RunTex 20 Miler

This was my first running race since the 10k in August of 2008. I have completed 8 weeks of marathon training in preparation for the Austin Marathon Feb. 15. 1 - 6:48, started off nice and easy 2 - 7:01, got comfortable and relaxed 3 - 6:50, joined into a group training to run a 3hr marathon (6:53 pace) 4 - 6:50, spot on, even pace, good group of 6/7 guys, gu #1 5 - 6:54, 1/4 of the way done, hills are rolling up and down 6 - 6:21, 2 of the guys stretched it out on this downhill mile 7 - 6:37, group gets back together, but we were pressing some with the rolling hills 8 - 6:33, the pace is staying even, I was going a bit faster than I wanted, but I didn't want to run alone so I stayed with the group, gu #2 9 - 6:33, this mile took its toll later on, I went with 2 of the guys in the group and we gapped the rest of the group 10 - 7:52, 1st half 1:08:24, uphill and getting windy, I let the 2 guys get ahead of me while I recovered. 11 - 6:28, used the down hill to pick up some leg speed, began to catch runners that went out a bit harder than me 12 - 6:35 , gu #3, made my first pass, legs were back under me still running solo though 13 - 6:29, part of mile 12 and 13 where on jeep trails, through me off for a bit 14 - 6:34, staying steady 15 - 7:09, ugh! a long climb into the wind 16 - 7:10 , gu #4, the climb continued, the wind continued, but caught up to 1 of the 2 guys from the earlier group that I ran with for the next couple of miles 17 - 6:44, the pace and hills started to zap my legs, but I used the downhills to keep up my leg speed 18 - 6:56, last hill to climb 19 - 6:44, recovered from the climb and the course flatened out some 20 - 6:15, 2nd half 1:07:06, strong finish and caught a couple more runners in the last mile. Finish 2:15:30, 6:47 avg. pace 17th Overall, 2nd 25-29 age group Full Results More Pics