NADINE SCHOENECK

Motorola Austin Marathon 2000

Hi runners,

Making history is rare ware, but my first Marathon on February 20, 2000 now belongs to personal history. And since it is hard to be festive alone, I would like to let you know some of these storms in my brain I had before, during, and after the race...

History is path-dependent; as an exchange student from Germany, I arrived in Austin at the beginning of August 1999. Just a few days later, while discovering the TEXAS UNION, I saw Tim's notice at the bulletin board. I had been running for many years, but mainly to stay fit. Tim's "invitation" sounded promising, and I started training with the group on Wednesdays. (I remember the first Wednesdays in August and September - it was so unbelievable hot and humid! We enjoyed drinking cold water at the Capitol...!)

Although clearly convinced of the AUSTIN FIT PROGRAM's usefulness, I decided not to join it. As an exchange student, I wished to get to know so many different and exciting things in and around Austin... Well, in retrospect, I regret my decision at that time since I guess your training was far more sophisticated than mine, and you had a lot more fun training together than I had, running most of the time on my own.

During winter vacation, which I spent in snowy Germany, I ran four long distances (20k - 25k - 30k - 35k), and my Daddy accompanied me and gave me helpful running tips (he is an enxperienced ultrarunner). Still in Germany, when I got a third degree burn on my left leg, caused by a hot water bottle, I felt so shocked after an ambulant surgery... no chance to run my first Marathon in February?!

But thanks to the University Health Services, that continued the medical treatment when I came back to Austin, I WAS ABLE TO DO IT!

A few days before the Marathon, Amy told me about a potential "secret goal", the 3:40, which would qualify young female runners for the Boston Marathon. Actually, my goal had been - just running, just surviving! If possible, in less than four hours.

At the RUNNER'S EXPO I saw these pace bands - what a big temptation!!! I purchased one for 3:40... although this act didn't match my former goals ... I was a little bit afraid of being too much under pressure ... without any experience with respect to the 26.2 miles!

I started running the Marathon with Amy and her friend, but soon I realized they were too fast for me. For a while, I ran alone waiting for the 3:40 pace group that were behind us at the start. An experienced lady running her eighth Marathon offered me to run with her, and if I would be able to stay with her, we could do it in about 3:35... another big temptation! Compared to the pace band I had on my left arm, we gained time mile for mile... at the Half-Marathon, we were about seven minutes faster than supposed to be. And the 3:40 pace group was still behind us.

But, unfortunately, it turned out that it was definitely too fast for me! -I was no longer able to run with her... obviously, I wasn't well-trained enough for that pace. Okay, I decided to try my best running alone.

Indeed, three quarters of the whole distance, I kept pace with my pace band ... I experienced "the big slump" during the last 10k, when, eventually, the 3:40 pace group passed me - I started becoming so exhausted that I ran with half-closed eyes, enjoying every mile-station where I WALKED while drinking water or Powerade or water and Powerade (before I RAN while drinking, of course). The length of the walking periods grew as much as my exhaustion grew... at mile 25, I grabbed a cup with beer without noticing that it was beer which I normally don't drink ... I drank it and thought... wow, this seems to be a new version of Powerade, delicious! While my eyes were closed, I listened to some other runners talking ... "what a nice idea to offer beer for the last mile!" SHOCKING!

I reached the finish line after 3:50:51- rank 27 (out of 155) in my age group "female 20 - 24". Too slow for Boston, but too happy to give up!

I have already decided - I will continue running Marathons, even in rainy Germany since I have to go back in this summer.

I am seriously thinking about San Diego in June ... and I would be really happy to see some of you for a Marathon somewhere in Western Europe! Of course, I promise you to help you as much as I can!

TIM - and the whole TEXAS MARATHON TEAM: Thank you very much!!!

Keep in touch & keep running, congrats to all who did it, too!

Nadine Schoeneck