Unexpected

I ran Houston on 1.17.2010 in 4:19:19 (Chip time).

It was a personal best. I have never run faster or with so many people. The first three miles were at a greater than 10 minute pace due to the crowding of the runners. Houston is also the first marathon where I "ran" the entire distance. Other than walking through the drink stations (which I must do to get the fluids in me not on me) I never stopped or walked on the course.

There was a period around mile twenty when I had become very tired. The course clocks and my own watch (the Omega my dad gave me for making Eagle Scout 28 years ago) let me know that I was on pace to crush my previous PB of 4:30:32. But even that goal seemed to pale in comparison to just a few minutes rest. As usual by this point in the race many others had already given in to temptation. To have let up would have been inconspicuous, even seemed normal. Most everyone in front of me was walking.

Behind me, I overheard a group of lady runners encouraging each other to push on.Their leaders disembodied voice traveled to my ears through the fog of self doubt, "These are the difficult miles. You will will want to give in. Don't. Relax into your running and just keep putting one foot in front of the other".

And that's what I did. It was the right advice at the right time and it changed my running maybe for ever. Suddenly I found a pace that I could hang onto. I knew I could finish strong and I felt better than I ever have at that point in a marathon. It was a really good place for me to find myself and has me thinking about many other aspects of my running and my life.

I have many other Houston stories to share but for today this is enough. I ran hard, I finished strong, and I didn't give up.