The Grand Finale

OK, so, I've left just the last I left the half marathoners at 12.5 and the marathoners at 25.4 or so, both at 15th and San Jacinto, where the courses rejoin each other. Clearly, you won't rally be reuniting at this point, but we've run this entire season as a team, sharing the experience of training, differentiated only by numbers here and there. When you get to this point, get it in your head that we're all back together here at this intersection as a team, and we're all heading for home.

You have this one last hill, but it's nothing, and you have, at most, a couple of laps of the track left. When Phillip and I ran Austin in 2006, the first for both of us, this hill was at mile 20 or so, which sucked severely.

And now, at the end of your race, you can't let it slow you down. Form form form, strong strong strong. At the top, you turn right onto 11th, and you get a downhill. Let it take you. Be careful and in control, because you'll likely be a little tight at this point.

Left turn on Congress, and it's glory time. Mandy's band is to the right, the crowds are all around, and let me tell you, they love to see a good finish, whether it's for first or four thousandth. You sped up coming down the hill - hold that pace coming out of the turn.

The finish line is closer this year - nice, right? It's about in front of Kellie's building, I think, just short of 9th Street. When you hit 10th, kick it up a notch. Adrenaline can even knock out cramps and a good deal of pain. Start picking runners in front of you and passing them, one by one. Run fast by being quick and relaxed - more like strides (not you, Laura) than sprinting - if you try to push yourself too hard, you risk pulling a hamstring or something. Stay relaxed and in control, and just finish strong. Run all the way through the finish, and get yer damned shiny, shiny medal.

OK, so of course, I've got more to say. I'll save some of it for race morning. For now, it's enough to say that you are ready for this race. You've put in the time and the work, and yeah, I'll put our training up against anyone's. It's taken a village - you've gotten what great coaches taught me, and some of the great coaches in Austin have been there for me when I had questions or needed help. You're a product of the absolute best of the Austin running community, in terms of experience and knowledge, and in terms of heart and soul - you came into this group understanding that we don't do elitist, we don't do uppity, we don't do rude, and we know the difference between being a team and having a mob mentality.

You're a product of each other's support, and each other's experiences, successes, mistakes, good runs and bad runs.

And who you are now is obviously a product of the work you've put in, and of the goals and hopes that made you take this task on, have gotten you through the tough workouts and moments of doubt, and have gotten you here, ready to get to the starting line.

Ultimately, I'm proud of the product, of you all as runners, but I am even more proud of all those things that shaped you. Times, distance run, even Boston or Olympic qualifying, are all inadequate measures of an individual, of their will and their character. "The will to win is nothing without the will to prepare." Running 13.1 miles or 26.2 miles is a stunt - an impressive one, but just a stunt. But training as you have, and committing to make the hard choices to do your best, is an accomplishment and a true testament to your character. And, I believe that it is impossible for that not to affect the rest of your life, and the people around you.

That's the point of it all, for me, and I hope for you. Have fun with the run Sunday - you've all earned it.