After 65 marathons, runner finally reaches under three-hour goal

By Brom Hoban
AMERICAN-STATESMAN CORRESPONDENT
Tuesday, February 26, 2008

Most runners hoping to break three hours in a marathon might try a few times before deciding to pursue other goals or adjusting their expectations.

But not Frank Livaudais.

After six years and 65 marathons, he achieved his goal at the AT&T Austin Marathon, posting a fine 2:58:15 on the challenging course.

Livaudais, a 33-year-old triathlete who is traveling the country en route to completing a marathon in every state, has never been one to take the easy route or back down from a challenge.

"For a long time, I was more into just trying more difficult runs like Pikes Peak Marathon in Colorado and the Grandfather Mountain Marathon in North Carolina," said Livaudais, who also has competed in five ultramarathons.

But all along, he hoped for that sub-three, and he wanted to do it in Austin.

Though breaking the three-hour mark does not confer elite status, it isn't easy. It requires an average of 6 minutes, 50 seconds per mile over 26.2 miles.

"I thought I'd have a shot at last year's AT&T, but when I hit that hill on 38th Street, I blew up and ended up with a 3:02:09," he said.

He came close again last November at the Sun Trust Marathon in Richmond, Va., missing by 49 seconds.

"In Austin, a big factor was the weather," he said of this month's race. "It was perfect. And I think I was just ready. I was really going for it. I actually liked the hills. I'm a really strong uphill runner, and do OK on the downhills as well. So for me, a rolling course just works out better."

And while breaking three has always been an important goal, running marathons all over the country is the real adventure. Along the way, Livaudais has done back-to-back weekend marathons five times.

In 2007 alone, he ran 18 marathons. So far, Livaudais has completed marathons in 37 of the 50 states.

His training is remarkably light. He averages a marathon a month as his long run and only gets in 30 miles a week. His job as senior director of engineering at Interwoven Inc., a content-management company, requires him to travel 100,000 miles a year, which certainly eats into training.

"If you run a marathon a month, you'll stay in shape," he said.

"I'd still like to break three again," he added. "But really, I look for more interesting or challenging courses. The journey is the fun part."

Upcoming local races

St. James Missions 5K Run/Walk:9 a.m. Saturday, 3417 E. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., (512) 926-5097, www.stjamescmbc.org.

Texas Independence Day 5K Run: 9 a.m. Saturday, downtown Austin (512) 804-8983, www.runtex.com.

Hendrickson Hawk Hustle Hometown 5K: 4 p.m. Saturday, Hendrickson High School in Pflugerville, www.pflugervilleisd.net/HHS.

Rodeo Rumble 5K:8 a.m. Saturday, Travis County Expo Center, (512) 919-3000, www.rodeoaustin.com.

ARA Moe's Better Half Marathon and CASA 5K: 7 a.m. Sunday, Tanger Outlet Center in San Marcos, (512) 396-2584.