Lemons make good.

When the world gives you lemons, make lemonade. Isn't that how the old saying goes?

Well this past week I had some lemons. Mainly it was more congestion, runny nose, soreish throat etc... However it was scheduled to be a big week for my running. It should have been a total of 50 miles this past week. Being a guy (most guys are bad patients when they're sick and want to be coddled) I just wanted Tammy to take care of me. I went to work because that's what I do but was wiped out by the time I got home. I ended up with only 10 miles this week and although I'm feeling a little better now I'm glad I made the decision to adjust my schedule and use last week as a recovery week. This means that I will now have a five week build before the next rest week. That rest week just happens to be the start of taper madness.

I'd be lying if I said this didn't make me a little nervous but I shall make this final push and rely on the taper to rebuild the damage I'm about ready to do. The weather seems as though it might be starting to make a little adjustment to the not so terrible side. This will make it easier to get out for the long runs when it's not showing a negative wind chill. I'm really crossing my fingers for some good weather for the Carmel Marathon!!

This week also saw the first group run for the Hendricks County Runners. It was great to meet some of the others for a run and get to have actual conversations instead of virtual ones. I have big hopes for the group as it sounds like others do as well!

Now get out there and run!

PLAYLIST ADDITIONS:
1. Welcome to the Black Parade by My Chemical Romance
2. Echo by Foxes
3. C'Mon Let Me Ride by Skylar Grey and Eminem
4. Whip It by Devo
5. Timeless by The Airborne Toxic Event

Crazy Schedule Calls for Crazy Training

I know some of you that read this have a crazy schedule as well, so this is for you. If you have a quote unquote normal schedule then this is for you to have empathy for those of us that don't. :)

I work retail. You know the kind of retail that requires odd shifts, a couple of nights a week. As well as days off in the middle of the week. I don't get every weekend off, in fact I work more weekends in a month than I have off. Although after switching jobs in the middle of last year to a different retailer my schedule is better, but it's still retail. Don't mistake this for complaining, I chose this profession for myself, or maybe it chose me. I'm not sure who chose who but here I am.

This schedule provides unique conflicts when it comes to training for marathons, or any running for that matter. A normal opening shift has me crawling out of bed at 5am, leaving the house at 6 and to work by 7am. As a manager I can't be late so I routinely get there a little bit early. A normal morning shift starts that same process at 11am. I get home at either 5pm or 10:45pm depending. Many times I close then open which besides being tired doesn't give much time for a run.

In my current training schedule thus far I've tried to stay consistent with the days that I run. However, I've come to the realization that this isn't feasible. So now I find myself half way through my training schedule and the mileage is really getting up there as well as the time I must allocate to this training. So I've decided to adjust my schedule depending on my work schedule. This means that sometimes I may not be able to get a long run in followed by a rest day. Instead I'll have to let my work schedule dictate the training schedule. It may sound worse than it is. I've completed two marathon training plans this way and have gotten faster at each. This time I will be even faster due to the work I've put in not the constraints of my schedule.

I'm interested to hear how you adjust your training routines based on your schedule, so leave a comment below and maybe I can learn from your experience.

Now get out there and run!

New Songs added to play list:
I love listening to music, so I figured I'd start to share some of the songs I've recently added to my playlist. With each post I'll now add the last 5 songs I've added to my playlist. If you have any good songs let me know, my music taste know no bounds.

1. LOW by Cracker
2. Come on Eileen by Dexys Midnight Runners
3. Sex and Candy by Marcy Playground
4. Do You Love Me by Amanda Jenssen
5. Beam Me Up (Kill Mode) by Cazzette    

Planning for the Carmel Marathon

Shortly after the Indianapolis Monumental Marathon that I ran in November, I began looking ahead to the next one. I decided to stay local again and run the Carmel Marathon in April of 2013.

