Cool down
- Distance
- 0.59 mi
- Time
- 13:24
- Temp
- 78°F
- Humidity
- 84%
Walked it out after the run below.
Marathon training · Houston, TX
Road to
26.2.
The next chapter of the same story. My first full marathon: the Cowtown Marathon in Fort Worth, Sunday, February 28, 2027.
Cowtown Marathon · Fort Worth · Feb 28, 2027
--days
--hours
--min
Where this picks up
Overview
Eight weeks of half-marathon training, July 31 to Sept 27, 2026. The foundation this block builds on.
13:55Starting pace per mile
12:59Race pace per mile
2:50:05Half marathon finish
283/436Overall place
Recovery in progress. Structured training hasn't restarted yet. This is a day-by-day check-in, not a fixed date. The log below fills in with every run pulled from Strava, good, bad, and ugly.
The phases
00
Recovery
In progressWalking, rest, day-by-day check-ins. No fixed end date.
01
Base Rebuild
~6 weeksLong run climbs 4 to 10 miles. Rebuilding weekly mileage and the lift split. Includes the Sugar Land 10K as a bonus race that doesn't replace a scheduled long run.
02
Marathon-Specific
10 weeksLong run climbs 11 to a 20-mile peak, with cutback weeks and race-pace practice. Week 3 is the Run for Breast Cancer Half Marathon, run controlled in place of that week's long run.
03
Taper
3 weeksVolume drops sharply. Rest, hydration, final shakeout.
26.2
Race Day
Feb 28, 202726.2 miles at Cowtown in Fort Worth. First full marathon.
Races
Race calendar
Cowtown is the goal race. Sugar Land is a bonus early-season race, and the December half is a mid-block fitness check, not a second max effort.
Goal race
Cowtown Marathon
Fort Worth, TX · Sun, Feb 28, 2027 · 7:00 AM start · 26.2 mi · Moderately hilly, up to 150 ft of change · 7.5 hour cutoff · Friends in Dallas cheering
Will Rogers Memorial Center
3401 W. Lancaster Ave., Fort Worth, TX 76110 · Map
Add to calendar: Google · Apple / Outlook (.ics)
--days away
Extra race
Sugar Land 10K
Sugar Land, TX · Sun, Oct 11, 2026 · 7:30 AM start · 6.2 mi · Doesn't replace a scheduled long run
Smart Financial Centre
18111 Lexington Blvd, Sugar Land, TX 77479 · Map
Add to calendar: Google · Apple / Outlook (.ics)
--days away
Tune-up race
Run for Breast Cancer Half Marathon
Houston, TX · Sat, Dec 12, 2026 · 7:30 AM first wave · 13.1 mi · Replaces the week 3 marathon-block long run
Eleanor Tinsley Park
Allen Pkwy, Houston, TX 77019 · Map
Add to calendar: Google · Apple / Outlook (.ics)
--days away
Every session
Run log
Pace, effort, weather, and how it actually felt. Updated whenever Strava data gets pulled.
Walk
First run after the half marathon
- Distance
- 3.06 mi
- Time
- 29:53
- Avg pace
- 9:46/mi
- Avg / max HR
- 169 / 181
- Temp
- 78°F
- Humidity
- 84%
Assessment run, meant to be easy-medium. It came out at 9:46/mi, right on top of my season-best pace, with an average HR of 169 in 84% humidity, so effort ran well above what coasting felt like. No breathing issues, no cramps, legs felt great. Mild left knee discomfort, not painful, and I'm watching it. Plan for next time: half the intensity.
Later that morning: still no sharp pain, but the knee was slightly more noticeable on stairs. Watching whether it settles or builds with the next run.
Mon, Sep 28 to Tue, Sep 29, 2026 · full recovery, no training logged
First half marathon
- Distance
- 13.1 mi
- Chip time
- 2:50:05
- Avg pace
- 12:59/mi
- Temp
- 77°F
- Humidity
- 79%
Run MONOPOLY Series Half Marathon at Mission County Park. 283rd of 436 overall, 191st male, 58th in the 30 to 39 age group. First half marathon finish.
23 weeks
Week-by-week plan
Weeks run Saturday to Friday: Saturday long run (starts at 6:00 AM), Mon/Wed/Fri runs (start at 6:15 AM), Tue/Thu cross-training, Sunday rest. Wednesday is hill day, and the gym moves around it.
