Question:
Interested in knowing if anyone will be running the upcoming Austin
Marathon?
After the disaster at the Houston Marathon (hot/humid), Austin may be a way
of recouping losses. Anyone run the course? I hear it's hilly but generally
all down hill, or thats what they would leave you to believe from viewing
their WEB site.
Still think I may give it a go.
Answer:I did that last year, Austin after Houston. I was planning on
doing this year too (see comment about Houston !), but I have to pass as I
injured myself falling from my bike 3 days after Houston Marathon and had
to not run for a full two weeks :-((((.
BUT, Austin was great last year. The weather was perfect, the
course is extremly good. I did not feel any hill until the last mile
(where I was a little tired). When I looked back at it, I could hardly see
an incline ! So it is true, it is mostly downhill, with only one short
steep (sp?) slope. I will miss not doing it again this year. Last year, I
did 3:42 in Houston and 3:29 in Austin. My best Marathon ever...
I'm running it this year. I ran it in '96 (same course as this year) and it is
a net drop in altitude but there are some rolling hills to contend with, some
overpasses. Austin has probably the best post-race party I've ever been to (at
least in '96). Weather can be sub-freezing to 75 deg. It's also listed as
one of the 10 fastest marathon courses in the USA in last months Runners World.
If youre looking for 'fast' I dont think you'll be disappointed!
