Austin (Half) Marathon

Photos tomorrow, but this morning I ran (and completed) the Austin Half Marathon. Yesterday was a cold, rainy day, but today was clear, dry, and about 45 degrees at the start. I've never run as far as 13.1 miles, so this was a first. I ran 2:12 which isn't necessarily great (slighly over 10 minute miles) but given the hills and the first-time nature it was ok. I had some more left in the tank and probably could have gone a few more miles (or pushed the 13 harder than I did). Lesson for next time.

The course was pretty interesting, going through a diversity of neighborhoods. One of the biggest challenges was that it goes nine mexican restaurants that I counted, every one of which was getting breakfast ready. Oy. There were local bands at just about every half-mile mark, including "Holy Hand Grenade," a band sponsored by the Austin School of Music Rock Camp (our very own "School of Rock"). Weird seeing a bunch of 10 year olds rocking out next to the broken beer bottles under the bridge at Lamar and Cesar Chavez. They also had a Happy Hands club a la Napoleon Dynamite (actually it was a group called Manos de Cristo, but if your group does sweet organized hand movements, you're a Happy Hands Club).

Dad came up and helped me. He hung onto my sweats and so forth, and helped me get to the starting line and go home after. Oh, we passed by the new Hillary Clinton headquarters in South Austin Saturday night on our way to eat-hope they let Dad back into Kingwood without being quarantined. As usual, he was taken aback by the Austin scene, pointing out for example guys his age riding skateboards. Mom used to notice that stuff too. She loved coming here-to her it was like going to the zoo and watching the funny animals. That kind of stuff just rolls over me now. I notice it about the same way I can't remember what color my refrigerator is.

Coming up-more races, Easter, Jazz Fest in early May.