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Indianapolis Monumental Half Marathon - RunHalf Marathon


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Indianapolis, Indiana
United States
Indianapolis Monumental Marathon, Inc.
39F / 4C
Sunny
Total Time = 1h 35m 56s
Overall Rank = 214/
Age Group = F35-39
Age Group Rank = 9/434
Pre-race routine:

I'd missed the Expo, so I got up at 4:30 to make the drive to Indy in time to pick up my race packet. Ate breakfast and hot chocolate (Starbucks wasn't open yet and I was too lazy to make coffee) on the drive down. I picked up my packet and then hung out in the convention center to keep warm until about 20 minutes before the start.
Event warmup:

Nope.
Run
  • 1h 35m 56s
  • 13.1 miles
  • 07m 19s  min/mile
Comments:

This is a fast course and the weather was close to perfect, so I was hoping to PR. I decided to leave the HR monitor at home and run by feel. That had worked well for me at my last Oly, where I ran faster than I thought I could. I took it easy the first mile, giving my legs a chance to warm up after standing in the cold for so long. Then I picked up the pace, probably a little too much for several miles (<7:10s), before settling in to a more sustainable pace (~7:22s) after the 10K mark. I've been running a lot of 15Ks this season, so I felt strong through mile 9+, but started hearing from my legs by mile 10. However, that's also my favorite part of the course, running along Meridian, where people put out motivational signs and sit in their yards cheering. Someone had written in chalk across the road "RUN FASTER!" - so simple, but it gave me a real boost. The 12th mile back into downtown is a slog, without much crowd support but plenty of wind, and the the last mile.1 breaks your heart over and over as it twists and turns through downtown Indy. During the 2nd half of the race, I'd fallen into pace with a woman in yellow and a woman in pink, and on the 11th mile Yellow and I both started fading a bit as Pink kept her pace. Yellow and I leapfrogged along, never talking but pushing each other just the same. At the mile 12 marker, I said "let's catch our girl in pink" and we both dug in again. We didn't catch her, but we finished with a strong last mile (~7:15). The 3 of us met up at the finish and thanked each other - running with them had kept me from giving in to the hurt.

I'd been watching my mile splits all along, but not doing the math, so I was totally surprised by my time: a 5 minute PR! So, so happy!
What would you do differently?:

Keep my pace in check a little better in the first 10k, but I would have been hurting at the end either way, so I don't think it would have made a huge difference.
Post race
Warm down:

Got my medal, mylar blankie, and a nice knit finisher's hat. Then I had to stand to the side for a little while and wait for a wave of nausea to pass. Made it through that without an embarrassing incident then went through the food line, and wow what a spread! Unfortunately, I couldn't eat any solids for a couple of hours, but the chocolate milk was awesome.

What limited your ability to perform faster:

5 minute PR, not going to dwell on the negative!

Event comments:

These guys always put on a great race. Super organization, tons of helpful volunteers (some even held signs that said "ASK ME"), great police support on the course, music right when you needed it, nice goodies, and a generous post-race feast (chocolate milk: need I say more?).




Last updated: 2011-07-16 12:00 AM
Running
01:35:56 | 13.1 miles | 07m 19s  min/mile
Age Group: 9/434
Overall: 214/
Performance:
10K: 44:50
Course: Fast, flat course through some nice parts of Indy.
Keeping cool Good Drinking Not enough
Post race
Weight change: %
Overall: Good
Mental exertion [1-5] 4
Physical exertion [1-5] 5
Good race? Yes
Evaluation
Course challenge Just right
Organized? Yes
Events on-time? Yes
Lots of volunteers? Yes
Plenty of drinks? Yes
Post race activities: Good
Race evaluation [1-5] 5

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2011-11-06 2:50 PM

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Subject: Indianapolis Monumental Half Marathon


2011-11-06 5:20 PM
in reply to: #3835750

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Master
3486
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Fort Wayne
Subject: RE: Indianapolis Monumental Half Marathon

Nice race and a solid PR!  Congrats!

