Retrospective Race Report
I had run 4 marathons, never cracking sub-4 hours. I was still spooked by the crash at my first marathon of going out too fast.
I had also wanted to run Houston Marathon as my first marathon. But they had a lottery system in 2011, and I was not selected. Instead, I ran USA Fit Marathon that year.
They still had a lottery in 2012, but my 2011 Houston Half time of 1:48 got me in.
By this time, I also had read Ultramarathon Man and was planning on my first ultra at Grasslands 50 Miler. So instead of Houston being my focus race, I was running this as one step in that journey.
For some reason, despite my fear of going out too fast, I started off at 8-minute miles. Somehow, I managed to hold on to that.
I mainly remember getting to Memorial Park around mile 20 and feeling like I could hold the pace.
Then, I remember in the last mile or so pushing it and passing people as I made to to the George R. Brown Convention Center.
As of 2025 when I am writing this, I have never come anywhere close to running as fast for the marathon and it is the only time I broke 4 hours. It is a highlight of my career.
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