While the views may have been scenic, the marathon path upon which TSC Music Program Director Antonio Durant traveled had its fair share of grueling passages. Over the course of six hours, Durant ran through the Spicewood, Texas countryside to test his resolve and overcome a new challenge, 26.2 miles.
SPICEWOOD, TX – Music may be his profession, but endurance is his latest passion. Antonio Duránt, Program Coordinator and Instructor of Music at Texas Southmost College, recently pushed himself to new heights, literally and figuratively, by completing his first full marathon at La Pachanga Trail Run in Spicewood, Texas.
Duránt conquered the daunting 26.2-mile trail marathon in six grueling hours, navigating the unforgiving terrain of the Texas Hill Country. With a course consisting of a 6-mile loop repeated four times, the challenge came not only from the distance, but also from the rugged environment, filled with loose rocks, sharp branches, cliffside paths, narrow trails, and sudden climbs.
A lifelong runner, Duránt describes his training as a mix of daily short runs, biking, and occasional swims, though he admits he swam “less than I’d like to.” In preparation for the marathon, he increased his running volume significantly.
“I was running at least 6 miles a day,” he says. “Sometimes 4 in the morning and 6 at night, with about 20 miles of biking every three days of running.”
Though he didn’t train with traditional long runs each week, he had built a solid endurance base, occasionally logging 8 to 13-mile runs, enough to give him the confidence to attempt the full marathon distance.
Despite his preparation, nothing could fully prepare him for the brutal nature of the course.
“It was grueling to say the least,” Duránt recalls. “More than half the trail was extremely difficult. Three out of every six miles were super rugged, loose rocks, branches, and all kinds of obstacles.”
What made it even more punishing was the midday heat. While the early loops were exhausting but manageable, the rising sun during the last half of the marathon added a new level of physical and mental strain.
“The heat was bad in the last two loops. The sun hadn’t come out fully during the first ones, which helped a bit, said Duránt.”
The route featured not just uneven terrain, but actual cliffs, tight single-track trails, and steep ascents that required runners to climb, turning the marathon into a true test of willpower and stamina.
A Marathon of Mind and Body
For Duránt, the experience was more than just a personal milestone. It was a journey of discovery, an extension of the same discipline and creativity he brings to the classroom and stage at Texas Southmost College. Whether conducting an ensemble or navigating a rocky trail, Duránt shows what it means to pursue excellence.
His success is an inspiration not only to students in the Music Department, but to the entire TSC community, a reminder that passion and perseverance can take you farther than you ever imagined.
TSC Music Program Coordinator Conquers Countryside Marathon
Antonio Duránt, Program Coordinator and Instructor of Music at Texas Southmost College, recently pushed himself to new heights completing his first full marathon at La Pachanga Trail Run in Spicewood, Texas. These are images of the trails he pushed through.
TSC Music Program Coordinator Conquers Countryside Marathon
Daylight breaks through distant clouds, providing a brief refuge from the Texas heat. Endurance is one of the key factors in any marathon, and Durant proved that his is up to par.
TSC Music Program Coordinator Conquers Countryside Marathon
A shallow trail runs through a dense thicket of trees, demonstrating some of the rough terrain that Durant had to traverse over the course of the marathon.
