It was a beautiful day. The sky was cloudless and the temperature was perfect at 52 degrees. I am not sure I could have asked for more perfect race conditions for my third attempt at a marathon and second attempt at the Indianapolis Marathon.
I met up with Brooke, Jason, John and Andrea before the race. The race was delayed 10 - 15 minutes due to heavy traffic near the race site and they wanted to make sure all racers could get there in time. So we got lined up and talked a little more. The plan was to run together at about an 8:30/mile pace - the fastest I would want to run (especially since I was the only one running the full marathon). I felt I could reasonably run at this pace and be just fine, though I only need a consistent 9:00/mile pace to accomplish my goal.
With everyone lined up under the large American Flag, the national anthem started. There was a problem with the sound system and it cut out a few times at the beginning, but when it did, there was a low murmur in the crowd singing along, getting louder as we went along. Kind of gave me goose bumps.
Then it was time to race. Luckily where we were lined up we were close to the start - probably 45 seconds from the start line. Once we got started, we took off with the group. The first mile was right on pace and I was feeling good. The next couple of miles I had noticed that we were going too fast - about 8:00/mile. This is when Jason and John pulled away and Brooke and I tried to slow it back down to the goal pace. I wasn't sure if those first 5-6 miles above pace would hurt me, but I was feeling good so I didn't worry about it. I had a few minutes in the bank, so even if I slowed down on the back half to 9:30/mile I would still be okay.
At mile 6 I took some gel and water and continued on. We approached my neighborhood around mile 6.5 and Steph was out in front of our house with our neighbor cheering everyone on. We pushed on and then I started thinking about the hills in the state park - the ones I trained on - the ones I knew I could run. I am not sure what I was dreading, but it was at the back of my mind. Just after mile 8 we saw Brooke's husband Keith and her mom. We waved and headed towards the state park. Once in the park we were able to relax a little for a nice gradual downhill section of the course (of course the hill was on the back side of the loop still to come). The park looked amazing today - the sun and the leaves seemed in perfect harmony and they seemed to just glow. We rounded the back side of the loop and took the hills with no problem. It was a little work, but it was over before we knew it. We headed out of the park towards mile 12. I took a gel and water at the next water stop to keep up my energy, I was still feeling good and was having visions of crushing my goal at this point (not a good idea).
Brooke and I separated at mile 12.5 where she headed to the finish (she PR'd) and I headed into the state park, this time at the main entry where I would run straight through and do an out and back. At this point I was on my own. This was the part I had been dreading all summer long. This is where I had to prove to myself I was mentally strong enough to keep going on my own because this is where the fan support tends to drop off.
I was still feeling amazing. My pace was still around 8:30 - 8:40/mile so I figured I would push to stay at this pace as long as I could. I still felt like I would crush my goal and come in well under 4 hours even if I had to slow down to 9:30/mile further on.
Mile 14 got me to the back of the park and then I headed out to to the turn around point at mile 19. I tried to keep my mind busy with taking in the sight of colorful trees and looking at all of the runners. My pace was still holding steady up until around mile 19. I started to slow down and I was now running about 9:03/mile. I was starting to feel a little tired, but strong enough to keep up this pace. I took my last gel at mile 21 where I walked through the water stop and I pushed on. It was at this point I was trying to conserve some energy and I was planning on a walk break every mile - I still had plenty of time in the bank so I wasn't too worried, though I really didn't want to do any walking at all.
It was getting harder and harder to keep myself going. I finally made it back to the back of the park at mile 24 and I started walking at the water stop some more. At this point I was not feeling well. I couldn't tell if I drank too much or if I was at my limit. I continued to walk some more until I saw a photographer taking photos. I immediately threw my drink down and started running. I got a few good photos (I hope) and was about 25 feet past him when I felt light-headed and nauseous. I stopped and was walking once again. I had hit the wall HARD. It wasn't my legs at all - they did not hurt, it felt like my body had no energy left to give. I tried taking deep breaths, but couldn't seem to relax. My GPS had somehow gotten messed up at the very beginning of the race, so I wasn't even sure what my overall time actually was at this point, but I knew my banked minutes were disappearing quickly.
Brooke had promised to meet up with me somewhere in the park and pace me in. Unfortunately I was in no shape to be paced. She found me at about 24.5 miles walking and I had nothing in me to start any kind of shuffle, let alone run. She walked with me to the next water stop and then to mile 25 where I stopped to stretch. I though it might help, but I still felt awful.
This is the part I keep going over in my head. I keep thinking I could have started running at this point and made the last 1.2 miles, but I know at that given moment I could not. It wasn't until mile 25.5 that I was able to start a jog. I tried to pick up the pace for the last .2 miles and I am not sure if I did, but as I turned the corner I had a sudden surge of energy and I felt like I was sprinting to the finish.
My official time: 4:12:59. I am always happy to PR by ten minutes, but I still feel a bit disappointed to have made it so far into the race feeling strong only to crash and burn as I did so close to the end. I don't know if the first few miles hurt me (most likely), but I am going to try to not over analyze this anymore. It leaves me open for another PR for my next marathon and thw same goal to finish in under 4 hours still.
I have to thank Brooke for sticking around and helping me finish. I am not sure I could have started running again without some encouragement. Also, thanks to Jason who was at the end to see me finish (and to hand me some Propel, though an ice cold beer sounded better!). Without the support of my friends, it would have been a miserable experience.