0of 23Weeks done
16.2miMiles logged
467.7miMiles planned
As of Sept 30, 2026. Half marathon week is in progress; Base Rebuild week 1 starts Sat Oct 17.
| Week (starts Sat) | Sat | Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Plan (mi) | Actual (mi) | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RecoverySep 26 | race eve | 13.1 Half (done) | rest | cross | 3 (done) | cross | 3 | 19.2 | 16.2 | In progress | Sep 27 half marathon and the first run back (Sep 30) are logged. Watch the left knee flagged Sep 30.Where: Fri park |
| RecoveryOct 3 | rest | – | 3 | cross | 3 | cross | 3 | 9 | – | Upcoming | Recovery week, no structured long run.Where: Mon park · Wed park · Fri running trail |
| RecoveryOct 10 | rest | 6.2 10K | 3 | cross | 3 | cross | 3 | 15.2 | – | Upcoming | Sugar Land 10K, Sun Oct 11, is a bonus race and does not replace a long run.Where: Mon running trail · Wed park · Fri park |
| Base 1Oct 17 | 4 long | – | 3 | cross | 3 hills | cross | 3 | 13 | – | Upcoming | Wed Oct 21: 4 x 30 s hill repeats. First hill session is a scouting run: look for slopes that take 30 to 45 seconds to climb.Where: Sat park · Mon park · Wed park (hills) · Fri running trail |
| Base 2Oct 24 | 5 long | – | 3 | cross | 3 hills | cross | 3 | 14 | – | Upcoming | Wed Oct 28: 5 x 30 s hill repeats.Where: Sat park · Mon running trail · Wed park (hills) · Fri park |
| Base 3Oct 31 | 6 long | – | 3 | cross | 3 hills | cross | 3 | 15 | – | Upcoming | Wed Nov 4: 6 x 30 s hill repeats.Where: Sat park · Mon park · Wed park (hills) · Fri varies |
| Base 4Nov 7 | 7 long | – | 3 | cross | 3 hills | cross | 3 | 16 | – | Upcoming | Wed Nov 11: 6 x 45 s hill repeats.Where: Sat varies · Mon running trail · Wed park (hills) · Fri varies |
| Base 5Nov 14 | 8 long | – | 3 | cross | 3 hills | cross | 3 | 17 | – | Upcoming | Wed Nov 18: 7 x 45 s hill repeats.Where: Sat varies · Mon park · Wed park (hills) · Fri park |
| Base 6Nov 21 | 10 long | – | 3 | cross | 3 hills | cross | 3 | 19 | – | Upcoming | Wed Nov 25: 6 x 45 s hill repeats. Base phase ends with a 10-mile long run. Thanksgiving is Thu Nov 26.Where: Sat running trail · Mon park · Wed park (hills) · Fri varies |
| Marathon 1Nov 28 | 11 long | – | 4 | cross | 4 hills | cross | 4 | 23 | – | Upcoming | Wed Dec 2: 6 x 60 s hill repeats. First 11-mile long run.Where: Sat varies · Mon running trail · Wed park (hills) · Fri park |
| Marathon 2Dec 5 | 13 long | – | 4 | cross | 4 | cross | 4 | 25 | – | Upcoming | Last 2 miles of the long run at race pace (13:30 to 14:00). No hills this week, the half is Saturday.Where: Sat running trail · Mon park · Wed park · Fri running trail |
| Marathon 3Dec 12 | 13.1 Half | – | 4 | cross | 4 | cross | 4 | 25.1 | – | Upcoming | Run for Breast Cancer Half, Sat Dec 12, replaces the long run. Run it controlled at 13:30 per mile or slower. No hills this week.Where: Mon running trail · Wed park · Fri park |
| Marathon 4Dec 19 | 15 long | – | 4 | cross | 4 hills | cross | 4 | 27 | – | Upcoming | Wed Dec 23: 6 x 60 s hill repeats. Last 3 miles of the long run at race pace. Christmas is Fri Dec 25.Where: Sat running trail · Mon park · Wed park (hills) · Fri running trail |
| Marathon 5Dec 26 | 16 long | – | 4 | cross | 4 hills | cross | 4 | 28 | – | Upcoming | Wed Dec 30: 7 x 60 s hill repeats. Last 3 miles of the long run at race pace. Fri Jan 1 is New Year's Day.Where: Sat park · Mon running trail · Wed park (hills) · Fri running trail |
| Marathon 6Jan 2 | 12 long | – | 4 | cross | 4 hills | cross | 4 | 24 | – | Upcoming | Wed Jan 6: 5 x 60 s hill repeats. Cutback week, lighter hills.Where: Sat park · Mon park · Wed park (hills) · Fri park |
| Marathon 7Jan 9 | 18 long | – | 4 | cross | 4 hills | cross | 4 | 30 | – | Upcoming | Wed Jan 13: 6 x 90 s hill repeats. Last 4 miles of the long run at race pace.Where: Sat park · Mon running trail · Wed park (hills) · Fri running trail |
| Marathon 8Jan 16 | 20 long | – | 4 | cross | 4 hills | cross | 4 | 32 | – | Upcoming | Wed Jan 20: 6 x 90 s hill repeats. Peak long run: 20 miles on Sat Jan 16. Last 5 miles at race pace.Where: Sat park · Mon park · Wed park (hills) · Fri park |
| Marathon 9Jan 23 | 14 long | – | 4 | cross | 4 hills | cross | 4 | 26 | – | Upcoming | Wed Jan 27: 4 x 90 s hill repeats. Cutback week, lighter hills.Where: Sat park (hill) · Mon park · Wed park (hills) · Fri park |