Social media is a great thing, and I'm able to gather opinions and resources just from logging in to my account and reading for a little while. On one such day @ghein83 tweeted about setting up his next marathon plan and how he used Runner's World Smart Coach. Having met him before and knowing that he is fast I decided to take a similar approach and check out the smart coach program. I figured if it worked for Glenn then it could work for me as well. So I've decided to share my plan with the blog-o-sphere if anyone's interested. Also if you'd like to check out Glenn and Lindsey's blog you can at "Out for a Run"

As of this writing I've already completed the first five weeks and everything is going well with the plan.

WEEK 1: 31 Mi

Mon Nov 12 Easy Run Dist: 6 Mi @10:08 Wed Nov 14 Tempo Run Dist: 7 Mi, inc Warm; 5 Mi @ 8:44; Cool Thu Nov 15 Easy Run Dist: 6 Mi @10:08 Sat Nov 17 Long Run Dist: 12 Mi @10:08

WEEK 2: 33 Mi

Mon Nov 19 Easy Run Dist: 7 Mi @10:06 Wed Nov 21 Speedwork Dist: 6 Mi, inc Warm; 3x1600 in 8:03 w/800 jogs; Cool Thu Nov 22 Easy Run Dist: 6 Mi @10:06 Sat Nov 24 Long Run Dist: 14 Mi @10:06

WEEK 3: 34 Mi

Mon Nov 26 Easy Run Dist: 6 Mi @10:03 Wed Nov 28 Tempo Run Dist: 7 Mi, inc Warm; 5 Mi @ 8:39; Cool Thu Nov 29 Easy Run Dist: 5 Mi @10:03 Sat Dec 1 Long Run Dist: 16 Mi @10:03

WEEK 4: 27 Mi

Mon Dec 3 Easy Run Dist: 7 Mi @10:00 Wed Dec 5 Easy Run Dist: 7 Mi @10:00 Thu Dec 6 Easy Run Dist: 6 Mi @10:00 Sat Dec 8 Easy Run Dist: 7 Mi @10:00

WEEK 5: 36 Mi

Mon Dec 10 Easy Run Dist: 6 Mi @10:00 Wed Dec 12 Tempo Run Dist: 7 Mi, inc Warm; 5 Mi @ 8:36; Cool Thu Dec 13 Easy Run Dist: 5 Mi @10:00 Sat Dec 15 Long Run Dist: 18 Mi @10:00

Now I'm into week 6 and I've decided to make a few changes to my training plan. I'm going to add in an extra run through the week similar to my easy runs. I'll be adding these runs on either Sunday or Tuesday depending on my work schedule and if I get my long run in on Saturday or Sunday. This extra run isn't listed on the plan outlined below but it will be there when I do it. Also on Speed Wednesday's my pacing will and has been faster than outlined.

WEEK 6: 37 Mi

Mon Dec 17 Easy Run Dist: 5 Mi @9:57 Wed Dec 19 Speedwork Dist: 7 Mi, inc Warm; 4x1600 in 7:56 w/800 jogs; Cool Thu Dec 20 Easy Run Dist: 5 Mi @9:57 Sat Dec 22 Long Run Dist: 20 Mi @9:57

WEEK 7: 39 Mi

Mon Dec 24 Easy Run Dist: 8 Mi @9:54 Wed Dec 26 Tempo Run Dist: 7 Mi, inc Warm; 5 Mi @ 8:31; Cool Thu Dec 27 Easy Run Dist: 8 Mi @9:54 Sat Dec 29 Long Run Dist: 16 Mi @9:54

WEEK 8: 31 Mi

Mon Dec 31 Easy Run Dist: 8 Mi @9:51 Wed Jan 2 Easy Run Dist: 8 Mi @9:51 Thu Jan 3 Easy Run Dist: 7 Mi @9:51 Sat Jan 5 Easy Run Dist: 8 Mi @9:51

WEEK 9: 41 Mi

Mon Jan 7 Easy Run Dist: 7 Mi @9:51 Wed Jan 9 Tempo Run Dist: 7 Mi, inc Warm; 5 Mi @ 8:28; Cool Thu Jan 10 Easy Run Dist: 7 Mi @9:51 Sat Jan 12 Long Run Dist: 20 Mi @9:51

