Running

All things running + Chevron Houston Marathon

chevron houston marathon

One of my favorite weekends in January is coming up: the Chevron Houston Marathon weekend. And, while the race will be taking place virtually this year, it’s a longstanding tradition for many Houstonians. While I won’t be running a full half virtually over marathon weekend, which typically takes place over MLK Weekend, I will be getting outside and getting active. It’s my hope to train this year, to get my endurance back up to running half marathon distances.

I began running the Aramco half marathon when I first moved to Houston, and it was something that I looked forward to every year. I ran my first race in 2012 and really fell in love with running after that. Lots of life lessons to be learned out on the trails.

Here is a photo of Sawyer and I on our way to go for a run at the park (back when Soy was younger guy and could run shorter distances).

Aaron, my husband, was a marine, and if you know anything about marines, you know that they do a lot of running while they are enlisted and during Boot Camp. So, he was a big time runner – sometimes running ultra marathon distances. He was coming off of a stress fracture when we first met. But, we ran our first half together in 2015!

Aramco Houston Half Marathon

Aramco Houston Half

This was post-race. They put together an amazing breakfast, but I always just want some cold, chocolate milk. I’m never super hungry immediately after running a half-marathon (or a marathon for that matter). I always need an hour or two until my body realizes it needs to eat.

aramco half marathon

I always gear-check a bag. There is nothing better than changing out of running shoes after a race and changing into flip flops. Other items in my gear bag include some body spray, a change of clothes and some Advil or ibuprofen.

aramco houston half marathon

For this particular race, I ran into my friend, Tatum, in our corrals. He was running the full! I get so nervous right before a race, so it’s always nice to see a familiar face before we get started.

Austin, Texas Half Marathon

austin half marathon
austin half marathon

This next race was the Austin half marathon. Now this was a really fun race. I’ve only done the Austin half one time, but the bottom of my foot will never forget. I ran this race with my husband and my in laws. My mother-in-law has probably raced more races than I have! Now, Austin is really hilly, at least in comparison to Houston. And my feet weren’t prepared. I wore my Brooks Glycerins, which are my go to shoe, and the downhills still managed to wreck the bottom of my right foot. I wasn’t breaking any records this race. In fact, it finishes on an uphill. 10/10 would run this race again.

austin half marathon

My favorite thing about Austin: you are greeted with a cold beer at the finish line. There are lots of opinions about beer and running. But, it’s a great carb replacement after a run. I would not drink one while I’m running, but I’ve seen multiple people do it. In fact, several houses along the course were handing beer out to runners.

austin half marathon

Here we are at the end of the 2017 Aramco Houston Half Marathon. I’m in my flip flops post race. It’s important to note that the weather for marathon weekend in Houston has been wildly different each year. I’ve run the race in 80-degree weather (that was marathon year), in 40-degree weather and in the freezing rain. So, be prepared for a nice, flat course, but also be prepared to adjust to some of Houston’s humidity.

Chevron Houston Marathon

chevron houston marathon

And finally, I decided I wanted to do the full Chevron Houston Marathon in 2016. Here’s a photo of Aaron and I after the sweet sweet finish! I’ve run lots of races solo, but I especially love the ones when Aaron and I run together. He encourages me when I feel like I can’t go any further, and he gives me someone to talk to during the race to take my mind off the running.

Running is a huge part of my life, and I hope to race in some more races (either virtual or in person) in 2021.

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