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Here is my marathon story!! This was my second season with the Austin Fit marathon program and the completion of my fourth marathon. Up until two years ago, the thought of running a marathon was just a *life goal* that would be achieved sometime in the distant future. Up until this point my longest run had been the Capitol 10,000. Like Ricky Green, I was a 400 meter sprinter/hurdler in high school. Long distance running was not part of my vocabulary. After high school, I only ran when someone was chasing me.
My first season with Austin Fit, I ran with the Red Group and we were considered the *fun group.* I am sure that Pat had something to do with that. Like Rich Bussen, I strained my IT Band on a 15 mile training run. I did lots of rest, ice, stretching, and Advil, but I made it to the starting line. Because my longest run occurred 10 weeks before the marathon, I ran the marathon with the red-white group to force me to slow down and walked all the water stops and hills. I finished in 5:21.
This season, I ran with the post marathon group all summer and was ready in August to begin my second season with Austin Fit. I ran with the Yellow Group this year and wouldn*t you know it, we were the *fun group.* This season I was in a lot better condition and ran a trail marathon in November and 50 K in December. This increased training schedule and the birth and care of twin boys in August has kept me very busy this season. I really count my Austin Fit friends as a source of encouragement, joy and fun this season during the long training runs.
I entered this marathon with a goal of 4:30. I finished this marathon in 4:44 with a 37 minute improvement over last year. After finishing 3 marathons in 4 months, I am really glad that I am seeing improvement in my running. Future running goals: Town Lake 50K in March and a summer marathon at a to be determined location. Hope to see everyone on the trail this Spring and Summer.
Lennie Winkelman
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