Having finished a half marathon in September, we (my sister and I) needed another event to keep us going. Or at least I did. I won't speak for her. The September half was hot hot hot, so we were looking forward to a nice cool early May half marathon. HA HA HA. This was the e-mail we got a few days before the race:
IMPORTANT INFORMATION—PLEASE READ CAREFULLY:
High temperatures and humidity are predicted for Saturday. These conditions put runners at increased risk for heat-related problems. Please remember to stay well-hydrated and monitor yourself. You may need to slow your pace and/or take other suitable precautions to minimize the risk of heat-related problems.
But, first, I'll back up just a tiny bit. My hips have been hurting. I assume it's because I'm older and overweight. They've been hurting for months, maybe longer. At first it was just one and then it progressed to both. I've lost a few pounds and they still hurt (maybe even worse). And the more we tried to run the more they hurt. For the most part, it's just an annoyance and doesn't really stop me from doing anything that I want to do. But, a couple of weeks ago on a Monday night Gretch and I were out wogging/jalking (whatever combo of the words 'walk' and 'jog' you prefer), and we were running and my right hip hurt so bad that we had to head home. That was a first - pain so bad that I had to stop. I tried to put socks on later that night and I couldn't lift my foot to put the socks on without sitting down it hurt so bad. Gretchen forbid me to wog on Wednesday and that was birthday party week so I actually ended up resting it for a week or more. Then we went on our 10 mile training walk (no jogging whatsoever) and it felt okay - just the normal pain. That walk was a week before the mini. We only walked once the following week and we just did that at the gym and kept a nice steady pace. I know I should go to the doctor (and will now that the mini is over) but I was so worried she would tell me that I coudn't do the mini that I didn't want to go before. Okay, enough about that. Really, I think I just shared that so you could feel sorry for Gretch having to hang out with her old fat sister during the mini!
Friday was a good busy day - a PTF-type meeting at the school and then an awesome tea hosted by the kindergarten class for their moms. My sweet boy giving me a sweet smelling flower.
Then I headed home to finish a little laundry, pack my bag, and await my ride (my mama and Gretch) downtown. Gretchen's aunt-in-law, Patty, was doing the mini too, doesn't live in Indy, got a hotel room, and invited us to stay downtown with her so we didn't have to worry about parking Saturday morning. So, mom dropped us off at the hotel, we dropped off our stuff, grabbed Patty, and headed over to the expo for some packet pickup and shopping. I really was SO excited to be picking up my packet for THE mini. I know it sounds silly to most, but I really was so excited to be doing this. We had a good time wandering around, looking at all of the gear and supplies, and merchandise.
After a couple hours there we headed back to our hotel for the restaurant's carb loading special of salad and pasta. Unfortunately, the service was dreadful (we kept wondering if they had missed the memo about the 35,000 people registered for the race in the morning), but all in all it was a nice dinner where I ate hot food and didn't have to prepare anyone else's meal. Score-score!
So, the experience:
There was a ridiculous amount of people. It sells out every year. It's the largest half marathon in the country, I believe. They stop taking entrants at 35,000 people. I am not fast, but it was a pain to navigate around people to pass them. I told Gretch that I thought we might walk 15 miles before we were done because of all the weaving to get around. These three were all pre race photos. I felt like a cow, herded into my corral and numbered.
I'd heard that walking the track is painful. Not ouch painful, but a long walk painful. I was really looking forward to that part. I mean, it's the IMS! I was warned (thank you) that there would already be people finishing their lap on the track when I started mine. Very true. Walking under the bridge was pretty neat.
Walking the track didn't really seem like it was any different than walking on the streets. We did hit the halfway mark at the track so that was nice. They kept telling us that there would be no hydration stations on the track, etc. and then there was at least one that I remember, maybe even two. Because it was hot.
Soon after we left the track it seemed like every medic station was occupied. Because it was hot. Not that I needed a medic but it messed with the mental attitude a bit to see so many people needing hydration or whatever they were needing. Because it was hot. There was a lot of entertainment along the route. Mostly intentional - bands, DJs, etc. Some not so intentional - the line at the portable toilets made me laugh often. I just kept thinking, clearly these people need some young kids for this training - I can go all day without stopping! Nevermind that I'm pretty sure that if I had stopped walking I never would have started again!
I know Gretch had planned to run more than we got to. My hip was really hurting. I told her it was fine to leave me. Sweetly, she said she wanted to finish the mini with me.
Even so, we managed to finish about 5 minutes faster than our first half marathon. We finished, got our medals, bananas, chocolate milk (Can I tell you how much I was looking forward to the chocolate milk?), found our mom and Matt and Delaney and Carson (my boys had swim lessons at the time we were finishing) and I felt very thankful to be done! I kept getting these waves of feeling super crummy and finally sat down (although I was worried I wouldn't be able to get back up, Mom and Matt assisted me). Then I figured out that everytime I drank the milk I felt crummy so I switched to water and that made a huge difference!
Gretch and her family stayed downtown and my momma was my ride home (thanks Mom!). The boys welcomed me with lots of flowers and hugs. Except for Max, who refused to speak to me and actually swatted me away while yelling, "no" because I had left him overnight.
All in all, I am SO glad that I did it; that I finished it; that I finished stronger than my first half marathon; that I finished it with my sister. But, I'm really not sure I will do this one again. It was so crowded and there's not much scenic about the neighborhoods on the way to and from the track. We are registered for the Indy Women's Half again in September and provided I get my hips figured out (I actually made a doctor's appointment!), I'm excited to try to be faster at that one.
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