This week’s Tuesdays on the Run linkup asks a question: How are you different now compared to when you started blogging? For me that’s an easy one. When I started blogging back in January, 2009, I’d just run my second marathon and qualified for Boston. I had a 3 yr. old and a 7 yr. old and my blog was a creative outlet and a journal of my training for Boston. I had a pretty rigorous workout schedule. Every run had a purpose. Every mile had a pace and every race had A, B and C goals. I was terrified the Boston Hills would eat me alive and to put it simply, I was doing everything in my power to make Boston as enjoyable (least painful) as possible.
Fast forward almost 8 years and my motives have changed. A lot. I’ve come to love the running/blogging community. I race mostly for social enjoyment. I’m no longer chasing PRs when I race and compete against nobody besides myself, and most of the time a younger fitter me kicks the current me’s booty. But you know what? I’m still having fun. I can tell you with 100% certainty there’s life after PRs. Sure there are aspects of aging that suck, but truly it is the way you perceive and react to them that matters. With that, I bring you the race report from this past weekend’s Indiana Monumental Marathon. The 10th time I took on the 26.2 distance.
A year ago when Tara, Jill and I ran the Twin Cities Marathon, we agreed we’d meet again in a year to run Indy. I for one ducked out of a New Years Eve party a few minutes after midnight to score the bargain basement deal online. How’s that for dedication? Or is it cheapness?
Last Friday I got the kids off to school, loaded the car, headed to the airport to pickup Jill then we road tripped to Indianapolis while Tara drove from Missouri and Karen from Iowa.
Jill, Tara and me.
The expo was our first order of business. Packet pickup was easy enough. The expo was just ok. No pint glass for the collection, but I did score a hoodie and found a tee from last year on clearance.
Next up was the race-eve festival of carbs, which took place at Giordanos. We scored a table at the bar to avoid the wait and the place got packed to the rafters with runners shortly after.
Race morning dawned cold and clear. I vacillated between a tank/sleeves and a long sleeve 1/4 zip. The tank won out and as soon as we stepped outside, I knew it was the right choice. 37 degrees didn’t feel that cold. Go figure.
Gear check was quick and easy. I wish I could say the same about hitting the potties. As we headed toward the corrals we spotted a small bank of potties with a line 3 blocks long. After a few minutes we knew darned well we’d never make the start of the race if we stayed in line so we looked in vain for other options. No other potties in sight. We were still wandering and scoping for more potties when the anthem played so I gave up and headed to the corrals, which were overflowing by now.
All I could do was wander toward the back and wait on the lawn at the side for runners to start moving forward. From my vantage point on the lawn I could see two additional banks of potties on the OTHER side of the corrals. There was no way to get over there. I decided I’d just have to stop and go when I saw potties on the racecourse. C’est la vie. When I was finally able to enter the corrals, I was well behind the 5hr pace group.
As we inched forward a woman lined up in front of me asked “Is this your first 5k marathon?” I noticed she had the green 5k bib on. The 5k was scheduled to go off 20 minutes after the half and full marathoners, yet here she was in front of me. It was then I heard the announcer tell the 5k peeps to head all the way to the back. Nobody moved.
Eventually I’d cross the starting line. Good thing I was “fun running”.
Goals: Run happy, be grateful. Any day I can run any pace is a great day.
Trust me when I say my training this summer has been lackluster and uninspired at best. Three weeks ago my thyroid meds were changed and let’s just say the effect has not been favorable. I can’t get back into the doc to retest for another month. I am tired and sluggish on my best day. The plan was to make it to mile 13 then see how far I could get before I needed to board the struggle bus. I’d keep an easy breezy pace and try to hang on as long as possible.
