Monumental Marathon Recap

The alarm was set for 5:00am yet it was a couple of hours before and I was awake. I rolled over and tried to go back to sleep, which I think I did at least for a little bit. At a quarter till five I turned on the television to catch a glance of the weather for the race. I knew it was going to be in the 30's at the start of the Indianapolis Monumental Marathon but there was a chance of rain so I wanted to see if that was going to happen at the start. Thankfully it looked like it was going to hold off. I ate breakfast, took a shower, got dressed, and met Matt who was running the race with me. All four of us, Tammy (my wife), Matt, Jody (Matt's girlfriend) and I headed down to the start line.

Matt and I said our goodbye's to the girls, who were going to ride their bikes around the course to see us, and headed off to where Back on My Feet were going to have a group prayer before the race. We got there right as they were starting, and while they were giving the group prayer I said my own. Then it was time to go over to where we would meet up with the four hour pace group. The coral was crowded but we were close enough to the group that we could easily see them and catch them once we started. I took a gel and took off my throw away clothes.

As the race started I told myself to stay calm and stay with the pacer, especially since I have a tendency to go out too fast. We headed out through the streets of downtown Indianapolis on this 26.2 mile excursion. Just after mile 3 we saw the girls and I blew Tammy a kiss. I was feeling good and strong at this point which I should be.
1-3 splits: 9:02, 9:39, 8:57

Soldiers and Sailors Monument

We then head north, away from downtown toward our northern most point near Broad Ripple on 66th street. But on the way to that point we went through the art district on Mass Ave where I took my first gel. At near mile 5 I felt like I needed to pee so I started looking for a pit stop. I thought I found one but after waiting for 12 seconds realized the line was to long and decided to go ahead. I saw the girls at mile 6 or so and waved and wondered if they thought I dropped Matt or if he dropped me. Then I caught back up to Matt who wondered where I went, and when I told him he laughed at me and said he needed to go as well. So we started to look for a pit stop without a line. We finally found one at mile 10 that still had a small line but neither of us could hold back any longer so we waited a little bit and did our business then headed back out on the course.Trying to do math and figuring out how far behind the pace group we were, how long it would take us to catch them if we ran 8:55's proved to be more than either of us could do at that point so we just went with it.
4-10 splits 9:02, 9:09, 8:53, 8:54, 9:21, 9:29, 10:49

We ended up catching the pace group near mile 12. Wow! We were pushing it, because by my calculations they had about a minute plus lead on us. The problem was now that I needed another pit stop, my stomach started to become sour, and churn. I told Matt I was going to try and put some distance on the pace group so I could use the rest room again. I wished him good luck just in case I didn't see him again, and he did the same. I took off on my own out in front of the group. Other than the stomach urgency I was feeling good, my legs felt great, but holy cow my stomach was not cooperating. Just after crossing the timing mat at the half way point there was another pit stop, without a line. I ducked in to my disgust, and quickly realized that wasn't happening, so I ran on with stomach urgency.
11-13.1 splits 8:47, 8:34, 9:46

Oddly enough my stomach subsided and I kept running smoothly. I thought that the issues might come back so I planned to run an even pace (even though I'm typically not good at that) and see where that left me. Somewhere in the 16th mile my issue returned, even worse this time. There wasn't a pit stop in sight....
I even half seriously contemplated going off course into a wooded area. But thankfully that didn't have to happen. Just a little bit after the 16th mile marker I saw another pit stop and quickly made my way inside, did my business which seemed to take a long time. But upon exiting I felt so much better. I said a quick prayer that I'd seen the last of stomach troubles.
14-17 splits 7:54 (this was only .9 miles), 9:02, 8:25, 12:51

