Home > Get Out! > Archives > 2008 > February > 15
Friday, February 15, 2008
Meet a first-time marathoner
With the AT&T Austin Marathon coming up this weekend, I went out and interviewed a first-time runner to hear his thoughts on the race.
Jeff Hahn is part of the team at TateAustinHahn, a local public relations firm that has, for the past few years, promoted the marathon. This year, Jeff is taking himself to the other side of the tape and is actually planning to participate. As a first-timer, he had a lot to say about training, what it’s like to be completing his first long race, and the transition from running the event to running in it.
Get Out!: This is your first marathon. What was your inspiration for actually running in the race this year?
Jeff Hahn: This past August we lost one of our long-time friends and a founder of the Austin marathon, David Doolittle, to cancer. I worked with David on the organizing committee of the race for many years, and even though I had talked about running in past races, David always told me that he needed me to work the race, then he’d go off and run it! So this year, since he can’t be here, I’ll be running with his number and getting him across the finish line one more time.
What was your training schedule like?
I started Sept. 1 with the Rogue Training group. Joining the Rogue program was a good decision because there are just so many things you don’t know about the marathon, from “How much should I drink during the race” to “What’s wrong with my knee?” Saturday long runs were combined with workouts every Tuesday morning at 5:30. It was tough, but my Rogue coach, Scott Carden, and my wife Laurie, who has done a dozen marathons and four IronMans, were invaluable along the way. Turns out that even though it looks like an individual sport, it takes a whole team of people to support you through a successful training program.
Have you done any shorter warm-up events?
Well, this year I’ve done most of the Austin Distance Challenge, including the Marathon Relay, the Uptown Classic, the brutal Decker run, and the 3M Half-Marathon. But prior to this year, my most recent runs of any distance were more than 20 years ago when I was in the military. I was really starting from scratch.
The good news for me is that for the past 14 years, I’ve worked both the start and finish lines of the race, and I’ve seen firsthand that people you would never suspect could finish a marathon, do just that. So I’ve kept those pictures in my head across all the races leading up to the AT&T Austin Marathon.
How does it feel knowing that this is an event which you usually plan? Will completing it have special meaning for you since you’re so close to the event itself?
I think I’ll feel relieved, mostly. To some extent, I’ve always felt indebted to all the runners who put everything they’ve got into our race every year. I’ve been lucky to be able to listen to their stories and then see them stream through the finish line. And I’ve always wanted to be able to join them on their side. It’ll feel, I think, like I’m paying them all back just a little bit for the years they’ve come to our race and used it as their own moment in time to do something remarkable.
What advice do you have for other first-time marathoners out there, and for people just thinking about entering their first races?
I guess I think everyone has a story … I think that’s important for a first-timer. Find a story to build your running on. Write some new chapters as you’re running through hard, cold, wet, uphill training runs. Maybe think about how your legs are really pounding on a keyboard with every step, helping create the next sentences. Then think about how the marathon is going to be a defining moment in your book. Above all else, if you’ve got a story, don’t let it escape you. Put it into motion and do take the first step.
Best of luck to Jeff and all the other runners this weekend!
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment
26 miles of fun
A short time ago, I wrote about the upcoming AT&T Austin Marathon.
Well, time has slipped by, and the race is fast approaching. In fact, it’s taking place this weekend, with the starter’s gun scheduled to go off at 7 a.m. Sunday. If you’d wanted to run, I hope you’re registered. I spoke with race director John Conley, and he let me know that both the full marathon and half marathon events are booked solid, with more than 13,000 paid registrations to date. That means that if you just realized you want to participate, it will have to be as a spectator. But don’t fret - this race promises plenty for runners and non-runners alike, and Sunday’s event promises to offer enough to keep even the most frenetic of fans engaged and satisfied.
Here’s a list of great things to do on race weekend if you’re not planning on running:
Saddle up at a comfy spot and watch the runners go by. Race organizers have set aside a number of primo spots all over town for spectators and amateur photographers, including the intersections of Barton Springs Road and Congress Avenue, Lavaca and Second streets, 15th and San Antonio streets, and the UT intramural fields at 51st and Guadalupe streets. Who knows - you might even snap yourself a shot of Gov. Rick Perry racing by!
Rock out to one of the 42 live bands playing along the route. There’s plenty out there for every taste, from rock to ska to DJs to high school bands, and one-time Austin tastemakers Fastball (remember that radio hit “The Way”?) will be rocking out at the finish line just as the weekend warriors start rolling in. The race Web site, www.attaustinmarathon.com, has all the info you need to get your jam on.
Cheer on your favorite team. This year’s event sports an innovative team system - rather than award all the prize money to the top individual finishers, the race organizers have decided to establish an Olympic-style international team purse. Runners from five nations - the U.S., Canada, the U.K., and the African nations of Kenya and Malawi - will be squaring off to race for the crown, as well as the $15,000 cash prize earmarked for the winners. Who’s your top pick? Be vocal!
Volunteer! Dozens of local nonprofits are running themed booths and water stations through the marathon’s “26 Miles for 26 Charities” route. The race organizers are hoping to enlist the help of up to 1,200 generous locals to help the event go off without a hitch, and you can sign up to work at any time from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m., doing everything from set-up to tear-down. Again, check the Web site.
That’s it, race fans! Get ready for another great edition of the Austin marathon.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment Categories: Running
