In researching most likely BQ marathons for fall running, it seemed a lot of people achieved their goal on this Indianapolis course. In addition, I had never been to Indiana and so to add to my list of state races, I opted in. It seemed like the course had runners going past historic monuments and other interesting areas. A lot of support by way of aide stations and crowds. Names were on the bibs if you registered early enough and you know what a boost it can be to hear your name yelled out during a race! Since I like a course with turns even though it can mess up your mileage, the route seemed perfect, never running a long straight away for more than 2 miles.
Ted, Richard and I had a 10 ½ hour drive from Utica into Indianapolis. Rich stayed at the downtown Marriott Hotel which was logistically perfect for the expo, start and finish of the race. Ted and I opted on the cheap side and stayed at Staybridge Suites across from Lucas Oil Stadium. The weather was cold so walking .7 miles those first couple of days presented some suck it up moments.
Friday: Pre Race Day.
Got out the door at 7 am for a 3 mile shake out run. It was COLD! Ran along Capitol Ave where the race would start and by the government buildings then back down around Lucas Oil Stadium. My feet were so cold! I knew I had to get some different gear from the expo if I was going to stay comfortable in tomorrows race, particularly something for my feet.
Breakfast at JW Marriott at OP Restaurant. Bowl of oats with raisins and slivered almonds and an egg white frittata with tomato and fontina cheese.
When we sat, the founder of the race, Carlton Ray sat opposite and offered good tips on what to see in the city as well as course highlights. I saw him again at the finish and gave him a HUGE hug. He had mentioned a downhill at about the 18 mile point. This was my focus in the race when running got tough because the course is flat so I was looking for a little leg relief by way of a long down hill.
The expo started at 11 am. Along with my bib, I picked up some good gloves, 2 more pair of Gypsy Runner cold weather tights, an Indianapolis front zip pullover, and neck sleeve so I could pull it up over my chin if it was really windy and cold. Easy expo to get around. Not crowded but then we were there right when the doors opened.
I ate my baked sweet potato at 11:30. After the expo, Ted and I walked to the Indiana State Museum but it was crowded with kids and loud so we decided to do the walk around the outside path and water. The sun was shining and it wasn’t windy so, nice day to walk. Got back to the room at about 1:30 pm to relax. We were hungry again about 2pm and went to Tavern on South which was very good in spite of some bad reviews. I had a salad and spicy black bean quesadilla’s.
We went back to the room where I had a 3:30 pm call with coach John of FixYourRun. I told him my plan to start with the 3:50 pacer but he said he really believed I could do the 3:45 group. It was going to be hard but I could do it. *I drank my pre load OSMO at about this time instead of after dinner so I wouldn’t have to pee all the next morning. I also organized my clothes for the chilly weather.
We had dinner at 6pm, returning to OP Italian at the JW Marriott. Simple spaghetti with marinara and shrimp.
Race Day:
I got up at 4 am and ate a bagel with almond butter. I wanted to allow enough time so I could have one more solid snack before the race. I took a 5 hour energy at 6 am then ate 2/3 of a Clif bar at 6:30 am.
My fueling plan was to have a gel at 5, 10, 14, 21 but I changed that during the race based on how I was feeling. Actual fueling during the race: I was tiring at 4 so I took a SIS electrolyte gel at 4 ½. Getting a bit tired again at mile 8 so I took a HUMA gel at 8 ½, again at 14, and a chocolate raspberry HUMA at 18 ½. Note: Do NOT like the chocolate-raspberry gels! Grabbed a Clif gel at an aide station and sucked it down at mile 21. That was 1 to 2 more gels than I usually take but it seemed my body needed the carbs so I went with it.
