Indianapolis Marathon - RunMarathon

This will be LONG, and boring since Im not a good storyteller! OK...I have done 2 other marathons Tuscon 2003 and OC 2004. 4:30 and 4:28 respectively. I must keep reminding myself and others that I am NOT a distance runner! I remember saying years ago. self "there is no way I will EVER qualify for Boston" because I ran the 2, slower than the slowest qualifying time for any age! Granted, I do run somewhat better now than I did then. After following our fellow Donkai during their Boston marathon last year, I still said...no way, ever. This year, while trying to support Ben and Lisa in their quest to BQ, did I think about it briefly. I had done a whole mess of 10 mile runs, once 3 in one week. I did a 15 for fun...then started wondering "what if". So, one night after work ( a bit over two weeks ago) I went out for a 6 mile run, and it felt so great, I ran another 12! I came in the house, showered and signed up for INDY! (15 days before the race). "I need to do a 20, then taper hard". My few brain cells that function with a bit more caution said "skip the 20, and most everthing else". Which I did. Did an 8 miler that weekend, then a couple more short easy runs. I did most of this on the crushed stone bike path, flat...to save any extra distress to my legs/hip. Bought new shoes, wore them for 8 miles.
Race day: my plan was a modified taper plan (putting info from Ben, Lisa, Scott S, and DJ together. It had the first 3 miles slowly increasing from 9:20ish to 8:48.(this was a 3:55 pace chart). I was supposed to do the miles from 3-13 at 8:48 to build a cushion. At the half way, I was supposed to slow to 8:52 until the last2-3 miles, which allowed a slowdown into low to mid 9's. I went out as planned, but did decide that I WOULD take advantage of the free speed of downhills provided I did NOT increase my effort. By my splits, I did pretty well for the first 20 ish. Steve, Dad (his) and Allie were going to try to come and see me at 17 (then again at 21, same spot). I spotted them as I came around a corner (they had JUST arrived!). Stopped hugged all 3 then kept on. The sun had been out for a while, and only occ wind. I felt great for the first 10, then ok until 18 ish? I had had some little twinges of my ileopsoas issue around mile 6, then inner R ankle for a few miles around 15-16ish?. I realized the ankle was from the camber of the road, so tried to run more in the middle of the road (while still trying to run a good line on corners etc due to the course being reported long) This adjustment took care of both twinges right away, and they stayed away. I had been sipping Gatorade regularly, and Gu'd and Elyted starting at 1:20ish. Back at 17 miles...self "huh, my 18 mile training run was easier than this". Up around 19 really started wondering how I would play out the rest. Starting with mile 20, I had to walk probably 15-30 sec each mile, just to get my breathing and HR under control. (I did NOT wear the HR monitor for my Garmin) I had a bit of an exercise induced asthma issues staring around mile 7 or 8. This started having an effect by mile 20. I came back past Steve, Dad and Allie around mile 21 and I see Dad holding a big sign that said "I see Boston!!". (he borrowed it from a lady who had already seen her "person",. then dad passed it on to someone else to use!!) It really made me smile, seeing Dad so excited for me! (I said quietly to Steve as I passed "Im not so sure Steve, I might not make it). I continuted on with the walking when I absolutely had to, then found a good pace (under 9) until I had to walk again. A guy came up next to me, and said "we are right on 4 hrs, keep it up". I said thanks, then walked! I started back up, and came on 2 younger guys, and chatted a bit. One asked if I had ever run one before, and I told him, yes, but not in 5 years. He said he hadn't done one in 21 yrs (he was 21!). His friend was on his second. We passed each other back and forth with running and walking, keeping each other going. I would catch up to my "we are on 4 hr pace" many times. (we were AHEAD of 4 hr pace thankfully!) I told him that 4 was my BQ pace, so he really tried to help keep me moving. I remembered the nice long gradual downhill at the start of the race...and knew I had to climb it! By the time I got to that one, I was hurting really bad. Couldn't breathe well, really struggled the long up hill (mile 25 well into 26.) Walked several times each mile, wathing my cushion rapidly deflate. Mile 26, OMgosh...I don't have any idea how I kept going. I did keep glancing down at my Donkey jersey, singing to myself "todays gonna be a good good day" and that would actually relax my stride. The end was actually .38 miles, and I was groaning in pain, shaking my head, and wondering how my feet were still moving forward. I saw the gun time ahead on the arch...it said 4:00:15 or so...kept the feet moving, raised my arms in disbelief (tryng to copy Bens finishing photo for his BQ). I had DONE IT!!! I staggered a second, then an arm appeared and I grabbed for it. Next thing I knew, I was being lowered into a wheel chair. I could not pick my legs up to get them on the foot rests. They got me into the med tent, and I could not even hold my head up at this point. The MD came over, and he and 3 others got me up on a gurney. Instant oxygen, BP (160/60's) bounding pulses at neck and AC, none at wrist. They started talking then about a transfer. (to the hospital). I kept saying Im ok...guess they didn't believe me. They got an IV going with warmed LR. Steve, Dad and Allie were there by then, and Steve said the RN was really digging around to find the vein. (I was so out of it, didn't really feel it) Still couldn't pick up my arms or head on my own. They stripped me down right before starting the IV, and put a dry new race shirt on! (SCORE...second race shirt!!). The MD got me an inhaler, since my breathing was still pretty crappy. Sip of water, instant puke. I just layed there, with people taking turnings pushing on my feet to help stop the leg and feet cramping. BP slowly came down, but MD said, nope, getting another liter of fluid. Still talking transfer...me still weakly saying "Im ok, and thank you...over and over" Seems funny now, thinking back how much I kept saying that. The MD had just done Fox Cities Marathon up here 3 weeks ago! I told him a was a triathlete pretending to be a runner. Some time about half through the second liter, I told him that I BQ'd but would not run Boston. I guess I told him marathons sucked. (Dad told me this am that I said that to the doc!) The cramping of my legs and feet stopped cold right after the first liter of fluids. Before they discharged me, I told the MD and the main RN who cared for me, that all marathoners should get a liter post run! (of course he questioned the heck out of me, re how much and what did I drink, gelled etc. He was pleased with my answers) They took out the IV, I moved around a bit, hugged them all and walked about half a block to where they let Steve park.