Because I was so far back (my own fault) I was stuck behind tons of walkers. I don’t mind walkers but I do mind when they walk 5 across. I made the best of it and told myself they were saving me from going out too fast. I crawled along behind the walkers, sort of incredulous that so many wanted to walk a freaking half marathon. Sounds vile to me. At the mile 2 water station I spotted some port o pots and got in line. I was not going to repeat the mistake I made in Twin Cities of never going and being miserable for 26.2 miles. The trouble was there were 25 runners ahead of me in line. This would not be a quick stop. The clock ticked as I stood there. Sigh.
When I finally rejoined the race, I was well behind the 5:30 pace group. Ugh. The 3 mile water station was already broken down halfway. Yikes. I’d never been so far back in a race before.
I resisted the urge to speed ahead to make up time and tried to find my pace but the course was still so crowded. My entire first 10k was crazy slow. The course was still crazy crowded all the way up to the half marathon turnoff at mile 7. More than twice as many people headed in for the half leaving the marathon course refreshingly open. Phew! I settled in behind a lady in a pink tee.
We headed up the edge of a road with just a few cones separating us from heavy traffic. Not my favorite way to run. This part of the course was pancake flat, yet my left ITB ached. Would this be a problem today? I found my pace, but I also noticed a twinge on the right of my back above my bra line. Chafe alert. Ugh. I kept an eye out for Vaseline.
I passed the halfway mark expecting to start taking walk intervals but I still felt good. At mile 14 my tunes stopped and it was getting warm so I took a break, restarted my music, pulled down my arm sleeves and assessed the chafe. Yowza it was a rager. I blame the sleeve.
Miles 16-18 were purported to have some hills so I took it easy on those. I decided to check my Band II to see the crazy amount of steps I had only to discover it wasn’t on my wrist. This stopped me dead in my tracks. Could it have fallen off at 14 when I was messing with my music and my sleeves?? Sadly there was nothing I could do about it now so I continued on, bummed. The water stations were getting interesting. They had big baskets of candy. Snickers, Kit Kats, pretzels. bananas. I took none of it. I was still hanging with the pink tee lady.
My pink tee pacer lady.
We went through a very pretty park filled with yellow foliage. It was short lived though. The miles continued to click away. I wondered when I’d really start to struggle.
After mile 18 I hoped for a screaming downhill that never came. Mile 20 was hard, but I was still hanging in there. 21 was entirely uphill, which I did not appreciate. 23 was on the side of a steeply banked and chewed up road. My hips did not approve. At times I jumped up on the sidewalk to run on a flatter surface. As much as I said I didn’t care about my time or pace, it was in the final 5k that I decided I really did not want to be over 5 hours. Even if 10+ minutes of it could be attributed to the longest potty break of modern times, I still really wanted to get in in 4 something.
The final miles weren’t fun but are they ever? With just a couple of miles left to go, the Soldier and Sailor monument was in sight and quite lovely. I was hurting but it wasn’t anything I couldn’t manage. Just finish. Just finish. Just finish.
Finally we were back in the city and I could smell the finish. I entered the barricade area and heard Tara, Jill and Karen yelling for me (they’d run the half). It was here that I finally passed pink tee shirt lady and I couldn’t believe it as I’d been behind her, admiring her consistency since mile 13. At last I made the final turn and brought it home.
Finish Time: 4:49. Nowhere near a PR but not a PW either, even with the potty fiasco.
Good: I felt good throughout the race. No GI issues. The course is pretty. The first half is pancake flat (a love match for me). I stayed on my fueling schedule and my hydration pack lasted until mile 25. Race swag is good. The medal has grown on me. The race shirt is ok but I’ll likely never wear it because I rarely if ever wear short sleeve shirts. I appreciate the extra hat and it fits well. Despite so many cars stuck in a mega traffic jam along the course, many of the drivers were so kind and cheered for us as they sat waiting. Weather was perfection. Turns out I didn’t lose my Band II at all. It was back at the hotel on the charger. Boom!
