MISTIE HOUSEHOLTER

Motorola Austin Marathon 2000

Runners and other passerbys,

Gosh- where to start, I guess with the beginning of the "idea." The idea came to me one day when I got an e-mail from Tim asking about tips on how to run a club (Marsha, Anna and I had recently taken over Stampede- The Texas Running Club). I didn't have much to say but good luck and can I join. I just thought I would run a little and see what marathons are all about, I didn't actually think I would be running one.

I always had the notion that marathons were for Olympic caliber athletes I saw run 5 minute miles and that running that far was absurd and people that did it would throw-up and die. My freshman year in college I did a paper and the thesis was that marathon running should be considered an extreme sport- so I had the notion running that far was crazy. I had only previously done about 12 5ks, 2 10ks and numerous high school races. I had been running for about 7 years and had the marathon on my chart of things to do before I die (along with completing the Hawaii Ironman Triathlon, riding in a hot air balloon and marrying Tom Cruise).

So I went to the first meeting (that I could make it to) and I was psyched about the enthusiasm, that is when I took it seriously. Everything from last semester is almost a blur. My first race (the downtown 10K) was a bummer. …. over Christmas break I ran almost all of the prescribed runs and did 15 miles on my own. (which is amazing running around a town smaller than the UT campus), but I ran on the highway's service road and by the lake. After the break I was even more pumped. I did the 21 miler and loved it. I started slowly and midway found Anna and Ed, who sped me up. The entire run felt great and I was amazed at how swiftly it had gone.

Then the 3M Half Marathon (which I still have a closet full of handy, household accessories from) which I ran with Geoff. Geoff: you're awesome! He was so much fun to run with. We even made up a chant to scream at the supporters: "Burnt orange runners, not maroon. Unlike them we'll finish soon." I had so much fun during that race.

Then on to "the big one." Anna, Marsha and I bought matching running shirts and I was pumped in my orange nail polish and spaghetti filled stomach. The morning of came and I was very nervous. I couldn't believe I was there, I just knew something bad was going to happen because great accomplishments like this don't come very often.

But it all went off without a hitch- I finished. Sure I ran an uneven race (starting with 8:36's and ending with 9:11's) but I will improve on that later. I had a blast and still can't believe I am a newfound marathoner. I will never again think anything is impossible.

Thank you Anna for running that first 14 with me- you are an awesome runner. Thanks to Karthik who was there telling me to push myself when my quad's were killing me around mile 22. Thanks to the water people who gave me an excuse to walk at the water stops. Thanks to the chip remover for not making me bend down to take the chip off my shoe when I was lucky enough to be standing up. Thanks to the "silver blanket" people for keeping me warm. Thanks to the medal givers for the medal that felt like it weighed 50 pounds around my tired neck. And most of all thanks to each and every one of you (TMTT, Austin Fit and anyone else) for being so great. Runners are cool people, no matter how crazy people say we are for having fun running 26.2, you are cool. Special thanks to Tim, Karthik, etc for putting the team together and giving me the confidence to run this race. Thanks to everyone for the awesome experience and good luck to all of you in all of your ventures . . . "I love you guys."

Mistie Householter

Quote to live life by: "What doesn't kill you only makes you stronger."