced out and it's starting to warm up, and the sweat is starting to pour. Now is the time to focus on the real pace, reign in that race-start adrenaline and slow it down a notch.

A guy ran up beside me and said he had the same "birthmark" on his calf, too. He was referring to my IM tattoo and he had one almost exactly like it. We chatted about our IMs for a minute and then parted ways. Cool. At the 9-mile stage the runners doing the half turn off to the left and now it's just us real runners, so the road has really opened up. Another gel, some G-ade and water. Goal here was 1:20, I was 1:17:XX. Another minute in the bank. Excellent.

11-15 Miles - Rice University:
Two fifths of the race down and I'm rolling now. The 3:20 pace group is about 100 yards ahead and that's just right where I want them. This is a real pretty part of town with huge oak trees over the road and lots of shade. The next neighborhood had dozens of American flags set up in their yards and along the road.

Cross the 13.1 mile mark at 1:39 still feeling great, but I'm only thinking about the next 2 miles; finish this 5-mile segment, and only then worry about the next. Take a gel, grab some water. Goal here was 2:00, I was 1:57:XX. Outstanding.

16-20 Miles - Galleria:
Back into another business district and tall buildings. Lots of cheering crowds and plenty of music. This is where the race gets serious and things can start going wrong in a hurry. I'm feeling a little heaviness in the legs and according to the volunteers reading off the paces at the mile markers, I've settled into a 7:45 pace.

I made a decision to fast-walk the aid station between 18 & 19 to get 2 full cups of fluids and relax for just a second. I also decided to hold off on this gel until another mile and another aid station. It was here at mile 20 back in '07 that both my legs seized up with cramps and it was really bad, so I did not want a repeat of that ordeal. Goal here was 2:40, I was 2:38. I had made a small withdrawal from my time bank, but still doing fine.

21-25 Miles - Memorial Park:
More water and my last gel at mile 21. Four fifths of the race done, but now it's starting to hurt some as we go up and down a few of the "hills". I've been feeling a blister developing on a small toe and I know it's going to be bad. Time to harden up.

My watch is chiming as the battery is going out, so I really can't track the time, but I know I'm OK and there's nothing to do anyway except keep running as fast as I can. This is the point when you really have to dig deep and decide how bad do you want it. This part was hard and I'll admit it. It was work keeping the pace and focusing on getting to that next mile flag. The legs were close to cramping but I was able to maintain my form.

The goal was 3:20, and I was right at it. I had made the final withdrawal from my time bank and it was time to spend it all. Told myself I can do anything for 10 more minutes.

1.2 Miles - Downtown:
Barring complete malfunction, I knew I had my BQ, but I still wanted the 3:30. I had let the 3:20 pace group go awhile back during the last 5 miles, but the 3:30 group was still behind me somewhere.

It felt good getting into the shade of the tall buildings and hearing the crowds yelling, "JUST 1 MORE MILE!". Kept a steady pace despite the left foot wanting to curl up with a cramp. A couple more turns and I could finally see the finish arch at the end of the road and was able to bring it on in.

Done.

Put a new battery in the watch.

My wife was at the finish line and got some pics of me. Talked with her a minute and then hobbled through the finish chute area and into the convention center. Stepped on a scale to confirm that I had lost 4 pounds; pretty typical.

Made my way through the lines to get food and my finisher stuff. Finally met up with my wife in the reunion area. Walked (slowly) back to the hotel.


There is nothing I could have done that would have made much difference. I had prepared well, had the proper experience, and I was a little bit lucky. There are so many things that can go wrong in a long race, but I managed to pull it off. How else do you explain coming within 31 seconds of a goal time in a Marathon?

I'm glad I made my goal and felt like I had accomplished something. It's doubtful I'll go to Boston for several reasons, but the fact that I made the time qualification says it all.

I also PR'd by 28 minutes, so that's good.


Really good race organization and layout to handle such a large number of people. A very good idea to put portacans right in the start corrals. Lots of crowds on the course, great volunteers, and sponsors. Shop @ HEB!

It's pretty neat to be a part of a big-city event like this. If I ever do it again, I'm going to slow down even more and really enjoy it. Why does every race have to be so hard?