That is all for now. I am taking a few days off and then will get back to it. I think my next race will be a trail run at Fort Harrison State Park on November 17th . Until then... Happy running to all!
With everyone lined up under the large American Flag, the national anthem started. There was a problem with the sound system and it cut out a few times at the beginning, but when it did, there was a low murmur in the crowd singing along, getting louder as we went along. Kind of gave me goose bumps.
Then it was time to race. Luckily where we were lined up we were close to the start - probably 45 seconds from the start line. Once we got started, we took off with the group. The first mile was right on pace and I was feeling good. The next couple of miles I had noticed that we were going too fast - about 8:00/mile. This is when Jason and John pulled away and Brooke and I tried to slow it back down to the goal pace. I wasn't sure if those first 5-6 miles above pace would hurt me, but I was feeling good so I didn't worry about it. I had a few minutes in the bank, so even if I slowed down on the back half to 9:30/mile I would still be okay.
At mile 6 I took some gel and water and continued on. We approached my neighborhood around mile 6.5 and Steph was out in front of our house with our neighbor cheering everyone on. We pushed on and then I started thinking about the hills in the state park - the ones I trained on - the ones I knew I could run. I am not sure what I was dreading, but it was at the back of my mind. Just after mile 8 we saw Brooke's husband Keith and her mom. We waved and headed towards the state park. Once in the park we were able to relax a little for a nice gradual downhill section of the course (of course the hill was on the back side of the loop still to come). The park looked amazing today - the sun and the leaves seemed in perfect harmony and they seemed to just glow. We rounded the back side of the loop and took the hills with no problem. It was a little work, but it was over before we knew it. We headed out of the park towards mile 12. I took a gel and water at the next water stop to keep up my energy, I was still feeling good and was having visions of crushing my goal at this point (not a good idea).
Brooke and I separated at mile 12.5 where she headed to the finish (she PR'd) and I headed into the state park, this time at the main entry where I would run straight through and do an out and back. At this point I was on my own. This was the part I had been dreading all summer long. This is where I had to prove to myself I was mentally strong enough to keep going on my own because this is where the fan support tends to drop off.
I was still feeling amazing. My pace was still around 8:30 - 8:40/mile so I figured I would push to stay at this pace as long as I could. I still felt like I would crush my goal and come in well under 4 hours even if I had to slow down to 9:30/mile further on.
Mile 14 got me to the back of the park and then I headed out to to the turn around point at mile 19. I tried to keep my mind busy with taking in the sight of colorful trees and looking at all of the runners. My pace was still holding steady up until around mile 19. I started to slow down and I was now running about 9:03/mile. I was starting to feel a little tired, but strong enough to keep up this pace. I took my last gel at mile 21 where I walked through the water stop and I pushed on. It was at this point I was trying to conserve some energy and I was planning on a walk break every mile - I still had plenty of time in the bank so I wasn't too worried, though I really didn't want to do any walking at all.
It was getting harder and harder to keep myself going. I finally made it back to the back of the park at mile 24 and I started walking at the water stop some more. At this point I was not feeling well. I couldn't tell if I drank too much or if I was at my limit. I continued to walk some more until I saw a photographer taking photos. I immediately threw my drink down and started running. I got a few good photos (I hope) and was about 25 feet past him when I felt light-headed and nauseous. I stopped and was walking once again. I had hit the wall HARD. It wasn't my legs at all - they did not hurt, it felt like my body had no energy left to give. I tried taking deep breaths, but couldn't seem to relax. My GPS had somehow gotten messed up at the very beginning of the race, so I wasn't even sure what my overall time actually was at this point, but I knew my banked minutes were disappearing quickly.
Brooke had promised to meet up with me somewhere in the park and pace me in. Unfortunately I was in no shape to be paced. She found me at about 24.5 miles walking and I had nothing in me to start any kind of shuffle, let alone run. She walked with me to the next water stop and then to mile 25 where I stopped to stretch. I though it might help, but I still felt awful.
This is the part I keep going over in my head. I keep thinking I could have started running at this point and made the last 1.2 miles, but I know at that given moment I could not. It wasn't until mile 25.5 that I was able to start a jog. I tried to pick up the pace for the last .2 miles and I am not sure if I did, but as I turned the corner I had a sudden surge of energy and I felt like I was sprinting to the finish.
My official time: 4:12:59. I am always happy to PR by ten minutes, but I still feel a bit disappointed to have made it so far into the race feeling strong only to crash and burn as I did so close to the end. I don't know if the first few miles hurt me (most likely), but I am going to try to not over analyze this anymore. It leaves me open for another PR for my next marathon and thw same goal to finish in under 4 hours still.
I have to thank Brooke for sticking around and helping me finish. I am not sure I could have started running again without some encouragement. Also, thanks to Jason who was at the end to see me finish (and to hand me some Propel, though an ice cold beer sounded better!). Without the support of my friends, it would have been a miserable experience.
That is all for now. I am taking a few days off and then will get back to it. I think my next race will be a trail run at Fort Harrison State Park on November 17th . Until then... Happy running to all! 
3 comments:
Fantastic race report! I had a blast running with you and would happily do it any day. Your time is amazing and you have inspired Jason and I to train for another marathon (yikes). Relax, enjoy your down time and let me know when you want to run again. YOU ROCK!!
You ran a great race and it seems like you were strong for most of it. Going out too fast seems to be what gets us all.. Congrats!
Thanks for the report. You'll get that sub four hour's next time. Start a bit slower and you'll be fine.
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