Pace, schmace! Most of this race, I couldn't run two miles steady to save my life. The numbers on my hand said start at 12:15, then 12, then hold 11:15-11:20 steady until mile 10, then speed up to the finish. Um, yeah.

Reality:

mile 1 - 13:55 - (WHAT THE HECK? Hmm, maybe all that weaving through the crowds slowed me down some. Pick it up!)
mile 2 - 11:18
mile 3 - 11:09 (Okay, back off a little...)
mile 4 - 12:19 (NOT THAT MUCH!)
mile 5 - 11:37
mile 6 - 12:06
mile 7 - 10:48
mile 8 - 11:14
mile 9 - 11:13
mile 10 - 11:47
mile 11 - 10:46
mile 12 - 11:21
to 31.1 - 11:40

So, I didn't quite make my goal. But I pushed hard! Throughout the race, and especially those last few miles, I kept telling myself, "pick it up, pick it up, hey," until I was straining every muscle, pushing myself along at total painful effort... which made it weird to be barely creeping past the walkers, or people who just appeared to be jogging along. I RAN.

Most interesting spectators: (1) the ancient lady who bundled herself up in blankets in a rocking chair in her front yard, rocked, and urged us forward by lifting one, then the other, of her birdie-feet-slippered feet; and (2) the Rocky Guy. This man stood out on Montrose with no paraphenalia whatsoever except his own cupped palms, through which he hollered the "Rocky" theme song, quite possibly for hours on end. "Da-da DAAAA, Da-de daaaaa..."

Not as many bands as last year, presumably on account of the looming rain, but more individual spectators lining the course, several of whom even had the sharps and the eyesight to holler our names off of our race bibs as we ran past - a fun day!

I had water at the aid stations and gels at miles 2, 6, and 10.


Seed myself a bit further forward at the start. I had placed myself near the BACK of the black corral & felt like I was passing people the entire race.

After collecting my medal and finisher's T-shirt (underarmour!) I made my way ever-so-slowly to my car. I stopped several times to lean on fences and stretch. I was so happy to see the car I nearly cried. That's when I'd discovered my sprained right shoulder. Don't ask me how someone sprains a shoulder while running, but there it was. Ouch. Drove as carefully as I'd walked.

At home, I threw a party. Fortunately a few BTers were already there to help with some of the labor. lisaj1 is a real whiz-bang milkshake maker! :) We had a great time.


1. took the first mile way too slow

2. other than that, just training! time to start adding some speedwork and hills - even the barely-perceptible inclines of Houston feel like "hills" on race day, to those of us doing most of our training at Rice and Memorial!

One of my friends kept insisting I'd made my goal. Um, no, that would be, I MISSED my goal, by 1:15. Still, I was very happy with my effort on this one - left nothing on the course! :)


This is a well-organized, well-supported race. It's filling faster every year, so sign up early!