Houston Marathon - RunMarathon

This was a tough run for me--I have been fighting an upper respiratory problem since Christmas so got taken out of my training regimen just prior to this race. I was pretty sure at the 8 mile mark that I didn't have it today, knew for sure at 13 when my right hamstring cramped up marvelously while I was in mid-stride. I had been carrying a respectable 8:30 pace through 8 miles, 8:54 through 10 miles, and finished the half in 2:01...but I had slowed down markedly by then. I just didn't have any energy, was not getting enough O2 to my muscles, and was well off of my nproper pre-race nutrition.

Having to decide to DNF was the hardest decision I think I've ever had to make during a race--much harder than persevering through pain. The pent up emotions from having trained for many months, only to get taken out by something you couldn't have controlled, just breaks you down.

Either a) make the turn with the half marathoners at mile 8.5 and head back to the finish area, or (and more intelligent) b) not start at all.

This is without a doubt the most well-organized and executed race that I have run. From the expo, start/finish area, parking, course, volunteers,...and the Houston fans--absolutely outstanding! If you want to see what a well-executed big event looks like, you owe it to yourself to run Houston. The race goodies are nice too (race t-shirt, finisher tech shirt, finisher medal, finisher beer mug, post race hot food, etc.).