I really thought I was going to be able to set a new PR today but turns out it was a lot more work than I expected. The first few miles I ran 9:30m/m to warm up. I felt like I was going to have to speed up eventually, but I didn't really have any plan for when and how much. This really did me in- spent the whole race double-guessing my pace. The distance wasn't intimidating at all, actually it went really fast, but I wasn't sure how fast I *could* go. I felt like I was pushing it but kept looking down at my watch and I was always behind my PR pace.

It was really muggy today with no wind (officially 2mph) and I think that was tough. I was a lot hotter than I'd expected to be. As usual, this was a really fun, exciting race (I saw Danica Patrick on the track beneath the pavilion!). When I got onto the track I saw them replaying the men's winner on the huge jumbo-tron TVs and watched the women's winner finish just about as I crossed the famous "brickyard". I tried to really haul ass in the second half, but again wasn't sure if I was going to fast. The last few miles I tried to kick it in more, but my right ITB at my knee started feeling funky. By the last mile it was obvious I wasn't going to PR so I almost just let it go but then decided to still empty the tank. It hurt, but I finished and though it wasn't a PR this was my Indy Mini PR by a full minute.

Do some speed training. Have a pace strategy.

Got all the free food, my cool medal (the Indy 500 Pavillion with an Indy car that actually slides across the race track... pretty impressive!), got water from my dad who was volunteering at the finish line, and got my picture. By the time I exited the runner area my quads were starting to bunch up and I was worried I was going to pull a Kathy G and face plant, but I slowed down and was okay. :) Got to the tent and grabbed water, gatorade then hit the potties, my stomach was NOT happy. Signed up for a massage that didn't happen because the line was too long. Got our team picture taken, stretched a lot, and had free lunch. Didn't bother with the beer because it was over in the beer garden and that seemed WAY too far away. Fortunately the Ben-gay patch people were handing patches out like they were getting paid by the patch, so I started wall-papering my legs. :)

Have a sore ankle/foot but otherwise feel remarkably un-sore, which makes me wonder if I could have pushed more.


Not knowing how fast I could run. The sheer number of runners- I did quite a bit of running *around* people and had to be extra cautious in the "pit areas". Some areas, particularly the track were really crowded which slowed me down.


I can't wait for another shot at this distance, and though I'm always curious about the Flying Pig, I'm pretty sure I'll be back in Indy again this time next year. Fun race.