You know how kids can’t sleep the night before the first day of school, or Christmas, or a dentist appointment? Well, we slept like rocks the night before we left for our weekend in Houston for the Chevron Houston Marathon (and Half Marathon, and 5k). In fact, I slept so well that I was able to go running Friday morning with my ladies at 6:30am, then come back and pack the bags and car before picking up Friend Cody for the ride. Adventures are better with friends, and the weekend was going to be nothing short of an adventure for sure.
I had the option to run the 5k, and I considered it for a hot minute. I have run with the baby in my Tula, and even most recently with her in the stroller, but I decided to spend the weekend in true spectator fashion and give all the running glory to Jonathan, who would be completing his first ever marathon!
Packet Pickup
The only thing to say about the Packet Pickup is “Damn, this place runs like a well oiled machine.” After participating in quite a few packet events myself, both as a participant and a volunteer, I can truly say I have never seen anything run so efficient, with so much potential for chaos.
There was no Race Day Packet Pickup, which stressed me out at first (and I’m not even running) because “What if we can’t go early?”, but it was so worth going early. The day after we went, although still extremely efficient, was shoulder to shoulder jam packed. At least that’s what I was told- we didn’t need to go back upstairs!
Thankfully, because we arrived mid-afternoon there was essentially no lines anywhere. We took the elevator to the third floor, and the guys waited in each line (5k and Full). The row was extended all the way to the back of the convention center, and labeled by bib numbers. Runners had to scan their confirmation email then show photo ID. Only then did they get their bib. It was so smooth.
Expo
We dove in face first and started making laps around the expo. First, the guys picked up both of their participation shirts (5k and Full). Then Jonathan stopped by the Run for a Reason tent to pick up his special swag. Then we weaved in and out through the well balanced aisles of free samples, merch, clearance sellouts, information booths, and more free samples. The guys literally filled up their swag bags! And I bought a tee shirt that satisfies both my inner pirate and outer runner.
There are only three things guaranteed in life- A PR at your first race, taxes, and death.
— Calum Neff @ Expo Presentation
I was really excited when I saw the list of presenters. Calum Neff, a local celebrity who had broken not one but two world records for running with a stroller, would be speaking. I struggle with the running thing, let alone running with a stroller. And Charlotte-Ann struggles with the stroller thing, let alone the letting Mom push her in a stroller. So needless to say we will never be attempting his feats. But it is still incredibly inspiring to know we have a running right up the road (ok, 2 hours away) who shattered two world records for running with a stroller. Even more, he broke his first world record at a race I had mentioned wanting to run (biggest. regret. ever.). I kept checking my watch and as soon as it was time for him to speak I basically ran to the stage to listen. He really inspires me to do my best and run however possible, and not to let CA get in the way of my running goals.
ABB 5K
What’s a better warm-up than a 5k run at race pace? A 5k run at race pace! A lot of the runners from Golden Triangle Strutters were sticking together back at the 10:00 minute/mile pace group, but Jonathan decided to take an easy but strong run with the 8:00 minute/milers.
The wheelchair athletes took off 10 minutes early, and they literally took off. These athletes are incredible, and certainly not “disabled” by any means. There were Paralympic winners and world champions. Totally incredible.
When the gun went off I looked for the guy with a blue shirt and blue hat. Jonathan was probably the 64th man to pass me with a blue shirt and blue hat. Apparently this is the color combo of choice, which actually should have been expected since the Marathon shirt is blue, as are the hats.
Of course he got ahead of himself and ran a steady 7:30 instead, and finished the ABB 5k in exactly 23 minutes. The humidity was high, but the report back was that it felt great.
So what’d you do before the race? Oh, we launched air missiles across the room.
We have so many Bam Bams from the expo, I shouldn’t have been surprised that they were all blown up and tossed around the hotel room. Nope, never surprised.
Chevron Marathon
What. A. Whirlwind.
I didn’t run. Truth be told, I will probably never run a marathon, but I will definitely be on the sidelines again. The night before the Big Race we went out to dinner with the rest of the Strutters. A couple came up to our table and the wife told us she’d be cheering from her house, and gave us her address. Seriously, she was so excited to see so many runners. The local support is incredible.
After dropping off the boys, Gingercakes and I met up with No Excuse Mama and her toddler son to cheer them on. We worked our way about 5 blocks from the start line. The gun went off at exactly 7:00, to the second. They run a tight ship. Jon and his pace gang (Jason/JH and Virginia/VL) were in Corral A, but we honestly never saw them go by. It took 39 minutes for every runner to go by. That’s how many there were, from corrals A through E.
It turns out that Jon, JH, and VL were still in line for the porta potties when the gun went off. Before that, the officials opened the gate for Corral B and ushered them into their corral. This hit a nerve with them, since they had applied for corral A, and witnessed a double amputee get turned away at the Corral A gate for being a moment too late. Yet the corral B folks were randomly allowed in? Not fair.
We had originally planned on hopping around and watching the gang pass from a few locations, but we ended up just going to the 25K/16 mile mark. The trifecta had split up by then so we sat on the sidelines and cheered for quite some time. The energy level was amazing. VL came through first, which we expected. She was discouraged and not happy. Jonathan came through next, with his shirt up around his neck. I offered to take his shirt (he usually runs shirtless) but his mind wasn’t prepared for that. He regrets not giving it to me looking back. JH came through a bit later and was struggling as well. There was a yellow flag on the course which urged the runners to proceed with caution. The temp was over 70 with a 95% humidity. This was not the race to PR at.
We worked our way back to the finish line (after cheering for a few more Strutters/Striders). All along I had been tracking Jonathan’s splits on the official app. He had originally been projected to finish at 3:28 (his goal was 3:30) but with the conditions he bumped back to 3:45ish (this was actually his first goal, until his last long training run). He was set to come through the finish line in 4 minutes when all of a sudden the sky opened and it began to torrential downpour. I was about to go inside and wait when No Excuse Mama promptly shot down that idea. She had been running with Jon in the mornings and helped him train, and she was determined to see him come through the finish line. So we worked our way from the tree we were hiding under to the side line and watched as Jonathan came through the finish line, at an amazing 3:47:36 time. First time marathon in yellow flag conditions, there’s really no complaints!
Run for a Reason
One of the final thoughts that crossed Jonathan’s mind before finally committing to run was the Run for a Reason charity bib program, which allows a runner to raise money for a charity of choice in exchange for guaranteed entry, special access to parts of the convention center, a charity tee shirt to represent, and of course the pride from being an altruistic being. Jonathan had seen the Epilepsy Foundation of Texas was an official charity and he realized he could honor his late father (who passed from complications of epilepsy, potentially side effects of epilepsy meds) who was a runner and inspired Jonathan to run. Read more about this story, and donate, here.
Unfortunately, we never found the Epilepsy Foundation for Texas crew. Jonathan really wanted to meet the volunteers, say hi, and express his appreciation for the program. The first day at the Expo we asked two volunteers, who couldn’t find their booth on the map. Then we went to the RFAR booth, and they told us Epilepsy Foundation wouldn’t be there until Sunday. But then that night we saw they had posted a picture on Instagram and said “come see us and say hi”. So Saturday we went back and asked another guide volunteer, and returned to the RFAR booth (and even showed them the picture). They reassured us there was no booth. Sunday I searched the Discovery Green in where all the charities had tents set up; I went to every purple tent first, then the white ones. No Epilepsy Foundation! Jon was very discouraged, but thankfully the runners high and torrential downpour flushed it out and replaced it with joy.