You Gotta Love the Socks - 2006 Motive

Despite being considered one of the tougher half marathons in the country, the Bison Stampede consistently draws well and is a race many look to as a test of fitness and toughness. This year was no different. Screw the tough as nails course though, I think it all has to do with the socks. Each year Motive gives out, and each year is different mind you, custom, totally ripped, running socks to everyone who signs up. It’s like; hey, this is tough ass course with hills, and wind, and it goes forever...you are gonna be on your feet a lot. Here, have some socks.

The attraction is really the hill, actually that’s HILLS, plural. The last two years they have added a king and queen of the hill premium. A race within the race; 100 bucks for the fastest man and 100 bucks for the fastest woman up the mile long climb along Raincreek Blvd. Your ranking are posted overall and within age groups for the hill and the race. Chip timed no less. Bonus points for that.

The course, of course, is the course and it’s a bear. The first 3 miles gently roll down Jollyville to Raincreek. You have to be patient. At mile 4 you fall off the earth down one of the steepest sections I have ever seen at any level, then from 4.5 to 6 you crawl back on. That hill gets all the attention, but the last climb up Fire Oak to 7 is steep and the loop around Vallecito hurts like a sombitch. Plus, it’s back in the neighborhood, no crowd, little support and after all that work up Raincreek...well,it hurts like a sombitch. You have to stay in rhythm and stay focused.

This year a bunch of us were together the first 2 miles. Guys I don’t normally see going that quick that early and it was hard not to chase; or freak that I was off pace, but it worked out okay and I climbed better than last year. The weather was perfect, cool and sunny, little bit of wind. After the Vallecito loop you are back on pace and cruise to Oak Knoll through “campus” and down McNeil. Marla with Eden and Anna with her dog were cheering on the loop around right after mile 11. That made the race. The neighborhood before it is a drag. Total mind-bender. It climbs and putzs around before you drop into the street that you know is just a “c” to get the mileage right. It plays with your head; total dead zone, near the end of the race. So as I hit the section 300 meters out there is Marla screaming her lungs out. She is shouting still as I go by, signs and all, still egging me on as I turn back out on the blvd. Made all the difference as I found my legs again, refocused and started the last mile + climb for the finish.

This is an Austin classic. It has color: a competition where the volunteers from home-grown Motive deck out the water stops with different themes, best one is voted on by the runners. It has innovation: the aforementioned KOH, one of the first courses ballsy enough to include raincreek in the first place. It has a great after-party: bands, massage tents, free coffee, tons of food, nice awards, CASH...and the killer socks and a t-shirt. Plus, tons of parking...did I mention the free coffee? In the “go-go” dot com days, the shirt was even better and the marketing firm doing all the sock and shirt designs gave out great posters. As with most races in Austin, organization, timing, packet pick up and race day functions are always well staffed, well coordinated and smooth. We are spoiled in Austin, always the best place to race in the country.

One last neat thing, most people rate their Motive time within the half marathons they’ve done. For instance, they have a half marathon PR as well as a Motive PR. And supposing (is that a word) you or a buddy do straight up PR at Motive, then prepare for a whole slew of handicapped stats on how fast that translates on a standard course, blah, blah, blah, or heaven forbid, 3M.

Oh yeah, the socks rock, can't forget the socks.