Now that that was behind me I tried to figure out where I was. As we made a turn I looked back and didn't see any pace group signs. Then I found a runner who I remembered seeing with us earlier and asked if the pace group was ahead or behind them. Unfortunately they said they were ahead by a couple of minutes. I knew I was behind my pace, but I wanted to try and stay smooth, and strong. I went through a mental check list. Feet-Good, Calves-Good, Legs-Good, Stomach-Good (thank goodness), Breath-Good, Mind-Real Good. So I pushed on.... Just before mile 18 there was a gel station, where I grabbed two gels. Unfortunately an overzealous volunteer had already opened them. I had planned on carrying one and taking one. Instead I took one and dropped one, then tried to lick the gel off of my hand. That's not as pleasant as you would think considering all the sweat. We ran by the Butler University campus where I had run my very first race after my brain surgery with Tammy. Then we made our way toward the Indianapolis Museum of Art and ran through some of their grounds. That's when I caught up to Matt. He said he was feeling a little tired and was having some cramping issues and I should go ahead if I could. I waited for a little bit since I'd been pushing for a while to try and catch up to the pace group. Then we fist bumped, and wished each other good luck and I headed off again.
18-20 splits 8:42, 9:30, 8:46

Mentally I had split this race into 6 segments, 4x5 milers and 2x5k's. I was now into the short segments. It was starting to get tough, but my legs felt good considering. At mile 22 the temperature seemed to drop quickly and then sleet started to fall. This can't be good was my thought. I knew that at mile 23 I needed to be at 3:30:50 which I didn't meet. I needed to run a fast 2nd 5k, I figured this was not going to happen, by my calculations. I could see in the distance to the south Methodist Hospital where I'd been airlifted to exactly 4 years earlier to the day with a ruptured brain aneurysm. I almost lost it right there and had to hold back the tears. I'd come so far from then. I then saw the girls up on the next corner and gave Tammy a quick kiss, and told them Matt was behind me a little ways. I also told Tammy that I thought 4 hours was out, but she encouraged me, saying I was doing great and that it would still be a PR from Chicago the year prior. Off I went!
21-23 splits 8:52, 9:27, 9:28

I had a brief moment where I thought maybe I could. Maybe if I could just run a 25 minute or even a 26 minute 5k I might make the four hour time. I gave it everything I could but mile 25 was rough. I walked for 30 seconds during this mile, but it seemed like it was longer than that. With only a mile left to go one of my inspirational songs started playing from my playlist. It was like I timed it perfectly for when I was feeling low. The song, by Eminem 'Till I Collapse, the opening lines say: "Sometimes you just feel tired, you feel weak, and when you feel weak you just want to give up. But you gotta search within you, you gotta find that inner strength and just pull that shit out of you and get that motivation to not give up not be a quitter, no matter how bad you wanna just fall flat on your face and collapse." That was what I needed to get running again I didn't want to be a quitter, I'd go until I finished or collapsed. My legs were tired, I was about finished, then it happened.......I crossed the finish line!
23-26.2 splits 9:19, 9:39, 9:18, 1:51(for the .2)

I couldn't hold back the tears any longer. One of the volunteers who was at the finish line, said to me "It's ok! You did it!" I gave it everything I had on that day and even though I didn't make my four hour goal I know that I have that in me. I just need to get the stomach issues under control. I'm proud of this finish!

Total time 4:03:30.3

This won't be my last....I love this race distance!

Giving Back, it's Time

After my aneurysm ruptured, I don't remember much from the time in the hospital before my surgery. But, I do remember thinking that if I was to live past the current predicament that I was in I would make sure to "give back." Giving back can be exemplified in many different forms, you can donate, volunteer, start a non-profit, etc... I started a company, and one of the founding principles of the company is that a portion of the profits would go to different charities that I wanted to support.

As I began running and got more and more involved in the running community by attending races and expo's, as well as being involved on twitter, etc. I came across a nonprofit that really resonated with me. You may have heard of Back on My Feet before, but I was introduced to them via twitter and thought that it was a very neat concept.

Back on My Feet Indianapolis, at the Soldiers and Sailors Monument, Indianapolis IN

Here's the basics of BoMF from their website: Back on My Feet (BoMF) is a national nonprofit organization that is dedicated to creating independence and self-sufficiency within the homeless and other underserved populations by first engaging them in running as a means to build confidence, strength and self-esteem. The organization does not provide food nor shelter, but instead provides a community that embraces equality, respect, discipline, teamwork and leadership. Back on My Feet’s approach focuses on the very profound and innate desire for all of us – regardless of age, race, socio-economic status – to feel recognized, appreciated, valued and important. Through dedication and hard work, Members earn the opportunity to create a new road for themselves by advancing to the “Next Steps” phase of the program where they gain access to educational, job training and employment opportunities, as well as financial aid. In short, BoMF focuses on changing the direction of people’s lives by changing the way they see themselves.