WEEK 10: 43 Mi

Mon Jan 14 Easy Run Dist: 10 Mi @9:49 Wed Jan 16 Speedwork Dist: 8 Mi, inc Warm; 4x1600 in 7:48 w/800 jogs; Cool Thu Jan 17 Easy Run Dist: 9 Mi @9:49 Sat Jan 19 Long Run Dist: 16 Mi @9:49

WEEK 11: 44 Mi

Mon Jan 21 Easy Run Dist: 9 Mi @9:46 Wed Jan 23 Tempo Run Dist: 7 Mi, inc Warm; 5 Mi @ 8:23; Cool Thu Jan 24 Easy Run Dist: 8 Mi @9:46 Sat Jan 26 Long Run Dist: 20 Mi @9:46

WEEK 12: 35 Mi

Mon Jan 28 Easy Run Dist: 9 Mi @9:43 Wed Jan 30 Easy Run Dist: 9 Mi @9:43 Thu Jan 31 Easy Run Dist: 8 Mi @9:43 Sat Feb 2 Easy Run Dist: 9 Mi @9:43

My easy runs have been run in the low 9 minute pace although I've been trying to make sure they feel easy to allow me to recover from either the long run or the speed work. After January is over I'll begin to add marathon pace onto my long runs. I'll be starting with the last 25% of the long runs at MP and ramp it up to just over 50% as I get into late March and early April.

WEEK 13: 46 Mi

Mon Feb 4 Easy Run Dist: 11 Mi @9:43 Wed Feb 6 Tempo Run Dist: 9 Mi, inc Warm; 6 Mi @ 8:25; Cool Thu Feb 7 Easy Run Dist: 10 Mi @9:43 Sat Feb 9 Long Run Dist: 16 Mi @9:43

WEEK 14: 48 Mi

Mon Feb 11 Easy Run Dist: 10 Mi @9:40 Wed Feb 13 Speedwork Dist: 9 Mi, inc Warm; 4x1600 in 7:41 w/800 jogs; Cool Thu Feb 14 Easy Run Dist: 9 Mi @9:40 Sat Feb 16 Long Run Dist: 20 Mi @9:40

WEEK 15: 50 Mi

Mon Feb 18 Easy Run Dist: 12 Mi @9:38 Wed Feb 20 Tempo Run Dist: 11 Mi, inc Warm; 6 Mi @ 8:20; Cool Thu Feb 21 Easy Run Dist: 11 Mi @9:38 Sat Feb 23 Long Run Dist: 16 Mi @9:38

WEEK 16: 39 Mi

Mon Feb 25 Easy Run Dist: 10 Mi @9:35 Wed Feb 27 Easy Run Dist: 10 Mi @9:35 Thu Feb 28 Easy Run Dist: 9 Mi @9:35 Sat Mar 2 Easy Run Dist: 10 Mi @9:35

WEEK 17: 51 Mi

Mon Mar 4 Easy Run Dist: 11 Mi @9:35 Wed Mar 6 Tempo Run Dist: 10 Mi, inc Warm; 6 Mi @ 8:17; Cool Thu Mar 7 Easy Run Dist: 10 Mi @9:35 Sat Mar 9 Long Run Dist: 20 Mi @9:35

WEEK 18: 53 Mi

Mon Mar 11 Easy Run Dist: 12 Mi @9:33 Wed Mar 13 Speedwork Dist: 10 Mi, inc Warm; 4x1600 in 7:34 w/800 jogs; Cool Thu Mar 14 Easy Run Dist: 11 Mi @9:33 Sat Mar 16 Long Run Dist: 20 Mi @9:33

WEEK 19: 55 Mi

Mon Mar 18 Easy Run Dist: 14 Mi @9:30 Wed Mar 20 Tempo Run Dist: 12 Mi, inc Warm; 6 Mi @ 8:12; Cool Thu Mar 21 Easy Run Dist: 13 Mi @9:30 Sat Mar 23 Long Run Dist: 16 Mi @9:30