Bad: Not enough potties at the start. Long potty lines at all water stops except the very last ones. The corrals were a mess. 5k runners need to stay clear of the corrals until the marathoners go off. Spectators are sparse. There were some awesome ones who rocked out the cowbell but there were plenty of long, empty stretches too. Too much of the race was on busy roads not closed to traffic. Many of these roads were gridlocked with traffic and we were left to smell the exhaust. In the back half there were many side streets that did not have police or a course marshal directing traffic so cars drove across the race course whenever. I had the queen of all chafes from one of my sleeves.
Final Words. This was a fun race and we had a freaking blast all weekend. I didn’t set the course on fire, but I’m oddly satisfied with it. I ran the race I trained for so I really cannot complain.
Congrats to everyone who raced this weekend! Now it’s your turn. Have you changed as a runner or otherwise since you started blogging?
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Wow! I am very proud to call you Coach M! Great recap! Why did your friends run the half & you the whole? Your time is still great ! #10 in the bag- amazing!!!! I am thinking the Indy mini next year ? rest up!
Congrats! Glad you had a great experience overall.This sounds like a fun race and I think you took the right approach- training enough but not so much that it takes over your life, and then running the race you trained for. 10 marathons is awesome!!
Great recap! Those corrals and the portapotty situation would totally have messed with my head! Glad you were able to overcome. Thank goodness for experience. This really proves how much of running a marathon is mental–you are one tough cookie!
Great recap. There are never enough potties on the course! It’s ridiculous.
I also don’t like partially open courses. That seems so odd to me that a big race like Indy wouldn’t close the roads.
Excellent job, lady!
Nice job on your race Marcia and it sounds like it was a fun weekend. The port a potty problem is just that, a problem. So sorry you had to wait so long, but I certainly understand being uncomfortable during a race. It has happened to me several times, and I have learned to skip drinking much the morning of my bigger races. Instead, I hydrate like crazy the days leading up to the race, especially the night before Love that you followed and then passed “pink day”. Your time was very good considering your really long break for the port a potty.
With all the challenges along the way you did an amazing job! Congrats! Loved your recap.
I’d say the biggest change for me is that I’m more grateful of what I can do as a runner, even though I’ll never be fast. Prioritizing staying injury free has been huge.
Awesome recap!! I might have to add this race to my “race radar.” Oh, I would have been so annoyed at the porta-pot situation and all the 5K peeps and walkers not in their respective places. Etiquette, people, it’s not that difficult! I think the medal is cool! Where in Iowa is your friend, Karen, from?
Kim she lives in Bettendorf, Iowa!
Congrats! A few weeks ago you were debating whether or not to even run the full, so I think you did amazingly well! I know I’d be stressed out if I faced all the hurdles you did at the start of the race. Way to stay calm and not let it all ruin your day.
Great recap! I’m so sorry that you had issues at the start line with the potties issues. I think these races just underestimate the amount of people that are going to run the race! I’m glad that you were able to hit the potty and then find your pace again. I know it must have been frustrating but you did it!
Great job with the marathon. I hope they allow feedback so you can mention the potty situation. Luckily I’ve always had plenty of porta-potties at major races, but why would a big race not have enough? Poor logistics. Also glad you have your Band II. That would’ve been awful to lose it.
Congrats! It’s funny how sometimes being a bit undertrained actually works out. Sounds like the start was not a lot of fun though…
Congrats!! Glad you felt well through the whole race 🙂
I laughed at your comment about mile 21. Yeah, I can see that. LOL Great recap and I’m glad you had fun even if it wasn’t your favorite race. Congrats!
Glad you were able to find the good in with the not so good. Sounds like you made the best of a bad situation — and that’s not always easy — so great job! And OMG that pizza looks freaking awesome!
Even though I’m a slow runner & a run/walker to boot, I’m very aware of other runners and try hard to get out of people’s way — and those walkers who are totally clogging the course are the bane of my existence!
After our epic run/walk around NYC garnered me what I think may have been my highest steps every (37k, or 17.3 miles according to the Garmin), I gave some thought to just how many a marathon would involve. I shudder to think about it.
It’s always more fun with friends!
