Race Report Monumental Marathon #6

I wasn’t very excited to run this marathon this year.  I guess it was because I had trained all year and focused only on the ultra (100k) that I ran in September.  I hadn’t raced a marathon in 18 months, running the Disney marathon as a fun run and switching to the half at Carmel in April because of injury.  But I had paid for this race and it was local so I was running it.  I did take most of the six weeks between the ultra and this race off to recover , only running about 100 miles.  I figured, heck I ran 62 miles in September, I can certainly run 26 in early November!  LOL.  Not.

The weather in Indianapolis was perfect for a marathon, upper 30’s for the 8:00 start.  This is the 6^th year for this marathon and first time that it had sold out.  I ran it 2 years ago so was familiar with the course (4:09 finish).  I wore shorts, calf sleeves, arm warmers and short sleeve tech shirt and gloves.  I carried 2 Gu’s and a package of Clif Shots in my spi belt.

I got to the race early, used the port-o-lets a few times and was ready to go.  I got into the corrals around the 4:30 pace group.  I planned on running truly by feel but hoped to be finished around 4:20-4:30.  Shed my throw-away clothes and the runner standing next to me recognized me from FB (Smilin’ Tobes) so we chatted about 10 mins as we walked to the starting line.  I crossed the timing mats and was off running!

The first 4 miles of the race are through our beautiful downtown – past Lucas Oil Stadium where my Colts play, past numerous monuments as we make our way north.  The crowd was bigger than the previous year with plenty of fun signs.   These miles are uneventful and easy.  I’m thinking that maybe this won’t be so bad!  I told myself that I could walk the water stops as my ultra training had conditioned me to walk every mile for a minute or so.  They had 18 water stops so not every mile but I didn’t think that would be a problem.

The route seemed crowded with runners of all shapes and sizes.  I enjoyed not being worried about my time and everything was feeling good.  I was taking fluids in at each water stop and that caught up to me!  But the lines were all very long at the port-o-lets so I skipped them until after the half split at mile 7.  By mile 11 though, I needed to stop and spent several minutes in line (frustrating!!).  Soon we are closing in on the half way mark and I cross the 13.1 marker at 2:25, 30 mins off my recent HM time.  I noticed my Body Glide had worn off between my thighs so I stopped at the med tent here for some Vaseline which took another couple of minutes.    But I knew I’d be in a world of pain if I didn’t take care of it!

Soon I’m running down the famous Meridian Street , with mansions on both sides.  The crowd here was light but loud!  I ran past our Governor’s Mansion (he wasn’t outside) and turned toward Butler University’s campus.  It was this area where I started to feel pain in my quads.  I was really hungry too so I ate half of my Clif Shots (I had taken my Gu’s at mile 6 and 11).  I started to worry about how hungry I was!  The nutrition tables at the water stops were full – of empty boxes.  Crap, can’t rely on any being left as I continue on.  I’m doing the math in my head and know that 4:30 isn’t going to happen but I really, really wanted to break 5:00.  I had lost too much time with my restroom break, med tent and my pace certainly wasn’t going to speed up.  Oh well, I knew this wasn’t going to be a PR for me but I didn’t want to give up either.

About mile 18, I grab some fluids at the water stop and notice a table with a large pile of Jolly Ranchers.  I grab a couple and asked the girls working it if they had any other food to which they replied that they didn’t.  The only thing they had were fun sized Snickers that had been run over by earlier runners but they were still wrapped.  Well, I didn’t give a crap at this point so I asked them for a few of those which they quickly grabbed from the ground by their table.  The bars were kind flat but still wrapped!  So I grabbed two and started unwrapping one as I walked.  Two ladies took some as well and we chatted about how hungry we must be to eat trampled on candy!  Then I noticed numerous Clif Block packets that only had 2 or 3 shots eaten out of them.  I just shook my head and grabbed one package that was in the grass, just in case I really needed it.  Don’t judge me!!!!

Mile 19 is through our arts museum which is so beautiful.  The crowd was out and I looked to see if I knew anyone.  I didn’t expect to see anyone but it’s the easiest place to get in and out of so I always recommend spectators to go there.  No one looked familiar which was fine.  I turn out of the museum and head down an off ramp to the loneliest part of the course, miles 19.5-23.  As I’m running down the ramp, I see a photographer sitting on a guard rail and think “Jeez, that’s how my dad sits.  But my dad wears a black hat when he comes to my races.  But man, he really looks like my dad.”  Then the camera lowers and I see a very familiar smile!  Dad!!  I run up to him and thank him so much for coming to see me!  He laughs and said he’s been there for a long time looking for me but was giving me five hours to get there before he would leave ( I got there about 3:45).  He asked me to run back up the ramp a little ways so he could get a better picture so I complied and smiled nicely.  He yelled that he’d see me at the finish.  That was such a nice pick-me-up that it helped carry me through the next mile.