WEEK 20: 57 Mi

Mon Mar 25 Easy Run Dist: 13 Mi @9:27 Wed Mar 27 Tempo Run Dist: 12 Mi, inc Warm; 6 Mi @ 8:10; Cool Thu Mar 28 Easy Run Dist: 12 Mi @9:27 Sat Mar 30 Long Run Dist: 20 Mi @9:27

WEEK 21: 30 Mi

Mon Apr 1 Easy Run Dist: 6 Mi @9:25 Wed Apr 3 Speedwork Dist: 7 Mi, inc Warm; 4x1600 in 7:28 w/800 jogs; Cool Thu Apr 4 Easy Run Dist: 5 Mi @9:25 Sat Apr 6 Long Run Dist: 12 Mi @9:25

WEEK 22: 30 Mi

Mon Apr 8 Easy Run Dist: 8 Mi @9:24 Wed Apr 10 Tempo Run Dist: 7 Mi, inc Warm; 3 Mi @ 7:54; Cool Thu Apr 11 Easy Run Dist: 7 Mi @9:24 Sat Apr 13 Long Run Dist: 8 Mi @9:24

WEEK 23: 36 Mi

Mon Apr 15 Easy Run Dist: 3 Mi @9:23 Tue Apr 16 Speedwork Dist: 4 Mi, inc Warm; 2x1600 in 7:26 w/800 jogs; Cool Thu Apr 18 Easy Run Dist: 3 Mi @9:23 Sat Apr 20 Marathon Race Day 26.2 Mi @8:10 Time: 3:34:13

The plan as it was written by RW smart coach will log 900 miles not including race day. In adding an extra run I'll pick up an extra 150 miles, for a total of 1050 miles prior to race day. This is a large increase over the miles that I completed in 2012 but I believe that with my current fitness level I'll be fine. I just completed a 15.5 mile run last week and I didn't have any negative effects. In fact I felt fresh after the run.

So this is my plan that will put me well below the 4 hour mark for 26.2 miles. In fact according to smart coach they believe I should be able to finish in 3:34:13. I guess I'll find out when I get to Carmel.

Let me know what you think by leaving a comment below, or give me a shout out on twitter @thebrainrunner

Now get out there and get your run in!

Chicago Marathon 2011 My First - Part 2

On the way to the start line riding the train.

As the horn sounded the crowd began to surge forward and before I knew it, I was crossing the starting line. I was on my journey to completing my first marathon.

There was a cacophony of beeping from watches, including my own, as all 45,000 runners crossed the starting line. It was music to the ears. This was quickly replaced with the crowd giving tremendous encouragement as the runners headed off on their 26.2 mile quest.

I fell in line behind Bob (one of the four hour pacers) and decided I was going to follow him since he was the easiest to recognize. We headed up Columbus Drive and under a bridge where there were hundreds if not thousands of spectators watching from above. It was an amazing sight to see and one that I don't think I will ever forget. I just followed Bob, as we were bobbing and weaving through people. It was so crowded it never felt like I could open up and just relax. Running through downtown Chicago was amazing. The sound from the crowd reverberating off of the buildings just intensified the noise, energy, and emotions. At around 3 or 3.5 miles we started to head north and away from the massive buildings of the Loop and toward Wrigley Field, which I tried to see but never did. Somewhere between 7 and 8 I met my wife, who passed off some gels. I grabbed them and headed off again to catch back up with Bob.

I was feeling good, my pace was on target, we had placed about 29 seconds in the bank, thus far. My legs felt fresh, I was hydrating well, everything was going according to plan. I gave some kids high-5's and kept on moving. At about mile 10 I started to get some feedback from my body that I may have hydrated too well, so I began to look for another port-o-potty. Somewhere between 11 and 12 I saw one just off of the course without a line. I hurried up and did my business and got back out there. I knew that I'd lost my pace group, but I was feeling good and figured that I could slowly pull them back over the next few miles.