It's funny how we use other people to help us without saying a word.

2011-11-06 5:50 PM
in reply to: #3835750

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Veteran
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100100
Subject: RE: Indianapolis Monumental Half Marathon
Great job Julia!  Fantastic time!
2011-11-06 5:51 PM
in reply to: #3835750

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Champion
7163
500020001002525
Verona WI--Ironman Bike Country!
Subject: RE: Indianapolis Monumental Half Marathon
I can't imagine there would be anything negative to talk about given that performance.  STELLAR!  You've really got the speed.  Can't wait to see what you do in your next race!!!
2011-11-06 6:03 PM
in reply to: #3835750

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Master
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2000500
Subject: RE: Indianapolis Monumental Half Marathon
gotta run - 2011-11-06 12:50 PM
So awesome, Julia!! I love that you met the women at the end -- that is my favorite part of racing when things like that happen! You worked hard for that PR and I'm so thrilled for you! Next time you're out here I'm just going to send you off with Ryan and I'll go and get coffee or something, ha!! CONGRATULATIONS!!!
2011-11-06 6:04 PM
in reply to: #3835750

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Subject: RE: Indianapolis Monumental Half Marathon
Wow, amazing and super fast.  Great job!


2011-11-06 6:39 PM
in reply to: #3835750

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Champion
5522
5000500
Frisco, TX
Subject: RE: Indianapolis Monumental Half Marathon

Awesome job Julia - way to rock downtown Indy!  5 min PR is a great performance!

2011-11-06 6:57 PM
in reply to: #3835750

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Master
1841
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Sendai, Japan
Subject: RE: Indianapolis Monumental Half Marathon
Great job Julia and awesome PR!!
2011-11-06 7:16 PM
in reply to: #3835750

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Champion
6973
500010005001001001001002525
marietta
Subject: RE: Indianapolis Monumental Half Marathon

1:25 with a hrm.  

 

awesome job. 

2011-11-07 12:06 AM
in reply to: #3835750

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Elite
3072
200010002525
san francisco
Subject: RE: Indianapolis Monumental Half Marathon
Tremendous! You nailed it, Julia! I love how you dug deep and fought for the finish...you're right, it would've hurt either way, cause you gave it your all. Way to go!
2011-11-07 9:02 AM
in reply to: #3835750

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Master
2621
2000500100
Almaden Valley, San Jose, California
Subject: RE: Indianapolis Monumental Half Marathon
Great job - impressive run!


2011-11-07 10:15 AM
in reply to: #3835750

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Extreme Veteran
536
50025
Russiaville, IN
Subject: RE: Indianapolis Monumental Half Marathon

Great job a 5 minute PR is impressive.  Keep up the good work!

 

2011-11-07 10:18 AM
in reply to: #3835750

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Master
1478
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Horseheads, NY
Subject: RE: Indianapolis Monumental Half Marathon

SOOOOOO F$%&ING FAST!!!!!!   HA!!

You are some athlete.  Congratulations on an incredible race!

 



Edited by gdale 2011-11-07 10:19 AM
2011-11-08 4:12 PM
in reply to: #3835750

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Elite
4108
20002000100
Calgary,AB,Canada
Subject: RE: Indianapolis Monumental Half Marathon
Wowsers. You are one fast cookie!
2011-11-09 9:21 AM
in reply to: #3835750

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Master
2005
2000
Silverton, Oregon
Subject: RE: Indianapolis Monumental Half Marathon
Congratulations, Julia! Absolutely loved your RR, and I love the way you ladies pushed each other! A 5 minute PR in a HM is awesome! You're AMAZING!!!
2011-11-14 8:16 AM
in reply to: #3895574

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Champion
9060
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Charlottesville, Virginia
Subject: RE: Indianapolis Monumental Half Marathon
Super speedy Julia, very nice race!


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