The next portion of the race is very light on spectators.  As in nearly none.   The road is empty except the runners.  So many people are walking by this point too.  I keep telling myself to just make it to the next water stop.  About mile 21 I run past an older black gentleman who said “Ah, you caught back up to me, oh to be young again.”  I passed him but stopped soon at the water stop for some water and ate my last Snickers.  This stop did have Clif Blocks left (they had cut the packets in half so less waste!!)  so I grabbed 3 and practically inhaled them.   I was running again and saw the man who had said something to me in front of me so I pushed myself to catch up to him.  I guess I just wanted someone to talk to at this point.  I did catch him and told him that I had worked to catch up to him.  So we started talking.  Turns out he’s run all 50 states and several more than once.  He’s run between 60-70 marathons and ran Boston in 1996.  We talked about how hard the last few miles are, how age catches us, how beautiful the fall colors were, anything really.  After about a mile I started to pull away and he let me go.  I know that running that mile with him really encouraged me to keep going, not give into the walk demons and finish under 5:00.

Mile 23 takes us back downtown.  But it’s cruel because you can see the buildings but they seem to take forever to get to.  I’m passing so many people who are walking now but my quads are screaming with every step.  I see mile 24 and my watch says 4:32.  I decide that I want to be under 4:55 and I was going to do everything I could to make that.  I walk the last water stop and the very last volunteer looked me in the eye and said “you’re almost there, Mary, you will do this” and I got so choked up, I just nodded and started running again.  I hear someone playing Van Halen’s “Jump” so loud from the steps of an old church.  I remembered the last time I ran this race that he was playing the Olympic theme song and I cried (I always cry when I hear that song!!).  Then, just as I’m passing him, he puts on the Olympic song!  I raise my hands above my head and he cheered for me.  I don’t care if I look like a fool!

We pass mile 25 and I have 14 minutes to make my goal, no letting up.  A guy runs next to me and compliments my running shorts, which look like denim cutoffs, and asks me where I got them.  Then he turned to the lady behind him and said “Come on honey, you don’t want to lose to a lady wearing denim shorts!!”.  WTF??!!  It took a couple of minutes for me to get mad at him but I sure did get mad.  Now we’re closing in on the finish, the cones are up and I know it’s only 2 more turns.  The crowd is out in force and I’m checking my watch, I have 4 minutes and 3/10^th to go.  I should be able to make it but I wanted to make sure that I did.  I make the next turn and see the crowd cheering for everyone.  I also see the guy who made the comment about my shorts and decide “F-you, I’m beating you!!”  So I put everything I have into the last 200 yards and sprint as hard as I can.  I hear my dad yell “Go Mary” as I make the final turn and see the finish line 50 yards away.  I keep sprinting, pass the guy and keep running hard.  I get some extra cheers from the crowd and I feel like I’m running a 6:00 min mile!  I didn’t want to check my pace, I just wanted to finish strong and I hit that finish line and nearly collapse.  4:54:04.  The medal is awesome, a cutout with a spinner the shape of Indiana.

So this marathon was not very good.  But it’s entirely my fault.  I didn’t take it seriously, took the 26.2 for granted.  And she bit me in the arse as the marathon has a way of doing.  She demands respect and she got mine all over again.   I’ll be back!!

Oh Mary... this RR is full of win! True, you had not train specifically for this marathon, so no PR possible this time, but you sure made the best of it and your journey through the city was beautiful and fun! You made Indianapolis sound beautiful to me. Maybe I should put this one on my list of to do  races before I'm too old to run?

I'm always so moved by your dad's love for you, he takes such awesome pictures of his little girl! And OMG you made me laugh with your scavenging skills! haha... You need to work more on your day before carb-loading!  Finally, hell yes!!! you beat the jerk who made the derogatory comment! Serves him right! :-) Congratulations, marathon woman! And thank you so much for such a funny, moving and exciting RR. Like a mirror of your race. 

P.S. Sorry for the cut and paste from RW...

Way to go. Nice pics. Keep up the good work.

Interesting to read about the race from another perspective.  And I'm glad you beat the dude who commented on your shorts!  Congrats on another marathon!

Great job, Mary.  Doing this shortly after a 100k is a big deal. Congratulations for finishing despite not trying specifically for this.  The pics you included are so cute, and I think the shorts are awesome!

The marathon is indeed a cruel taskmaster.  I was unprepared in Boston and my toes cramped fairly badly after the race.  The good thing is that you were smart enough to know you weren't prepared and you didn't try to go PR or something else equally foolish.  Not every race can be a PR effort and, to me, it's a sign of maturing as a runner to know when you are prepared to drop the hammer and when it's time to just enjoy the day.

Now if your shorts had really been denim and not just look like denim....

It's so hard to focus on another race so soon after running a major milestone. Thanks for the reminder though it was a hard day for you. I think I was ready to over schedule racing for 2014 and you've brought me back with this reality check.

Thanks for the love, friends!!   I'm going to take next year very light, only two races.  I want to work more on speed and losing some of the weight that ultra training packed on me.

I recommend this race to all of you, I'd love to have any of you visit my city!!