Done! - 2008 ATT Austin Marathon

I finished it! And I beat my previous time by 4 minutes! :) Now I have to find another half-marathon to do. I know of the Bear-a-thon that Baylor University in Waco puts on in March, but so far I have done 2 half-marathons in 1 months, I am not sure I can handle 3 in 2 months. Also the Waco course seems a lot harder than the Austin half. And I had quite a bit of trouble after the 9 mile marker. I'll never look at those hills the same again :P
Completion of the half had to be done within 4 hours. My time was 3:46:28.
My goal was to be done in 3:30:00, and I thought I was going to make it until about mile 9, when all the large hills came into play. I trained for an 18 - minute mile and ended up being ahead (according to the Forerunner 305) by 0.54 of a mile. My average min/mile was 15:34 up till mile 7, then it decresed (incresed?) to 16:44 min/mile. Then it changed again to 18:03 after mile 11.
So my average time was a 17:18 min/mile...I think I'll have to check later for sure. I'll write more detail about yesterday when I have a bit more time.

Mapping & Analyzing My Runs

Along with using MapMyRun.com I am also using bimActive.com I am having trouble finding a website that will track my info as well as map my runs. But until that time, I am having to use both websites. Actually bimActive will allow me to map my runs, but for a monthly fee, sorry not helpful for me.

So, here is what bimActice Activity profiles look like - I upload the data straight from the forerunner 305, and it parses the info. This was from a run I did earlier today. I also really like how is shows the weather and what no, as the Garmin program doesn't do that. Also the program doesn't have accurate maps either, so this is a bit better. I like the graphs better in the program though as you can rearrange the data and and make the graph larger if need be.
Okay here it is: (2 pictures, since the web page is longer than my screen):

NOTE: On the graph you see it drop way down & on the splits chart you see a really high pace number, this is because I accidentally created another lap & forgot to delete the info before I uploaded it.

(Click on images to enlarge)



And here is a picture of the Garmin program of the same run:
The Map Screen:
(Click on image to enlarge)



The top right pane also has my totals:
(click on picture to enlarge)



And then here is the course screen (I imported the course in from MapMyRun.com):
(Click on Image to Enlarge)

ATT Austin Half-Marathon in 2 DAYS!!!

I didn't get to run yesterday because I went to take a nap, and didn't wake up till this morning. I woke up late and had to run across campus to turn in a resume for an internship and she said to me as I handed it to her, "Every resume I receive after this is late & doesn't count." I thanked her and left. After getting back, my ankle started to hurt so I iced it. Hopefully with a bit of stretching I can do a short run in just a bit.
I've been using MapMyRun.com to map my runs and then I can export it to my Forerunner 305. Here's a map of the Austin Half that I mapped:

3 Days Till

3 Days Till the Austin Marathon & Half...
*sigh* it's gonna be cold...for me that is. I don't have any pants to wear. due to the large nature of my hips, I have been unable to find any running pants that fit me. Although, I had a sudden revelation yesterday. This past summer when I went to Alaska, I bought Hot Chillys, so I began to think maybe I could wear the top under my shirt (also long sleeve - DriFit). I tried it today and it worked well, I am only afraid that it may make me too warm as the day continues. I may look like a fool tomorrow, but I am gonna try wearing the pants under my shorts when I run tomorrow... hopefully now one will see me lol

Sunday in Austin is supposed to be in the mid forties to the fiftie, but starting about 7am wind up to 25mph are supposed to start, so maybe I won't be too warm...

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I DID IT!

I ran the whole- 1/2 marathon in just under 3 & 1/2 hrs. (3 hrs & 27 minutes). In my opinion, it was the hardest thing I have ever done. But I feel great to have done it & very proud of the medal that now hangs from my wall.

I have had a few laughs the past couple of days when people look at me then read my shirt in shock & ask "You ran a 1/2 marathon?!?" I reply "yep, and it was amazing!" I am by no means an "ideal-looking-runner" & I think people expect that when they hear of people running/walking a 1/2 or full marathon they expect elite-looking runners. I must say I did to until I did it. There were people of all ages, from 18 to 78! There was a girl there that I was greatly surprised to see there, this girl was quite large but to see her jog the whole thing - wow, that's all I can say. Not every one in the half made it that started, but a lot finished (I think as I didn't see many buses of people pass us, a few, but not too many). The amount of people running was enormous. There were somewhere between 30,000 - 33,000 runners for this race alone!

Can't wait to do it next year!

I will post a few pictures of the race later.

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