OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini Marathon - RunHalf Marathon

Ok, I'm going to be honest here and say out right that I just did not train for this race. I think I had maybe 20 miles under my belt. I had known all along that this would be a race that I was going to struggle with but I figured that since I was running with 35000 other people I would find some inspiration somewhere...I figured with some luck and fortitude I could get it down in under 3 hours, at least that was my goal.

I started out very easy... The first 6 miles were actually not bad. I hit the 6 mile mark in just under 1 hour. I was thinking this might not be too bad. Then I hit the Speedway. This is a 2.5 mile oval with no shade and it gets very hot on days like this. I knew if I was going to struggle this would be the place and I wasnt disappointed. I ran / walked my way around the track. At the half way point (just after the start finsh line for the INDY 500 (aka.. the yard of bricks)) I knew I could finish but wasnt sure I would be under my 3 hour goal.

After I got out of the speedway my bowels told me I needed to make a pit stop. I cant remember the last time I had to stop and use a porta john in a race but there was no mistake I needed to use one this time and I needed one quickly. Amazing what heat will do to the inside of a prota john.... Didnt spend much time in there (Thanks Goodness) and then back on the road. About 10 mile into the run I started getting cramps in my right calf. So the rest of the race was spent running until the calf tighten up, then walking to get it stretched out, then run, tightness, walk and stretch, repeat....

Finally heat the 12 mile mark and I knew I had it made and I knew I could finish in under 3 hours. The last mile was spent smiling and singing to myself. (I actually used headphones for the first time in a race)

Um, maybe train for the race......

Got a banana some water and got my picture taken with my finisher medal. Then walked to the car and drove home.


Having no miles under my belt and the heat (yellow flagged after 2 hours) and humidity made it one of the hardest runs in memory, but one I am kind of proud of since I really had to reach down and work very hard just to finish....


This is one race I think everyone needs to do if they have the chance. They have bands (some great, some good, some bad) every mile and the volunteers are just fabulous. Also running on the same track as they race the Indianapolis 500 and Brickyard 400 (NASCAR) is pretty freaking cool.