Between mile 12 and 13, as the course makes a left onto North Franklin Street, my worst fears became true. It started as just a little twinge of discomfort in my arch. (I'd had some issues in my right arch leading up to the race and had been trying to get mostly healed before Chicago.) I thought to myself, just ignore it and it will go away, don't think about it.

Mile 13 was hit in 2 hours 2 minutes and 30 seconds. I was two and a half minutes off  my pace and I'd stopped once to use the restroom... not bad. But, my arch was starting to hurt a little more. By mile 14 I was finished! My 4 hour marathon was done. I remember texting my wife: "not great."  At 25k which is only about 2 and a half miles from the half way point it had taken me just over 26 minutes to complete that distance. By this time I was suffering, and suffering severely. All I could do was to keep moving forward. My arch felt like it was on fire, so I stopped and tried to shake and stretch it out.....nothing. Keep moving...you've got to go.

The next five miles I have no recollection of, other than my wife texting me her location on the north side of the road at mile 20, to which my reply was, "which way is north?" She replied, "on the left."  I found her, or rather, she and our friend Matt found me. I stopped to get a couple more gels, and to bitch about my foot. She was so supportive. I was in so much pain that the fire had turned to flaming hot daggers. I knew I was probably damaging my arch and that I would probably have to take some time off for recovery, but I was going to finish. However, I was pissed off! I was having my own little pity party in my mind. I'd trained so hard for this day and it wasn't going like I had planned. I kept moving....

Mile 20.. Temp on bank sign 84

I was into new territory now, my longest run to date was 20 miles. I just wanted to finish now. No, I'm not talking about me wanting to finish as in quit. I wanted to be at the finish line NOW. But I wasn't, I kept moving. I implemented a run walk philosophy. I'd run until I couldn't stand the pain in my arch any longer, then I'd walk until I could get up enough courage to run again. I remember running under the Chinatown gate, and the dragon dancers. I remember running through mile 23 where someone was handing out beer. I like beer, but at that point in the race, with the way I was feeling, the smell was so overwhelming it made me nauseous. I vaguely remember the long straight run up Michigan Avenue toward the finish. Somewhere along this stretch of hot pavement I saw my wife and handed her my iPhone, because I just couldn't stand to have any extra weight that I didn't deem necessary.

Mile 25, dumping the arm band.

Then, I made a right hand turn onto Roosevelt Road and  knew from the course map that the finish was near. All I had to do was go up this little hill which seemed like Everest at the time, and then make a left hand turn onto Columbus Drive. Nearing the top of the hill, I had to walk again because the pain was so excruciating I thought I might puke. I then began to think. I thought of all the training miles, I thought of where I was just a couple of years ago after my brain aneurysm surgery, I thought of my wife and daughters, I thought I'm only zero point two miles away from completing my first marathon. Then I began to jog, slowly at first, then faster. I made the left hand turn onto Columbus and I could see the finish line. The crowd was screaming, and I pushed faster. I was in an all out sprint. I was moving so fast, for the moment the pain was gone. Nothing mattered except crossing the finish strong. I'm guessing I passed probably close to 100 people in the final 0.2 miles. Then, it happened I raised my arms in my own personal victory as I crossed the finish line in 4:45:08.

Tammy, and I

After crossing I got my finishers medal, which I was happy about, but I was disappointed in my performance. After talking to my wife she reminded me that you can't control what your body does, and that I should be proud to have finished under the circumstances. In retrospect I am. But the 26.2 monster and I shall meet again after I'm healed. Hopefully I'll win that battle.

After the race, rubbing the arch. Ugh, that arch.

The 35th Running of The Mini-Marathon.

I started just behind the white bucket truck.

                In preparation for the first Mini-Marathon in 1977, the race was originally slated as a bicycle race. However, organizers decided that having a bike race in the month of May would take away from the annual Little 500 held every year at the Indiana University campus in Bloomington, Indiana. (See the movie Breaking Away-- a favorite of mine) So, they decided to organize a running race instead. The first two years of the event included some legends of the sport such as Frank Shorter, who won the inaugural event in 1977 in a time of 1:03:56. Year two was supposed to pit defending champion Shorter and running legend Bill Rodgers against each other. However, Shorter suffered an injury and opted for a ride in the pace car yelling out split times to his friend Rodgers. Rodgers won the event in 1:03. In the women’s race Boston Marathon winner Miki Gorman won in 1:20:56. 

