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February 18, 2005

A different kind of marathon

I remember when I interviewed for my job my now-bosses compared the job to a marathon and how you needed endurance to get through. It's true. 12-hour days for the past week and this will continue for at least two more weeks until the bill filing deadline. At that point we move from the endurance phase to the windsprint phase - everybody wants what they want *immediately* ... even if it means you work all night to get it to them the next morning. I can't *wait.*

As far as running goes, I've run nary a step since Sunday. I still have pain in my shin and now feel I have the luxury of just not running until it goes away completely. In the meantime I've been getting my running fix by reading (when I have a spare minute) marathon stories from last weekend. The following is my friend Wendy's story. I talked Wendy into Pfitzinger's 70MPW plan two years ago when everybody thought we were crazy. And then it worked for us and people didn't think we were so crazy anymore. I have run more miles with this girl in the windy dark than anyone else. Wendy stuck with Pfitzinger this year while I decided I wanted even more. Looks like she was the smarter one. Strong work Wendy!

Freescale Marathon Race Report
February 13, 2005

4:45 am – Is that rain I hear?? No. Good. I go straight to the TV and turn the radar. It is 64 and Austin is covered in green and yellow. Not good. This has to be a joke. What can you do? I chug a full Gatorade with my oatmeal knowing that hydration will be key for survival today.

5:30 – Daryl picks me up and we are off. The further north we drive, the harder it rains. We park at Taco Cabana to use the rest room. As we run across the parking lot it is POURING. I tip toe so the shoes stay as dry as possible. Time to break out the trash bag. Is the rain calming down??? No..that was lightning. Finally 6:37 we head to the start, weave our way through the crowd and drop off our bags. We line up with the 3:20 pace leaders. Ross and Patrick are both wearing mullet wigs. These guys are going to be fun. I will not let the heat win again. At this point the rain has pretty much stopped but it is HUMID. Stephanie finds Daryl and I and the three of us wait. I see Nancy Dasso lined up with the 3:15 group. Go Nancy!! Good Luck! Oh. There’s the gun. We’re off.

Mile 1 – Crowded but we do the weave and dance. This time we are not only passing runners but also dodging huge puddles in the road. MUST KEEP THE FEET DRY. We hit the marker at 8:12 and the pacers assure us that we will make it up. The legs feel a little stiff but I am trying not to overanalyze. Gloves? Ha! What was I thinking? Gone! Mile 2 – 7:25. A little fast but it feels comfortable. So we continue through the lovely industrial park. Water in the road. Am I a hurdler now? Hardly. Is this a marathon or an adventure race? We turn the corner and we are on the access road of 183. Did I mention I hate the first 4 miles of the course? UGLY! Mile 4 – 7:21. Water stop! These are friends of mine from Freescale. The theme is some type of sea theme with fish. Fitting, very fitting. Finally we make it to Shoal Creek. Mile 5 up ahead I hear Patrick yell. 7:41. Nice. Steph mentions that we just ran this 21 mile course 3 weeks ago. Just a training run. Oh Steph ? 3 weeks ago…it was in the lower 50’s not in the stinkin upper 60’s with 100% humidity. Did I say that? NO, but I thought it!

We hit Mile 6 at 7:31. We agree that this pace is comfortable.Jen Stewart is up ahead, not a good sign for Jen. I hope the injury isn’t hurting her. We finally catch her and she informs me this may be her first DNF. I tell her that is the right move. She has nothing to prove. It isn’t worth the potential damage. I tell her I love her? Did I just say that out loud? But I do love my friends. Mile 7 – 7:30. We have found our rhythm. Use the downhill to your advantage. I realize now that Steph and I have crept ahead of the pace group. That’s okay, this is comfortable. The sun is breaking out. NO NO NO!! It starts to heat up. Fortunately there is shade on Shoal Creek. Not much but some. Mile 8 – 7:29. Nice and steady, feeling good. I tell Steph that Pat(my husband) will be up ahead just past Mile 9. No Pat. Turn the corner. No Pat. It is so hard to see. Why did I leave my sunglasses in my bag? (Uhmmmm because it was RAINING at the start. Oh yeah. Good Point). The sun is blinding and I am carrying all of my crap in my hands. Mile 10 – 7:33. Well we are consistent. I hear my name… I see a face that I recognize… Kim !! She tells me that I can throw my stuff. An angel!! A Clif shot goes flying with it, NOOOOOOOO!!!! I keep running. I will be okay without it.

We turn onto Duval. Slight hill, kind of a nice change, the crowd here is awesome. Mile 11- 7:24. The sun is BLAZING. I dump water on my head. I see Pat between mile 11 and 12. He did make it!! Hi BABY!!! Another great day for him to WATCH a marathon. He seems to have great luck with that. Steph and I ride the downhill to 12. Her friend Wesley is along side of us now. He is doing the half. SMART man!! Mile 12 – 7:41. A little slower but I try not to freak out about it. Now all of the half marathoners are picking it up> Relax, don’t follow them! I can hear Evil. Mile 13 -7:50. WHAT? I am a little concerned. We must focus. I see lots of friends as I go through the finish line of the half. Kim Smith!! I hear Paul. Megan…my lovely Megan!! Another smart girl who ran the half. I think about her wedding and how beautiful she will look. Wake up call…. Water stop. I hear the crowd cheering for the 3:20 group. They are catching up. I tell Steph I want to back off and go with the pacers. I need to let them do the work. So we slow it down until I hear Patrick yell “Group, let’s hear a cheer for Wendy!” “GO WENDY!!” He is so awesome! 6th Street. Mile 14 – 7:20. Hey maybe mile 13 was off. Okay we can do this. We pass Oslo. Uhmmm….an ice cold Apple Martini sounds mighty good right now.

