Indy 500 Mini Marathon

But there ain't nothin' mini about 

13 point freaking 1 miles!

But it's DONE!

Deanna, Me, BFFAE, Katie pre-race!

And it was a PR from 1 year ago with my BFFAE and the Cap City Half. 5 minute PR and to boot...the NATION'S LARGEST 1/2 MARATHON!

And the training wasn't nearly what it was for the Akron 1/2 and yet I still pulled it off!

So with all that said, lets recap!

37,000 people ran today in Indy alone. Think about that for a minute. There were 37,000 people who ran or walked because they do. That's so crazy!

BFFAE and I were in the 3rd to last corral. (NOTE TO SELF: use a faster pace time at the next 1/2). It took us 28 minutes to get to the start line. But when we did, WOW! That was awesome! The first 3 miles we were seriously dodging people left and right. Couldn't really get a good pace. And it pretty much stayed that way for a while.

BFFAE stayed a ways ahead of me for most of the race. I could always see her and she would slow down for me to catch up and walk thru the water stations. And then we kept going. It was great!

At mile 5 or so we start down the road that leads into the...wait for it...wait for it...INDIANAPOLIS MOTOR SPEEDWAY! Yeah, you read that right! 2 miles (6-8) around the track. Inside the track. Stop and KISS THE BRICKS! Yep, we did. It may have been the demise of our run tho. It kinda started to go down hill a little when we came out of the track. 2 miles is long! Really long when there isn't much to look at. But if you think about all the drivers that have been on that track, will be on that track, it kinda makes you perk up a little and get thru it. Until you just can't take the rocks in your shoes and have to STOP to remove them. Yep. Take the shoes all the way of and then put them back on! Fun. Not!

Mile 10, or so I thought, seemed good. Only a 5k left. Easy peasy. Wrong. But I looked at my watch and we were on schedule to finish early! Awesome! That thought alone makes you keep going. Keep putting one foot in front of the other. And we keep going. Oh, HOT FIREFIGHTERS. YES! And I suck it in a little more and run a little taller and stronger and faster and wink at the hotties. May have blown a kiss...maybe...(don't judge...they were HOT!)

Mile 12. Turn the corner. Onto the bridge. Next up FINISH LINE. Then this water volunteer says "only 7/10th's of a mile to the finish line". One would think that would be a great thing to hear, but the reality is knowing that you are that close and it still seems like miles and miles away. And it was a long 7/10th's of a mile.

Me and BFFAE running to the finish!!!

But we pressed forward. And we ran. Close to the finish line we hear our names and see our friends from Cleveland! And we cross the line. We did it. Together. Again. And we PR'd. Together. And it was worth it.

Me, Toni, BFFAE

BFFAE and I collect our medals. Grab our refreshments. Get our pic taken and head into the park for the party! Toni and Julie (Cleveland) are right there with chocolate milk. I don't normally drink milk, but after a long run like that, it is the best tasting thing and so good for your recovery. I gulp every drop! We get out pic taken with Toni and she has to leave to get back to Cleveland! GREAT JOB TONI!!! Thanks for joining us! (Next time we need a longer weekend with you!)

Hat Swag!

Afterwards we were supposed to meet Deanna and Katie in the beer garden. Both our phones were dead. Ugh. So we head in there looking for them to no avail. 30 minutes and we give up and head back to the hotel, to charge our phones and call them. The walk was about 6 blocks. 6 DOWNTOWN blocks. Omgoodness! BFFAE actually told me that she didn't really like me at that moment, or anyone at that moment (we are okay now, I think!)

Get to the hotel, no key. Request one. Go up. BAM! They are there! They had the same thought! Great minds think alike!!

Deanna had a PR! 2 hours exactly! (2:06 at Akron)

So it's done. 3rd 1/2 in a year. To the day. We're "in talks" about the next half.

Few other notes about this race...
- Security was unbelievable! Police at EVERY corner.
- 4 helicopters in the sky
- I don't recall seeing anybody carrying a backpack of any kind.
- I was on the verge of tears prior to the race just thinking about Boston. I could cry now thinking about it.
- This is an amazing race. I highly recommend it.

There is so much more I could say!

So thank you my friends. And know, I'm not done! And neither are you! Keep going!!

Run. Strong.
-t-