                In 1979, the event became part of the 500 Festival, for the famed Indianapolis 500. The event continued to grow throughout the years. In 1991, my first ever Mini-Marathon, the continued growth of the race had increased to 11,032 participants. In 1993, the decision was made to move the finish line from the famed Yard of Bricks, at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, to downtown Indianapolis. In 2002 a record field of 25,000 participants made the race the largest half marathon in the nation. This has continued through the present time where organizers have capped the field at 35,000 participants. According to runningusa.org, this race is the 3^rd largest half marathon in the world as of 2009.

                This year would be no different; the field was set at 35,000 participants, of which I was one. It’s an amazing feeling standing “at the starting line,” or somewhere behind it, with 34,999 other racers. The sheer magnitude of the event and camaraderie is amazing.

Pre-Race

                At 4:30AM my alarm clock decided it was time to get me up and ready to go for the 7:30am gun time. I had laid out my things the night before so that I wouldn’t forget anything on the morning of May 7^th, 2011, race day! I got out of bed and headed for the shower to help warm my legs and wake me up. For breakfast I had a bowl of steel cut oatmeal with raisins, maple syrup, and a touch of molasses. I then followed that up on the drive with a small coffee and a banana. We arrived in downtown Indianapolis at around 6:15 or so, and parked the car. As is my “M.O.”, I do not wear my running shoes in the car, so I began my routine of dressing out of the back of the car. My checklist goes something like this, although I don’t have it written down, yet. (After the mistake I made I shall make a real checklist in the future)

                The unofficial checklist for TheBrainrunner: Vaseline between the toes, running socks, shoes, shorts, warm up pants if it’s cold, tech shirt, sweat shirt if it’s cold, race number, timing chip, safety pins, watch, iPod and arm band, headphones, gels, gel clip on pocket, sunglasses, a smearing of lip balm, gloves if cold, hat if cold, bottle of water for pre-race, my bafound.org wrist band, and band aids...all of which made the trip with me for this morning's race. (I know what you’re thinking, that’s a lot of stuff. And it is but, at least I’m prepared, right?)  I was in good shape for the start, I had everything I needed, or so I thought.

                My goal for this race was to run sub 1:50 which is just under an 8:24/mile pace. I was in corral E so I could actually see the starting line from where I was and ended up crossing only 3 minutes or so after the gun. At 7:15ish I took on my first gel so it would have enough time to get into my system before the start of the race. The National Anthem was sung, the gun fired and the green flag waved. I was off and running the 2011 One America 500 Festival Mini Marathon.

                The thing about running in such a large race is that there are so many people and so many strategies it’s sometimes hard to follow yours. As we headed west on Washington Street passing the Eiteljorg Museum, the NCAA Hall of Champions, and the Indianapolis Zoo, it became evident to me that somehow there were some mix-ups in the seeding of some runners. Either that or they somehow got in the wrong corral. This was evident because of the excessive left to right movements I had to do to avoid running over anyone. But, for the most part I found everyone to be fairly courteous, and if I accidentally bumped someone's arm I apologized to them, not wanting to be “The Rude Runner.” At the first mile I checked my split against my watch and realized I was going much faster than I thought I was, with a 7:46 split. So I backed it down a little and began counting shoes of the same brand that I have. The number got up to six or seven pairs of Newtons over the next mile as my split came in at 8:19. I was feeling good. My breathing was regulated; I didn’t feel anything other than pure joy. I decided I should just go with it and run from effort instead of trying to regulate my pace based solely on split times.

