Chevron Houston Marathon (Aramco Half Marathon) Expo

I had made plans to meet up with a few peeps at the Expo on Friday, most importantly CG as we both wanted to a) hang out which we never get to do and b) see and hear Joan Benoit Samuelson speak.

We both secretly were hoping to get to actually meet her.

To our surprise Bill Rodgers showed up with her and was also on stage talking and taking questions from the crowd.   Thankfully we got there just early enough to snag 2 seats as there weren't a lot anyway.

Prior to CG getting there, I picked up race packets for myself and a friend, met up with S and R and we walked around a bit, running into a million people I knew...

I have to say that I love the expo that CHM has every year.  This year I noticed a few new vendors, one being 26.2 Apparel who I have heard good things about and I ended up getting 2 cute shirts (using Christmas gift cards!).  I have been wearing one of them today and it is SO soft!  Definitely these 2 shirts will become some of my favorites!  Can definitely wear as casual or at the gym.  I wouldn't run in it (although a short run probably wouldnt gag me too much), but will save it from the excessive sweat!

I also got a cute charm necklace that has 26.2 on one side and Running On Faith engraved on the other side (thank goodness for gift cards again!)  I haven't taken it off since I bought it and even ran the marathon in it...a few times I reached up to make sure it was still there during the marathon and the Running On Faith message made me think of my Momma...

The one 'blech' that I have is that UA is the CHM sponsor of their gear and I don't like UA.  I still ended up buying one long sleeve shirt (never have before) mostly because the Finisher shirts are short sleeve and I am not a big fan of them and a 40th anniversary coffee mug (I have the 35th one from my first marathon and I wanted the 40th signifying the start and finish of my marathoning days :)... its a MUCH bigger mug!  I also got one other thing, but that will have to wait until it makes its appearance here on the blog :)  Best thing is I still have $$ left on gift cards!

There were a lot of vendors that actually gave product and not just samples so I loved that as well.  I didn't spend as much time there last year, but this year I was there for FOUR hours!  And it went by so quickly!!

Of all the marathon expo's I have ever been to, Houston is #1 (year after year) and Chicago is #2...

A few photos...

Finish line ahead!  I loved all the flags as the Olympic Trials were the next day, so there were a lot more flags than I remember from years past, if at all.

Taken from inside the GRB as I was going up the escalator

I really liked this hanging Nike swoosh!

Brought tears to my eyes!  Low!  Low!  Low!

Loved these guys!  Had a chocolate fountain, and were giving out samples of Ghiradelli squares as well as little pretzel sticks with a huge marshmallow dipped in chocolate!

New sticker...

Bill and Joan on stage answering questions from the crowd and handing out advice.  Bill is NOT sleeping.  :)  I actually took a few photos, but they came out as looking awkward.

Hate this picture of me but Joan and CG are in it, so I love it  :)  wtf hair???

My marathon bib signed by Joan Benoit Samuelson!!!!

Marathon Morning with Nugget

My friend Melissa just sent this photo and I thought it was cuteness!

Nugget apparently really wasn't into having his picture taken at 4am.  :)

Chevron Houston Marathon - The Recap

...and it shall be minimal.  Maybe.  :O)

Not a course PR, not a distance PR.

As I close out my marathoning days, my 26.2 PR shall remain at 4:42.  I have had 4:20-4:30 in me twice.  Before Chicago 2010 and this one...but with one weather got me and the other...well my leg/foot got me (along with the weather; it got hot yesterday with full sun).  Thankfully today the foot is better, but the calf, not so much...its moved also to the Achilles...ugh.  Anyway...

From the start of yesterdays marathon, I was so ready.  I felt SO good.  Yes 2 days prior, my left calf (the outer part of it) had begun to feel 'ouchy' when I ran the last two short runs on Thurs and Fri but I kept taking ibuprofen to deaden it and that helped, so I didn't give it too much thought.  However when it started kicking in during the race and kept getting worse, I knew that eventually it was going to just cave, I just didn't know when.

I was running 10:20's like I should, most times running closer to 10, but then when I would see my lap pace under 10:20, I would slow down until it settled in where it should.  A few times I was at 10:30 or so and was fine with that too.

And I was walking every single water stop whether or not I took water or not.  I never once took Gatorade, and probably should have since once it started getting warm I could feel the salt residue on me.  It was indeed much lower humidity than I ever remember at any marathon I've ever done except for Chicago 2010 when by the time I finished my shorts were literally stiff from the amount of salt that had built up in them.

The crowds were SPECTACULAR this year, and I wonder how much all the television coverage all week of the Olympic Trials and the marathon were being showcased.  I am certain it had something to do with it.  Once you pass the half marathon turn, its usually scarce in some places, but yesterday I don't remember a place where it was scarce at all.  Other than that tiny bit of road after the Westpark Bridge and before you get to Richmond.

