OK, I know that I am behind in this post, I did however want to finish it up. I was attempting to provide a daily sanpshot of the events for my half-marathon in Austin. The day of the race was pretty exciting. Linda and I had to get up really early, the race started at 7am and they wanted us to start getting to the starting area around 6am. I always find that coffee is the best thing to start the morning with on race day and today was no exception. We then started our way to the starting point, the good news was that our hotel was only about 1/2 mile walk so we did not have to deal with transportation issues. There was however a bigger issue, it was really pretty cold - probably around 35. I was not quite sure how to dress knowing that it would warm up when the sun started to rise. I decided to keep my shorts on which would turn out to be the wrong decision. The starting line was on the Congress Ave. bridge, there were thousands of people in the starting zone, there were hundreds of restrooms and the lines were really long. It was still dark, but the background of the city lights helped - it was pretty energized. 
We met some really nice folks while we were waiting, a father /son team, a couple of kids from one of the nearby military bases and some kids from UT. I find it really neat to just talk with folks prior to a race. Linda decided to go back to the hotel, while I got in line for the race. We all gathered on the bridge, they played the National Anthem and at some point the starting gun sounded, not before a really nice fireworks display. It took me about 8 or 9 minutes to get to the starting line, but we were off. It was really cold and my thighs were frozen and they never warmed up (thus the result of the shorts decision) It was a pretty tough race, there were lots of hills after mile 7 and they seemed to never end. I ended up walking up a couple of the longer ones at the end. The last big hill ended up on the back side of the capital. We rounded the capital and then we were on Congress street. You could see the end and it was pretty flat to get there. All I can remember was being focused on the end. Linda said she was yelling at me, I did not see nor hear her, but I was glad she was there. 
Getting to the end was really cool, I was really tired and having a little trouble breathing, but I knew I had finished something that I really worked hard for and I was elated. I went to the area where runners gather after race to get some food. I sat with a fellow and just rested and talked. I caught up with Linda right outside that area and we went back to the hotel so I could get cleaned up. We spent the rest of the day with my sister and her son visiting some of the local pubs in Austin, eating and just relaxing. The race went on for several more hours. I went back to watch other runners come in. It is so neat to see each one of them finish, you know that they all have a story as to how they got there. You also know that something drove them to train and put themselves out there. Running is an individual sport, you simply go out to be faster or longer then you were before. You train for weeks with a goal in mind and then you execute against that goal. We had a great time in Austin, and I am planning on going back next year for the race - I hope to have a better time and maybe, just maybe I might be running the full marathon at that time.
At the time I am writing this, I have also completed the Atlanta Half Marathon which I will provide more detail on in my next entry. I hope to get caught up soon because I have to start training again, not sure for what yet, but I have to start again. Later
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