| Marathon 10Jan 30 | 12 long | – | 3 | cross | 3 hills | cross | 3 | 21 | – | Upcoming | Wed Feb 3: 4 x 60 s hill repeats. Runs drop to 3 miles. This is the last hill session.Where: Sat running trail · Mon running trail · Wed park (hills) · Fri park |
| Taper 1Feb 6 | 10 long | – | 3 | cross | 3 | cross | 3 | 19 | – | Upcoming | Where: Sat running trail · Mon park · Wed park · Fri running trail |
| Taper 2Feb 13 | 6 long | – | 3 | cross | 3 | cross | 3 | 15 | – | Upcoming | Where: Sat park · Mon running trail · Wed park · Fri park |
| Taper 3Feb 20 | – | – | 3 | cross | 3 | cross | 3 shakeout | 9 | – | Upcoming | No Saturday long run. Fri Feb 26 is the race-week shakeout (3 to 4 miles).Where: Mon park · Wed running trail · Fri park |
| Race weekFeb 27 | rest | 26.2 Cowtown | – | cross | – | cross | – | 26.2 | – | Upcoming | Cowtown is Sun Feb 28. |
Bold amber is the long run. Amber tags are Wednesday hill sessions. Green rows hold a race. Each hill session is a 1-mile warm-up, the repeats, then an easy cooldown. Repeats run hard but controlled (about 7 out of 10), jog or walk down easy, and stop if the knee flares. Race pace is 13:30 to 14:00 per mile, a 5:54 to 6:07 finish. The Cowtown limit is 7.5 hours, about 17:10 per mile. Extra or unplanned workouts count as bonus volume and never replace a planned run. Each week lists the kind of spot for each run (park or running trail); "varies" means it depends on the day. Runs rotate through Houston-area parks and bayou trails.
Photos
Gallery
Photos from the road to 26.2, newest first.
First run back
Three days after the San Antonio half marathon. 3.06 miles in 29:53, faster than planned, and the legs felt great.
Gear
What I'm running in
Everything in the kit right now.
| Category | Item | Notes | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Running shoes | Under Armour Charged+ Assert 11 | Tracking the miles in Strava. A second pair is on the list below. | In use |
| Belt | WATERFLY running belt (large phone holder, no-bounce) | Carries phone and small items. | In use |
| Headphones | Shokz OpenRun SE | Open-ear bone conduction, so I can hear traffic and other people. | In use |
| Hydration vest | AONIJIE Moderate Gale 2.5L vest, size L/XL (two front soft flasks) | The back pouch has a bladder clip but no hose exit, so it can't take a rear bladder and tube. | Replacing |
| Fuel | Stinger chews | Worked well. Need to stock up, plus the gel I liked. | Restock |
| Watch / GPS | Apple Watch Ultra 2 (49mm titanium) | Records the runs that sync to Strava. | In use |
Worth picking up
Ordered by when the plan needs each item. Prices are approximate and can change.
| Item | Pick and why | Get it by | Priority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Headlamp or clip-on light, plus a reflective vest | Runs start well before sunrise from mid-October through mid-March. | Before Oct 17 | High |
| Second pair of running shoes | Brooks Ghost 17 (about $120 to $150) is the balanced all-rounder with a roomy toe box for long runs. For 15+ mile days, the Asics Gel-Nimbus 28 or New Balance Fresh Foam X 1080v15 (about $170) are the max-cushion picks. Newer versions may be out, so check the current model. Buy by mid-December at the latest so they get 50+ miles before the 20-miler on Jan 16. | By mid-Dec | High |
| New hydration vest | Osprey Duro 6 with Flasks (about $140): two 500 mL soft flasks on the front, and it takes a 1.5 L reservoir with a tube on the back (reservoir sold separately). Check the sizing before ordering. Until then, the belt plus a handheld bottle covers runs up to about 10 miles. | Before Dec 19 | High |
| Energy gels | Find the gel I liked, then test one on every long run from Nov 21 on. Race day uses whatever works. | Before Nov 21 | Med |
| Stinger chews (restock) | Enough for the long runs from Nov 21 through January. | Before Nov 21 | Med |
| Anti-chafe balm and moisture-wicking socks | Houston humidity (84% on the Sept 30 run) and longer runs mean chafing and blisters are the usual surprise. | Before Nov 28 | Med |
| Race-day outfit | Wear it on the 18 and 20-milers so nothing is new on Feb 28. | By Jan 9 | Low |
| Recovery tools: foam roller, massage ball | Helps in the days after long runs and hill sessions. | Whenever | Low |