Race: The Ascension Seton Austin Half Marathon
Runner: Coach Scott Sayler
Race Date: 02/19/2023
Location: Austin, TX
Results: 1:52:44
Strava Activity Link: https://www.strava.com/activities/8589711276
3 Bests – What aspects of the race did you like the most?
- The Half/Full Marathon were sold out with 18,000 runners strong.
- Well organized with “Start/Finish” about 1/2 mile apart with “Gear Check” and plenty of porta-potties in between.
- A very challenging rolling hill course with nearly 600′ of elevation gain. The first 3 miles had a 300′ elevation gain. There were only a few miles of nearly flat terrain. The last three miles had three very steep and long climbs. You might be wondering why I’m listing this as something that I liked about the race course. This was a tuneup race for the upcoming Boston Marathon. And although Boston, unlike Austin, begins with a big downhill portion, managing my energy over this rolling course was great preparation for Boston as most of my racing has been on flat terrain.
Not so much – Aspects of the race that didn’t do it for you
- I was hoping for a few more bands along the route. After all, this is Austin. The bands that were out playing were awesome.
- If you’re trying to qualify for Boston, this is a very challenging course.
- The post race food/drinks was disappointing. No bananas, orange slices.
Weird factor – What’s the weirdest thing about this race?
At the 12 mile mark there was a very steep hill that was about 300m long.
Highlights of your race – What did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular?
- I feel very good about how I executed the race plan. I managed my energy over the rolling hills so that I could put the hammer down and race hard the last 3-4 miles. This resulted in a Top 5 Age Group finish. My fitness is right where it needs to be as I prepare for Boston.
Lessons for others – Share your pro-tips on the race to help the next runner
- Between the Start and the Gear Check area, each cross street off of Congress had plenty of porta-potties. The further you got away from the start the less crowed the bathrooms were. There were some pretty long lines down by the start. A few blocks away 5-6 people.
- Like most half or fulls, go out slow. On this course, with the first 3 miles being uphill, it’s imperative.
- As Matt Fitzgerald addresses in his book titled: “How Bad Do You Want It?” “Brace yourself for the three hills between mile 9.5 and 12.
Lessons you learned that will help you next time around
Just before the race started, literally a minute or two, I looked down and noticed that I hadn’t double knotted my shoes. As I reached down to double knot, my left shoe laces got tangled up. I thought I was going to get trampled by the crowd, but managed to avoid disaster by getting it untangled and taken care of. That was a close one.
Most important course specific knowledge to know about the race
Already mentioned multiple times: A very hilly course
Aesthetics – Is it a pretty course?
Yes. It’s a nice course through the city.
Difficulty – Is it a tough course?
Yes. It’s a tough course.
Organized and well run – Did it feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants?
Yes! Very well organized
Competition – Is there a strong field?
A strong field. The half and the full marathon race side by side for the first 12.5 miles, so if you’re running the half, there will be plenty of people to pull you along and inspire you.
Logistics – Does it require a special handshake, registration a year in advance, hotels all booked? Give us the low down on the nuts and bolts of making the race happen.
This was an easy race to sign up for. If you’re traveling from out of town, like many of the big city races, the downtown hotels raise their prices. The hotels were quite bit less expensive on the south side of Lady Bird Lake. And it was an easy 1 mile walk to the start.
Weather and typical race conditions
We had ideal racing conditions. The start temperatures were in the high 40s and moved up into the low 50s with a light breeze.
Gear – Did you need anything special or is there anything you’d recommend for the next runner?
No special gear required
Spectators – Is this a friendly course for your friends?
Yes! There are plenty of great places to watch the race from. It was very crowed at the finish. You definitely need to make very specific plans to meet someone after the race. My wife chose to meet me back at the hotel. Much easier that way.
How’s the Swag?
The Austin Marathon was three for three on the swag. An awesome Under Armour short sleeve t-shirt, running ball cap and a finishing medal that can be used as a big time cowboy belt buckle. Some of the coolest swag I’ve seen at a race.
The Overall Score – How many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it?
FIVE STARS. I do recommend this race but not if you’re trying to qualify for Boston for the first time. It’s a great race to prepare for Boston.
Scott Sayler is a coach with Team RunRun. To learn more about him or to work with him, check out his coach profile.