The pacers entertain us as we head out sixth towards the dreaded U turn stretch on LAB. The clouds are coming out. Is that a breeze I feel? There is a god. Mile 15 – 7:27. Mile 16 – 7:39. We are back on track. I focus on the runners on the other side of LAB. Danny Hayes flies by looking strong with Dave Knoll. GO DANNY!! We have run this road hundreds of time, don’t think about it. FOCUS! Okay at mile 17 you get to turn around. Mile 17 – 7:45. A little slow, not bad. Back to the rock!! Steph breaks out the music,it is time for Happy Tunes. We are going strong. I focus on the runners on the other side of the road. Go Daryl!! He doesn’t look happy> I worry. Clea!! Yeah!! 3:30 Pacers. FRED, JAMES, DANNY!!! Teresa is between them and the 3:40 pacers!! GO TERESA!! Mile 18 – 7:41. I start to feel weird. My stomach isn’t feeling so hot and the bladder, I definitely feel the bladder. Make it go away!! I tell Steph that I may have to stop. She reassures me that we have plenty of cushion and it will be okay. She knows my goal is 3:20. Mile 19- 7:30. A little fast. Ross the pacer is ahead of us– SLOW DOWN PACER MAN! Oh good, there is a crowd up ahead. Don’t think about the bladder. Look at the people! We hit a water stop. I think I poured it on my head but I am not sure. I know I didn’t drink it.

We crest the little hill on Caesar Chavez. Pam and Silke are screaming at me and they have signs for us!! My friends are so awesome. A little further down the road is Pat. We make eye contact. He hands me by drink that I asked him to bring. I say I love you. I debate whether or not to drink it but I haven't taken anything in in awhile. I need my SPARK, I am starting to fade. I chug it. Mile 20 – 7:45. No, this is too soon to crash. But the pacers are still behind me. Focus! At this point I am only focusing on one thing. WHERE ARE THOSE LITTLE BLUE PORTA POTTIES. I need one NOW! We head down Fiesta Gardens and there is Jen and Andy!! Hey guys!! Jen screams at me something to the effect of you are going to do it!! No Jen, I am going to run to that blue porta pottie under the interstate. In and out as fast as I could. I think I was still yanking up my shorts when I pushed open the door. Back on the road toa water stop. Good timing. Mile 22 up ahead. 8:10. The bathroom stop wasn’t too bad on the clock. I can still see the 3:20 pacers up ahead. I am feeling much better. FOCUS!! Gain ground slowly, don’t blow this. I see Shelly and Heather as I approach 23. Did I say Jen screamed before? Shelly SCREACHES “ GOOOO WENDY!!!” I love my friends. Mile 23 – 7:38. I am back in the game. Up over the damn. Ride the downhill. I am starting to feel a little out of it. Dave Knoll is running at me. He joins me and tells me to relax and swing my arms. We pass Ann my massage therapist. She has oranges. I had told her to have M and M’s for me. Food doesn’t sound like a good idea right now. Stomach is not happy. Don’t think about it. Dave gets me over the hill and he’s gone. Did I say thank you? I hope I said thank you. Focus. Mile 24 – Okay trudge on.

This is the home stretch. Just try not to slow down TOO Much. Megan is up at Mile 25. I think that even if I get a 3:21 or a 3:22 it is a PR. BUT I WANT MY 3:20 I whine to myself. Over I-35. The sun is BLAZING now. I finally get to mile 25 and the gang is all there. Megan, Jen, Steve, Andy. I don’t think I smiled at them. Sorry guys! Megan jumps in with me and off we go. I am going to do this. I am NOT going to slow down. I will not. We go up the final hill. I am getting cranky. I tell Megan to talk to me. What an amazing friend. She just raced the half marathon and here she is pushing me in. It is so hot! STEAMY. Sonic…I see Congress Avenue. The light looks miles away. Hi Al and Sandy! Barton Springs. There’s Jeff. Oh no, he has a camera. I don’t smile. Mile 26. Never hit my watch at 25 so 15:35 for the 2 miles. Am I still in the game??I don’t know. Math is impossible at this point. Megan tells me I got it. Just 2 laps around the track and I am done. I thank her and she’s gone! Push. There’s Ruthy!! The crowd is crazy and screaming. There are so many people!! I see the finish clock. It still says 3:20something. It keeps ticking away but I don’t feel like I am getting closer. I hear Pat “Go BABY!!” I push as hard as I can. I see the 3:20 on the clock turn to 3:21. Dang it. Oh well. Still a PR. I cross the mat. I hit my watch but don’t look at it. Steve Sisson runs up and congratulates me. I look at my watch. 3:20.42. Oh my god. I did it. I got my 3:20. The medical people are talking to me. “Are you okay,” they say. “YES!! I got my 3:20” But all that comes out is “Water….please…water..” I get my medal and follow the road to the finishing area. I hear my name. Pam and Silke are jumping up and down running at me. I have amazing friends, did I mention that? I hug them and move on. I walk a few more steps and there is Pat. I collapse into his arms “You were right I told him. Baby, I did it!”

I am very psyched with my new PR and plan to take a break from marathons for awhile. This was my 3rd "warm" marathon in a row (NYC 2003 and BOSTON 2004) and I know from experience that you have no control over the weather and what it does to you. I am now 1-2 against the weather but it most cases it wins. Anyone who stepped up to the start at this marathon - CONGRATULATIONS!! Whether you finished or not you tried under conditions that were far from ideal. GOOD JOB EVERYBODY!!

Wendy Quinn

Posted by jenandmats at February 18, 2005 7:54 AM