I met the Communications director of the Indianapolis chapter at the Carmel Marathon expo in 2011 where I was running their half with my wife for her first 13.1 miles. We talked for a little while there and have kept in touch via twitter. After running the Chicago Marathon I had heard of others running for charity but didn't know exactly how it worked, but I thought that it might be a fun opportunity to do that at some point.

This brings us to real time where I will be running the 2012 edition of the 500 Festival Mini Marathon for Back on My Feet's Indianapolis charter. I'm raising money for them to continue to do the great work that they do everyday. I would love to be more involved with them and run with their groups, however the time that they meet doesn't match up with my work schedule so I'll have to be content with helping in this manner. Maybe at some point in the future I could do more with them but for I'll work to raise money.

I'm committed to raising a thousand dollars to run the Mini Marathon for BoMF, although I'd like to reach a higher dollar amount. Eighteen hundred is the amount that it takes to get a participant through the entire program which I think would be great. I'm telling you this not to brag or say look at me. But I'm telling you this to hopefully inspire you to do something you've not done before and get involved to give back.  If that means donating to something I'd love it if you donated to me. But if it means doing your own fundraising program, then I say what are you waiting for? Get started now!

If you choose to donate to my cause here's the link, I thank you, but there is no pressure.
My Fundraising Page

A Winter Trail Half Marathon

It was a cold January day, with temperatures in the low 30's at dusk and a stiff wind driving the "feels like" temperature into the 20's. I was about to toe the line of my first trail race of any distance. Before I signed up I was contemplating doing the full marathon but someone wiser than I (my wife) talked me into doing only the half since coming off an injury from the Chicago Marathon. In hindsight this was a very wise choice.
Just to give you an idea of how cold it was here's what I was wearing to try and stave off the chill of the wind. A pair of running shorts (as a wind shield) 2 pair of running tights, a compression short sleeve shirt, a long sleeve technical shirt, a long sleeve thermal technical shirt, a wind proof jacket, a pair of winter running gloves, an ear warmer, and a face screen. With all that I was still quite chilly before the start of the race.
As the race took off there was about 200 feet before the trail went down to a single track so there we waited for the bottle neck to open up a little. Then we meandered on a two loop course of trail and paved trail through Eagle Creek Park on the northwest side of Indianapolis. Some of the hills were very steep and probably topped out at a 20% grade, or so it appeared. With the headlight on and running with a friend (Matt) we were out in the woods. Everything was going well until we got to about mile 4, then the mud started and didn't let up until we were almost finished with the first loop. For those keeping track at home that's almost two and a half miles of ankle deep mud, muck, puddles, etc... My feet were frozen, and according to the race director who ran the course the day before and today it was "a lot better conditions today than yesterday" Holly Cow! I couldn't imagine it being much worse, everyone was slipping and sliding all over the trail, and I think this caused extra fatigue for me. Especially my hips which were already calling in for reinforcements. But I was having fun, and it helped that I had a friend to run it with, who was taking pity on my lack of endurance after taking almost two full months off by waiting for me when I needed to take a breather.
The second loop was much the same but I did shed my outer layer at the half way point because I had built up so much heat I was now frying. After going through the second batch of mud I was trying to save a little energy so I'd have enough left for a kick at the end. (As stated before, I'm very competitive and like to finish strong) Making the final turn there was about a 5 foot drop that I had forgotten about and I almost took a header into the mud. After barely catching myself we sprinted to the finish and in a virtual tie (Matt beat me by 7 one hundredths of a second) we had a great time and congratulated each other on finishing what I am referring to as The Muddy Mucky Winter Half Marathon.
I look forward to doing some more trail races in the future, since this was so much fun. But I think it will be more fun once I have my endurance built back up.
Speaking of endurance, I've begun my training for the 500 Festival Mini-Marathon in Indianapolis this year as you might recall from the 35th running. This year I'm running for charity and fund raising or fundracing for an organization called Back on My Feet  more to com on this in the future but if you would like to help me reach my goal of $1800.00 you can visit my fundracing page and help out, any and all amounts help.

Until next time, run fun!