Austin 1/2 Marathon:

Doug Vreeland 1:34:30 PR

Lesley Mettler 1:36:08

Bliss Pak 1:48:47

Kelly Williamson 1:18:57 2nd Overall

David Fuentes: 1:08:08 First Overall

Marathon:

Mark Foster: 2:59:48 First Marathon

Meriwether Tull : 4:04:46

Beaux Benson : 4:04:23

Ben Palmer: 3:34:30

Derick Williamson 2:41:46 11th Overall

University Oaks Criterium 2/14

Pro-1-2-3, Erick Benz 4th

What a great weekend for running in Austin! As the saying went for the race (appropriately suited for a Valentine’s Day event), “Run Austin, Love Austin”. This was actually a pretty big weekend for Derick and I, as it was his first full marathon. This was also MY first full marathon back in 2008.

The weather was spectacular, albeit a bit chilly at the start (probably low 40s), I am guessing that the busy volunteers had their hands full of clothing that was stripped off of runners those first 5 miles. The sun came out right after the gun, and it made for an awesome day to run; be it 13 miles or even 26.

As for my race, I did not know what to expect, but as with any race, I intended to give it everything I had and go into it shooting for a best time. That is kind of how I approach any race I do; always an opportunity to PR. While I had been battling a bit of a cold the past week, it is hard to say that it did me any dis-service, as I ended up feeling almost entirely normal on race morning and physically my body felt strong and responsive. In all honesty, the rest probably did me good and allowed me to run on fresh legs (funny how that works isn’t it…I think the little setbacks are usually a blessing in disguise). The downside to this was, 13.1 miles of hard running on up and down terrain left me completely trashed post-race.

I took out miles 1-3 strong but not too hard and cruise down 1st street (a 3-mile downhill stretch) in some 5:45 miles. I was joined here by Jack & Adams own Adam Reiser, who was running the full marathon! Though we did not chat, it was nice to have Adam by my side for a few miles. As I approached mile 7 or 8, my hands got warm and luckily Jamie Cleveland was nice enough to pick up my gloves as I saw him cheering and left him a little gift as I went by.     (Read More…)

The Dirty Dozen 12 Hour & Super Six 6 Hour Mountain Bike Race

2nd- Laura Meichan 12hr Team Relay (Read More…)

I was driving back from a race with a couple of friends recently and the conversation turned to what the difference was between success in an event and disappointment. In the context of this conversation we acknowledged that success can take on many forms. For some success is as black or white as a win, for others it’s improving upon a personal best, beating an age group rival or simply making it to the finish line. And while many conversations I have about success in endurance sports has to do with fundamental training and physiological principles, this chat quickly graduated to the intangibles. How some athletes seem to embrace the heat of battle, can suffer innumerable small defeats in a race while continuing to subject themselves to pain comparable to a non-anesthetized root canal, and, even more these are the athletes that find themselves successful more often than not. What’s going on in the head of these athletes that drives them to suffer an extra 4 seconds to bridge that gap or hold that wheel, stave off a charging sprint or fight tooth and nail for every last second over the last few kilometers of a run? What is it they are channeling and what can we all learn from them?
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Durata athletes grab several top placings at the Tour of New Braunfels after a long winter of preparing for the Texas spring road racing season. Here are a few highlights-

Circuit Race

Masters 40+
1  John Korioth

P/1/2
2  Alan Ting

Cat 3
10  Jordan Nguyen

Mens 4
2  Ethan Moorhead

Road race

40+
9  Marc Bergeron

Bergeron's preparation included a lengthy cyclocross season.

P-1-2-3
1 Lawson Craddock
2  Patrick McCarty
3  Chad Haga
6  Alan Ting

After 56miles off the front in various moves, most of them solo, Durata’s Patrick McCarty and Lawson Craddock dash for the line captured via the Facebook page of Adrian Vlok.

Craddock and McCarty at the Pro-1-2-3 finish.

Captured by Philip Shama of Shama Cycles.

Ethan Moorhead of Violet Crown took 2nd in the circuit race.

Nguyen of Team Hotel San Jose sprints to 10th in the circuit race.

This weekend saw Durata Athletes excelling all over, from half marathons to the kick off of Texas road racing Copperas Cove:

Copperas Cove Road Race, TX.

1/2/3
1st- Pat McCarty
4th- Nick Kiernan
7th- John Korioth

3/4
10th- Todd Ferrell

Avondale Criterium, AZ.

30+

5th- Justin Leighton

3m Half Marathon: Austin, TX

- Laura Ball: 1st in division, 7th overall in open race. 1:24:45 (a 5min PR!)

- Ben Palmer: 1:25:18 a PR!

-Mark Foster: 1:23:35 a PR!

-Derick Williamson: 1:09:52

Central Park Half Marathon, NYNY

-Stephen Carr: 1:22:42 a PR!

The first Lone Star Cyclocross weekend seems to be on the path to becoming an annual event with rave revues from spectators and participants. Durata Training athletes brought home two medals with Marc Bergeron and Mina Pizzini, both of whom were pushed to the limit thanks to the level of competition bumping up for these State Championships. Results for the Durata Warriors include:

Hurricane Mina

(Read More…)

Join DT coach, Austin Distance Challenge Leader and the 2007 Austin Half Marathon Champion Derick Williamson this Saturday, 8:30am at Jack and Adams Bike shop for an easy 3 mile loop on the Hike and Bike Trail followed by coffee and a race/course strategy discussion.

All levels of runners are welcome.

What: Run with the Coach, get tips for your own PR

Where: Run: from Jack and Adams Bike Shop, 1210 Barton Springs Rd. Coffee:  at Lift Cafe (a short walk away)

When: Saturday, January 23rd, 8:30am

Why: Because you want to go fast at 3m and we have the tips to help you do just that!