Hi all--Now that I've been released from the hospital... Well, ok, I didn't need hospitalization from my participation in the Indianapolis Half-Marathon. It was a gorgeous day, for starters. Hopped in the car in the dark for the half-hour drive to Fort Harrison State Park on the N.E. side of Indpls. Ft. Harrison used to be an Army base--home to the Army Finance Center. I parked in the FC lot about 200 yards from the start/finish line. It was starting to get light when I parked at 7:30. There were over 6,000 entrants in all events--full marathon, half, half-relay and 5k. This was my first HM and my first time on the former base. It is really cool. The junior officer's quarters have been turned into duplexes and the senior quarters are large, single family residences--all built in an early 1900's style. The grounds are still home to some Army facilities so the general area still exudes a military feel without the oppressive security. We lined up on a long street lined with trees and former barracks, self-seeding by per-mile times. The start at 8:30 was the usual walk until you hit the start line, generally trying to avoid crashing for the first mile or so. The course wound around the streets of the base until exiting for a loop around a nearby neighborhood. It was around 50 deg. at the start and clothes started flying as we progressed. Out of the neighborhood and back through the base, exiting to the East and winding around a newer neighborhood before heading North to the woods on the northern edge of the former base, now a State Park. We entered the wooded loop at around mile 8 and, apparently, the RD has a sick sense of humor because the next two miles were very hilly--just what you need at that point... We exited the wooded loop where we entered and had 2.5 miles back to the finish. I don't have any splits because I dumped them from my watch. The official times aren't posted but I did a 2:16 +/- a few seconds. I did the first couple of miles at a 11-12 min. pace partly due to traffic and partly because I was intentionally taking it slow. I also took an early potty break--nervous pee, as it were... The middle 6 miles or so were right in the 10 min. range--where I normally am and wanted to be. From 8-11, I started to slow, took another RR break and began walking through the aid stations, even stopping at one for 30 sec. or so. I ran the hills except for one long one at the 10 mile point. At that point, my left Achilles started to ache and my hips were a little sore but I was in surprisingly good shape otherwise. From 10 on in, I had a quasi-pacer. A good friend had shown up (I tried to get him to run but he was way out of shape--that's relative, he's a veteran of the NYC Marathon, Chicago and several Indy Mini's.) with his bike and he rode around to give encouragement (some would call it verbal abuse...), finally riding alongside (sidewalk or grass--not on the course) for the last three miles. The last mile, I kicked it up to better than a 9 min. pace but that was just to make me feel better--the overall time wasn't affected that much, IMO. Great course, great weather, great volunteers and great organizer. Pre-race pasta dinner the night before and a free post-race cookout for participants. The aid stations on the HM had water and Gatorade. They had that and GU packs on the second half of the full marathon course. If you're in the neighborhood next year, I'd recommend you give this race a try. I'll be back. Tim C.

Greta race and RR Tim. I have wanted to run your race before, but heard it was super hilly...was it? Good job and waaay to race it Buddie. Hey, I am in Alexandria, and don't know what to do...need ah little help here friend...I'm in my F250 and it doesn't seem to be helping, lol. Great job Tim! The other Tim

Nicely done, Driver, on what sounded like a very hilly course. Post-race cookout....now that's what I'm talkin' about!

nice job!! sounds like you ran a smart race!! maybe next year your bike friend will run it with you -- i'm sure you were an inspiration!!

Congratulations, Tim! Way to overcome the hills and verbal abuse.

Tim C!! Sweet race!!! The opening line is an attention grabber. Thanks for the RR..

Nice half, AA717. You took on those hills and beat them. Congrats on a great race. TomS

Tim - well done on your first HM! Nice description, too. I may come over for this race sometime, since it's not that far away....maybe I'll see you there.