Yesterday was the Austin Freescale Marathon- the culmination of my running season. When I think back to when I started training back in August, it's great to realize how far I've come. Back then I wasn't even sure I wanted to do the Marathon this year, but it turned out that I really got into it, and ended up completing the Austin Distance Challenge, and the Marathons of Texas. After all the running and racing I did over the last seven months, yesterday was the day I was training for. After my unexpected successes at the Dallas and Houston Marathons in the past few months I decided to up my goals quite a bit, and try to qualify for the Boston Marathon.

The qualifying time for my age group is 3:10.59. Since my previous best Marathon was 3:28 in Houston the month before, this would be quite a jump, but based on my results from the 3M half marathon, I thought it could be possible to qualify. "If everything goes right, I have a shot" is what I said. Things went pretty right.

A cold front blasted through Austin the day before, making for a cold and overcast race in the lower 30s. That may sound harsh, but it's actually quite good marathon weather. I started at the line with three layers on top, and ended up running in shorts and a short sleeve shirt by mile 5. I did run with gloves the whole way, and most of the time with a cotton knit hat.

My race plan went well. I stayed close to the 3:10 group at the start, didn't go out too fast, and then ran my own race, tracking my own mile splits for pace. The first mile is always crowded, so I knew I would need to make up some time in the next few miles, and that was fine. My first 10k split was at 7:24 pace. I was happy with that, and figured that if I could run 7:15 miles the rest of the way I would make my goal. Every mile after 6 was a race against 7:15.

There were some inclines and declines along the way, so my pace varied a bit: Mile 7: 7:25 Mile 8: 7:19 Mile 9: 7:04 Mile 10: 7:15 Mile 11: 7:07 Mile 12: 7:05 Mile 13: 7:12 At the half marathon split, my time was 1:36.08...on track if I could maintain 7:15 pace. I was a little worried, because I had been working pretty hard to stay near 7:15s over the previous few miles and it was still early in the race. I pumped myself up and pressed on. Mile 14: 7:15 Mile 15: 7:13 Mile 16: 7:21 Mile 17: 7:28 Mile 18: 7:20 Mile 19: 7:20 Mile 20: 7:11 Still looking good: I lost a touch against the pace, but if I could make it up if I finished strong.

Then came mile 21. It was exciting, because it's the portion of the course where you enter downtown Austin and run up to the capital: it's up part that's the problem, though. The road leading up to the back of the capital grounds is a steady incline, and really took a lot out of me. I had to really push good to make mile 21 in 7:31. This is when I first started to think that I may not make my Boston qualifying goal. After running around the capital, though, we were treated to a nice downhill stretch through the heart of downtown. There was a nice crowd there cheering on, and the fact that I was wearing a shirt that said "Go Jeff!" on the front and back got me some good cheers. An Ultimate Frisbee friend of mine spotted me there, cheered me on, and ran with me for a stretch..that really helped. Mile 22: 7:24.

I had just run a downhill mile, and the best I could do was 7:24. I knew I would have to run faster than that fr the next 4 to make 3:10, and I realized then I probably wouldn't do it. I was pushing my legs to go faster, but I couldn't manage anymore. Mile 23: 7:22. Mile 24 contained the hill that sealed my fate. I felt like I was barely moving, and my watch said I was moving at 8:30 pace. I tried to surge ahead, but then I could feel my hamstrings about to cramp, so I had to slow back down. At that point, I knew I wasn't going to break 3:11 for a Boston qualifying time. The other runners on the course were in a similar situation, and I was actually passing a lot of people at that pace. Mile 24: 8:15.

Just after the mile 24 marker is a turnaround point for an out and back stretch. One more little onramp hill, and then a turnaround. I told myself, "hey, you're not going to qualify for Boston, but this is the best d&mn race you've ever had, so make the most of it". I pushed on and enjoyed the ride in. Along the way, I saw my friend Gary approaching from the other direction before the turnaround, and I cheered him on. Mile 25: 7:33. Mile 26: 8:28. 26.2: 1:24. Final time: 3:13.58. This was a great race for me, and my best time by far.