Awesome job! The race sounded like a unique mix of ups and downs. And I’m a little jealous that the race gave you a short sleeve shirt – all of mine have given long-sleeve, which I can’t wear for the majority of the year.
I think you did great considering the circumstances.
Yes, as we age, PRs are hard to come by.
We running because we love how it makes us feel and commaderie of this sport (virtual and in person)
Congratulations!! you are amazing! I am glad you didn’t lose your step counter!
Can there ever be enough portable toilets? no. never enough!
That lady who asked you about the 5K Marathon! my god! I hope she started with the right group! or that would be a rough race!
Congrats on a great race, and what a wonderful recap! I had to giggle about the 5k marathon, I get asked that quite often, LOL!!
Congrats! I totally agree: there is life after PRs. For some, that means that they continue to race and just have fun, for others, that means that they stop racing and just have fun. Either way? Run because you love it.
I’m certainly not seeing any PRs these days unless it’s a new distance, but I still love getting out there! Congratulations on marathon #10! That’s quite an accomplishment.
Now that’s a medal even a self proclaimed “medal snob” would love! Congratulations! Looks like you had a great run and fun with friends!
Congrats! I like your attitude towards running. And I’m still impressed with your time! lol!
This looks like such a fun race. I should try it one year. It’s not too far from St. Louis
Congrats on your race! I love flat courses, bu the second half of the course does not sound fun. Glad to hear that the weather was beautiful. I think that always makes for a nicer race experience.
Glad you were able to pull it out to recover a bit from the potty break!
Great recap Marcia! Congrats on marathon #10 and overcoming the challenges that came with this one. I’m really surprised with a race of this size the roads weren’t closed!?! I also loved what you said about why you race and life after PRs – you have such a great perspective!
OMG you make it sound so easy ! Finishing a marathon is a huge accomplishment, no matter the pace. You rock.
And lack of potties ? I have no shame…. when you gotta go, you gotta go.
Hooray! You did it Marcia! I knew you would anyway! Huge Congrats for coming in under 5!
The “5K Marathon” shirt made me laugh so hard! Love it!
Thanks for another incredibly fun girls’ racing weekend. I love how the first comment-er asked why all your dorky friends did the half. Just tell her because we’re super effing lame! 🙂 I am super proud of you, I truly mean that. Let’s get another marathon knocked out next year and then let’s PARTY with no races in sight.
Yeah….right….
xo
Congrats on finishing marathon #10.
That sucks on the lack of port-a=potties. But wait you run a whole marathon holding it in. That must not have gone well.
Congrats on the finish! It sounds like the slow start to the race may have helped you. I am always bad about starting too hard in endurance events. Hope the chafing aftermath wasn’t too bad. Very awesome that you were able to enjoy the experience with friends.
Congratulations!!! For running it just for fun and falling a bit short on training, it sounds like you did awesome!
Great job on number 10. Going sub 5 with a long bathroom break is amazing.
I hate when there are porta-potty lines it stresses me out.
I was so worried about how long they were in NYC.
Congrats on your 10th marathon! What an accomplishment. Really great with all the corral issues and long potty line you were able to make it into a fun overall experience!
I have been trying to read this for days and I always get interrupted! I apologize for taking so long, but i wanted to take it all in 🙂
I so relate to the POP problem, I had the exact same thing! UGH!! not enough….
I love your finished picture, you look so happy! Congratulations!! You ran a great race.
and you should be very proud, 10 is a major accomplishment. i am dying after one lol I love that you had a “pacer” I love when you can hang on to someone visually, I think it is a great mental help.
Always a yay!! for good weather 😉
I am glad you had a fun time!
I am sad you lost your tracker 🙁
Way to go on your 10th marathon! So awesome! Great job passing pink tee lady too! 🙂
Congrats on marathon #10! Things have changed so much since our OG days of run-blogging, but always for the better. It’s kind of nice to just be running to run, and not to be all stressed about goals all the time! And a weekend with Jill – lucky!!