Feb 20, 2011



The LIVESTRONG Austin Marathon runs through some of Austin's most scenic and historic areas, including Lady Bird Johnson Lake, the Allandale and Hyde Park neighborhoods, Congress Avenue, the University of Texas campus, and the State Capitol complex.
The course is known for rolling hills but with nearly 40 Austin music bands and thousands of cheerful spectators it is a great sport event in the heart of Texas.

Raceday Weather Conditions:

Start at 7am
65°F / 18°C, cloudy

Finisher Statistics:

Finishers total:  4804
Male finishers:  2860
Female finishers:  1944
Avg. finish time: 4:40

Gosia's Results:

Time:  3:52:56
Pace:  8:53 / mile
Time 1st half:  1:50:06

Overall place:   845 (17.6%)
Women place:  158 (8.1%)
Women 50-54 place:  5

Overall Results:

Top Men

Place Name Home Age Time Pace per mile
1 Keith Pierce TX 30 2:29:25 5:42
2 Phillip Sneller TX 32 2:34:20 5:53
3 Sipho Nqxongo 27 2:35:11 5:55

Top Women

Place Name Home Age Time Pace per mile
1 Desiree Ficker TX 34 2:50:35 6:31
2 Jessica Mike MN 28 3:01:53 6:56
3 Meredith Thompson TX 33 3:03:23 7:00

Top Women 50-54

Place Name Home Age Time Pace per mile
1 Nina Helm WY 50 3:43:15 8:31
2 Jelka Jonker TX 53 3:47:58 8:42
3 Kendra Bochner IL 50 3:48:49 8:44
4 Denise Piefke TN 50 3:52:12 8:52
5 Malgorzata Mirkowicz TX 51 3:52:56 8:53


Click here for full official results.


Race Map and Elevations:


Gosia's comments after the race:


On Sunday, February 20th, 2011 I ran Livestrong Austin Marathon. The start at 7am at Congress Ave and 16th gathered 20000 marathoners and half-marathoners. Austin marathon is famous for challenging hilly course with 17 rolling uphill miles. The first 3 miles were pretty much uphill and than terrible 10th and 11th mile. The mile 25th is brutally tough. The race day brought a little of everything; high humidity, warm temperature reaching 81F, and a gusty headwind. Me coming from flat, I mean, FLAT Plano didn`t help to raise my confidence.
Despite all these factors the first half of marathon went smooth and I have completed 13 miles in 1:50 minutes. Battle started after 21 miles. My quads were very tight, I noticed first hamstring cramps, lost energy so I searched for any motivation to keep me going.
People around me ran for different reasons. Many of them posted on theirs t-shirts that they were cancer survivors, many ran for the cure for others, or to collect money for the charities, or in some memories of died spouses, or kids, or parents. I ran to work again on my mental toughness and control my will.
Mile 25th felt like 6 miles with two, 600 meter long, challenging inclines and a few turns and not even a tiny signal of finish line coming soon. Finally, 100 meters to the finish line road flattened. With all my joy I pulled stronger, made a few steps, and then right hamstring cramped so severely that it paralyzed half of my body for at least 2 minutes. I have heard enormous cheering of the crowd, they shouted "go, go" but I couldn`t do even one step. I have noticed two people with red-cross vests coming slowly towards me and before they reached me I slowly regained control of my body. I have finished the marathon in 3 hours 52 minutes, which is a qualifing time for Boston Marathon - high goal for all marathoners.
I`ll remember that Austin Marathon tested my will power and kicked my butt much more than any other marathon before, not New York, not Boston, not Little Rock. On the other hand, it made me appreciate the reality of distance running beyond personal records and only timing.
I couldn`t finish this story without sending thanks to all young military people who prepared the aid stations and dedicated own time for me and the rest of the runners; for 2000 other volunteers giving water, vaseline, helping runners with any cramps or blisters; for supporting crowds; a young women on the trampoline jumping up and screaming with enthusiasm; people ringing bells for hours; kids serving pretzels, candy, or oranges; little boy on the mask of his dad`s car counting me as a 63rd person giving him "high five".
Thanks to my family for believing in me. Thanks to all my friends.

Interesting facts:
- in first Austin Marathon (1992) - 605 entrants registered for marathon
- in 20th Austin Marathon (2011) - over 6000 pople signed up for marathon
- average finish time in 2011 was 4h 40m
- 52.2 million total calories the 20000 runners burnt running this race

Gosia




After the race in front of the Texas State Capitol