Plan a marathon more than 2 weeks out? actually TRAIN for a marathon? NOT sign up for one period??

med tent for about 1 1/2 hrs.


Lack of training.I truly did leave it all on the course. I feel I paced it ok,just had not done the miles in training. (hadn't run over 18 miles in 5 years). If I was not trying to qualify, I would have totally eased up the last 3 miles, walked alot more etc. I kept thinking of my quote on my BT blog..."finish or get an ambulance ride". I almost did both. I have never felt THAT bad after any event I have ever done...but I had to SIU and qualify, or have to suffer through another one in the winter!


I feel so very fortunate to have as friends, the Donkey Nation. You all have helped me in so many ways. Ben, thank you for believing in me, and even taking a break from your guys weekend to call me last night! DJ, thanks for your ongoing support, even if you did leave me a message at 2pm Saturday, wishing me good luck and to "race the plan" tomorrow! (no thanks, didnt' want to do it again)Lisa, thanks for your support and text!
My other donkey buds, thanks for all of the inspires and well wishes...I did not get to see them until this evening as I was commputerless.
It was a great day for me, pulling an effort out of myself that I did not know I could! Even with the "collapse" at the end, I still was able to say what a great race it was! And, having Dad there, and seeing him so excited about the whole thing was just amazing. (just wish he hadn't been so worried when he first saw me in the med tent).

OH YEAH!!! there were two girls cheering for people around mile 8...I pointed to my shirt and asked "can I please have an eeeaaaawwwww", they looked a bit bewildered, focused on my shirt and eeeeaaaawwwwed me!!