Walking to the start, I wore sweat pants, sweat shirt, a black fleece vest that I ended up keeping on until the 3 mile point, and a red house coat. Perfect! What I wore during the race, expecting cold and wind: sports bra with Koala clip to hold my phone, long sleeve Boston 2018 shirt, Gypsy Runner cold weather tights with pockets to hold 4 gels, Rochester age group winner wind breaker jacket, Brooks wool socks * first time running without my Injinji because my feet were so cold on the shakeout run, I thought better be safe with a warmer sock. Newton blue sneakers that I wore at Wineglass, visor, headband, neck sweat, and new glove/mittens with hand warmers tucked inside. The hand warmers were perfect. I tossed them at about the 6 mile point. The weather was 23 degrees with 8 mph wind. It would rise to about 35 but feel like 28 at the finish due to the increasing wind. The sun came out during the run which was nice and since it was so cold, it didn’t over heat.
It was a crowded start and I couldn’t find the 3:45 pacer. I saw the 3:50 so lined up in front of him. I also started talking to a girl who was hoping to run a 3:45 or less so I figured it would be good to use her as a pacer until I found the correct pace group.
The first 1 – 4 miles (paces 8:32, 8:24, 8:44, 8:22) were winding through the city. We left Capitol Ave to Lucas Oil Stadium, then to Monument Circle. There was only about 2 miles of straight road at any one point along the course.
Miles 5 – 13.1 were uneventful (paces 8:28, 8:24, 8:33, 8:42, 8:32, 8:30, 8:31, 8:32, 8:30). I saw the 3:45 pacer at about the 2 1/2 mile point and hung on although he was constantly falling back at water stops. There was a pretty consistent group running at my pace so I hung with them when the pacer dropped. This pacer was the worst! He wasn’t talking to the group and when asked questions, gave short answers. In my experience, the pacer usually offers tips about the course and motivations to hang on, stories about their own running experiences. This guy, NOTHING!
14-17 miles (paces 8:40, 8:45, 8:42, 8:37) my focus was on the upcoming incline along the course at about the 15 mile point. I wondered if it would take a toll on me at this pace but I was ok and surged the hill. Now I looked forward to the drop at 18. Going through Butler University was one of my favorite areas of the course. There was a peaceful air to it and the crowds were great.
18 – 23 miles (paces 8:35, 8:32,8:22, 8:41, 8:40, 8:27) were good but got tough at 20. I enjoyed the down hill but then the pacer decided he had to catch up on time and started running an 8:30 pace. At mile 20 I was feeling it and had to let him get further ahead. I kept him in my sights but I was getting tired and started thinking about walking through water stops.
24 – finish (8:51, 8:58, 8:34 and .27 at 8:17) I walked through the 24 mile water station and kept looking for a hill that we were supposed to hit before getting towards the finish but it never happened or didn’t seem like there was any kind of a climb. Passing Depew Memorial Fountain was another nice spot on the course. I did give in to a short walk during mile 25 but surged down the finish shoot. Note to self: try passing people in front of you at mile 24 and ALWAYS surge through that final .2 of the 26th mile. I should know this after 32 marathons!!!
Net finish: 3:45:19, 8:36 pace with a 4th place age group finish. Gender place 475. O/A was 1644. 10K split 53:19. 30K split 2:39:45. First ½ was 1:51:51. Last ½ was 1:53:28.
Mile by mile: 8:32, 8:24, 8:44, 8:22, 8:28, 8:24, 8:33, 8:42, 8:32, 8:30, 8:31, 8:32, 8:30, 8:40, 8:45, 8:42, 8:37, 8:35, 8:32,8:22, 8:41, 8:40, 8:27, 8:51, 8:58, 8:34 and .27 at 8:17.
Review: Great course if you like flat but be ready for quite a few turns. Weather was one of the coldest in the history of this marathon but I dressed perfect for me. Support excellent as were the crowds. There was minimal security which was so refreshing! Sometimes these races get to caught up in making the area safe that it’s down right frustrating and unpleasant for even the runners. Finish line good. Didn’t get any foods so I don’t know about that but it was really handy having the results tent as you walk out of the finish area to get a print out of results.
One of my better marathons. A course I would recommend for trying to go for a faster goal or rather your “A” goal.
Joanne
