In May of 2012 I was running at the gym. I was flipping channels on my tv and saw THE big Mini Marathon on tv. I'd heard some talk about THE Mini, but didn't really pay much attention, till I saw it on tv and realized it was a pretty big deal. I watched it during my run and started wondering if I could do it. I still had a lot of baby weight to lose, and at that point the most I was running was 3 1/2 ish miles. Plus, I hadn't run a half marathon since before I got pregnant with Luke. It was obviously something I couldn't have done that year, but I tucked it away in my little brain as something that might be really cool to do the next year.
I slacked off my running through the summer because we were homeless :) and just traveling most of the summer. Once I got back in the fall I started upping my miles. I got up to 6 mile runs when I got a hip injury. I wasn't able to run for about 3 months. I could bike and do the eliptical for some reason, but I couldn't even walk without a limp for a long time. Being poor students we didn't have insurance for me and Jerry so I just prayed and prayed that I hadn't done permanent damage and researched lots of stretches and exercises online. So at this point the race was out of my mind.
Luckily by February I was able to start running a little bit. As I was able to add more miles I started thinking more about the race. The one in 500 Mini Marathon is the largest Mini Marathon (half marathon) in the country. There are 34,000 participants - yes, thirty four THOUSAND!! And people come from all over the WORLD just for this race, and it was in my backyard. It is in Indianapolis and the racing course includes a lap around the Indy 500 speedway. How cool is that? The race is the first weekend in May. The sappy, sentimental side of me thought it would be a very fitting good-bye to Indiana. To be able to run this race in Indiana, then the very next weekend Jerry would graduate, then we'd move a few weeks later.
Every other race I've run had my support team with me. I was able to train with my friends and I've always had others running with me in the race - even if we separate during the race, it's still fun having someone else there running with you. This race would be all on my own. I was nervous, but finally bit the bullet, registered, and started training. I'm so glad I did it!
It was such a fun race. There was such a party atmosphere with live bands playing on the sidelines of the whole course. I couldn't believe the huge mass of people. CRAZY! According to my GPS I actually ran a total of 13.29 miles. That was because of all the weaving around people. That's a lot of weaving, but I guess that's what you have to do with that many people. It was probably the only frustrating thing about the race. To be in my stride and come upon a wall of runners at least 4 wide that just stop to walk. So you have to dart to the side till you find a hole to go ahead of them. It wasn't my personal best time, but at least I did it in the time goal I had set for myself. The last few miles were very hard, but I did it! I don't know how people can do a full marathon. Half is good enough for me. I saw a great sign along the way that said, "I run half marathons because I'm only half crazy." haha.
I'm glad I had the opportunity to do my own "Indiana" thing before we moved.
 |
| At the starting line. I was no where near the start of the line. |
 |
| Can't even see the starting line from where I started. Imagine this many people behind me as well. |
 |
| Heading into the speedway. |
 |
| Running around the Indy 500 Speedway |
 |
| That is my "I'm trying to multi-task too much to do a real smile" smile at around the 8th mile. |
 |
| I DID IT!! |
 |
| And this is my ultimate support crew!! |
2 comments:
Yeah! your awesome!
I hear you on the "on your own thing" its hard to train by yourself and run but in the end you still feel the same! Good job! By the way you look great!
Post a Comment