                I began to look for a friend of mine who started a couple of corrals ahead of me, but who had been nursing a foot injury over the last eight weeks. I knew he was going to run the race, but that based on what he was telling me, he would be slower than he normally is. I also knew that this burned him up inside. After about a mile or so I stopped looking for him. My thinking was that with this many people the chances of me being able to pick out a single person were slim. Then I realized that I needed to use the facilities, translated, I had to pee. Somewhere between miles 4, which happened to be my fastest mile at 7:41, and five I found a pit stop row of port-o-potty's. This slowed me down just a little bit.... I clocked that fifth mile at 8:54, but was back at it.

Indianapolis Motor Speedway

                Just a little bit after mile five you enter the town of Speedway, home of the Indianapolis 500. Looming in the distance was the famed track, and I, along with 34,999 of my closest friends of the day were going to run on the same track that other racing legends had logged so many miles on in their cars. Just past mile six, and at an 8:02 pace, I enter the back stretch of “The Brickyard.” The track got this nickname because when it was first paved with bricks, it took 3.2 million bricks to complete the project. The front and back straightaways are 5/8 of a mile long with 9 degree banking. Each of the four turns has 12 degree banking, making up the 2.5 mile track. The seating capacity of 250,000 permanent seats makes this the world’s largest sporting facility.

Turn 4 of the Speedway

                At mile seven (8:10 pace), I passed a gentleman who had a tic mark on the back of his shirt for each of these races he’d completed, which was twenty in all. What an inspiration he was! We spoke briefly and parted ways as I pushed on, exiting turn four then heading for the remaining stretch of bricks, which marks the Speedway's finish line. By chance, I spotted my friend up ahead and caught up to him so that we could pass over the bricks together. I wished him luck, and he said he was doing okay for someone who hadn’t trained in 8 weeks. He wished me luck and said I was looking good and seemed to be on pace for a PR. Mile 8 found my pace at 8:12 and I was having a great time. I even picked up a Hawaiian lei from one of the local high school cheer groups. I ran with that for maybe the length of two football fields, then decided it had to go.

                With the track behind me and an 8:03 mile 9, it was time to begin the path back toward downtown to the finish line. Shortly after mile 10, with a pace of 8:17, I began to feel a slight burning sensation around my left pectoral muscle. Then it hit me like a ton of bricks! I brought my band aids, but I didn’t put them on. I had forgotten to cover my nipples, which were now chafing. Crap! "How could I have been so dumb?", is what I thought as I pictured them sitting on the fourth floor of the parking garage, in the back of my wife’s car, in the side pocket of my duffel bag... unused. I made a quick stop at one of the medical tents to ask if they had any band aids, which they did not. I guess they were more prepared for bigger issues than my now slightly bloody left chest. On I pushed turning off of 10^th street and onto White River Pkwy, completing mile 11 in 8:11.             

Heading toward the finish

                I could feel myself beginning to get a little tired, so right before the next water stop I consumed the last of my four gels just in time to wash it down with some water. Then I found myself at mile 12 with a pace of 8:10.  Looking at my watch,  I knew my PR was going to happen today. I tried to pick up the pace to finish strong, but I started the kick a little early, having to slow with only a half left. Then a kind lady from the crowd saw that I was struggling, and thankfully read my name on my bib, yelling it out loud enough so that I could hear. Sometimes, that’s all it takes to dig a little deeper, and I was off again to finish strong. Both sides of the finishing stretch were lined with spectators and bleachers. I kept looking right to left for my wife and my two little girls who had made signs for me. But through all the crowds and my determination, it was hard to pick out any one thing. Sadly I didn’t get to see them cheering me on. As I pushed hard toward the finish line I was trying to do the math from the gun time clock to subtract what I thought was my finishing time.

                I crossed the finish line with an official time of 1:46:58, which was revised from 1:47:01. Either of them would have been a PR for me, but going under the 47 minute mark seems a little sweeter. Before I was even halfway through the finishing chute, my wife had received a text that I had finished and she was calling me (you have to love technology.) We met just after that while I was still in the chute, so that I could grab a dry shirt and get some pictures taken with our girls.

                What a spectacular race! I look forward to running it again and again. Hopefully one day, I can run it with my daughters, which is a day that I can’t wait to experience.