I knew by the clocks near the timing mats along the course that between my watch and that clock was about 5-6 minutes, but then when I stopped at 17.5 for about 5 minutes (not sure on that) when I saw the timing clocks again, I had switched to intervals and now had no idea of the differential.  If I remember correctly at around mile 24 or so, I saw the timing clock at 4:38, or maybe it was just before 24, can't remember now, but I knew I would be cutting it close to still come in under 5 hours.

I mean I had stopped for a potty break at 16, then with my family at 17.5, then maybe around 19 or so to stretch my calf/Achilles, then along Memorial at a med tent to ask to have my calf taped up, and then the DNF discussion at 22...I mean thats a LOT of time that I had stopped...and how much time had I really taken?

I was clueless, but when I did see that 4:38 part of me thought 'shit, I shouldnt have spent so much time talking...but then I would think how much it meant to me to spend that time with them...

When I got to that last part of the course, just before you get into downtown, where you see the overhead sign that says "1.5 miles to go", I knew everything was going to be OK and that I was indeed going to finish this thing, gimpy leg or not.  And whether or not I had to pay for it for a few days afterwards no longer mattered.

I also picked it up a bit, ignoring the beep that told me it was time for that 1 minute walk.  Before I even reached the last left hand turn where I knew the finish line hoopla would be awaiting me, I started fist pumping and 'Ryan Hall-ing' it (if you've never seen Ryan Hall hype up the crowd at the finish of a great race, you wont know what I am talking about), but for me, just like Ryan Hall, it made the crowds closer to the fence go nuts and I loved every minute of it.  I ran that last bit like my life depended on it and I wanted to go out with a bang...

Now I am super glad I ignored the beeps and ran my heart out at the end, otherwise it would have been over 5 and while I still would have been OK with that, I am glad that I haven't seen a '5' in my marathon finish times since that first one back in January 2007.  :O)

Much much more to come....So many pictures and so many blog posts with such a phenomenal weekend, that I just have to parcel it out!

Melissa and I...ready to rock and roll.  Thanks to Lukes Locker for the outfit (trying to get me to be a Nike girl again and not Lululemon :)  Ladybug was my sisters nickname for my Momma, so that is why I honored BOTH of them on my bib for Houston.  :O)  They were and ARE truly wonderful women and I feel blessed beyond blessed that I come from such good stock.  :)  ALSO, I had met Joan Benoit Samuelson on Friday and she signed my bib!!! 

It's Finally Over :O)

I'm in pretty bad shape.

I wanted to DNF at 22, but mi familia wouldn't let me.

Was on 4:30 pace through 15 or so, then the left leg just gave out.

Stopped at 17.5 for about 5 min to visit with family.  And again at mile 22 where I had the 'discussion' of dnf'ing.

Started 7/1's at around mile 19 I guess it was.

Still finished sub 5, and I'm ok going out like that.  I had no idea what my time was since I switched the watch over to intervals...so I am actually shocked (and pleased) that I did that.  I saw the clock at the end and I knew it was gonna be close....

5 years ago I ran Houston Marathon.  It was my first marathon and I'm closing it out with 8.

My marathon days are over.

From here on out its half marathons...and distances shorter than that :)

My next goal is to get that sub 2 hour half marathon.  I KNOW that had I been doing the half today I would have come oh so close to that.  I felt great, and the weather was perfect early on (not so much later...)

I give thanks to my family for supporting me out there today, otherwise I know I would have just tossed in the towel probably earlier than mile 22.  My leg is done-zo and like I said, I'm in pretty bad shape, but I know in a few days, I'll be fine...

Here is a picture one of my friends snapped of me in University, and where I was still rockin' and rollin'...

Hang It Up

Chevron Houston Marathon 2012 is in the books

And now I shall dip my marathon shoes in gold...and hang them up for a while...  :)

Not to fear, running and racing shall still be taking place, probably actually more races than ever before since its easier to train to go faster for shorter distances and allows me to actually race more...and I miss doing all the races locally in the Spring and Fall!!!

Anyway, you get the picture...and I couldn't be more excited about it!!!

Full race recap of the marathon will be posted...first I rest...and eat...and drink...

Winner!!!

Weekend Motivation!!!!

Well interwebz peoples that read this blog, the weekend has arrived and I am beyond excited!!!!

I am probably more excited about the Olympic Marathon Trials that are here, and that will be taking place right in front of my face tomorrow morning!!! 

Its just going to be an amazing weekend no matter what happens out there (to me) on Sunday!!!

(I am actually typing this out on Wednesday for a scheduled posting since I am going to be busy busy busy on Friday morning working on Trials volunteer stuff and then hitting up the Expo (probably there now!), but I have to say that my spirits are high, my body feels grrrrrrrrrreat and I have an overwhelming sense of optimism for this 'last marathon for a while'...I plan on going out kicking and screaming!!!)

Just thought this one was funny...cute...