Indianapolis Monumental Marathon
A goal – Break my PR (3:15)
B goal – Get a 5 minute buffer for Boston. My BQ time is 3:25, so I wanted at least sub 3:20.
I came into this race with a training program that felt incomplete from missed runs. A hip that was flaring up with pain from time to time. A two week stretch at work which was really really busy and exhausting.
I decided to come up with my race plan in 5 sections.
1. First five miles would be slower and run with the 3:20 pacer
2. Miles 6 through 14 I would pick up pace and catch the 3:15 pacer.
3. Miles 14 through 16 I would run with the 3:15 pacer
4. Miles 16 - 20 - I’d pick up the pace and run a bit faster than the 3:15 pacer
5. Miles 20 - 26.2 - I would hold on for dear life and run as fast as I possibly could hoping to run faster than my PR (3:15:00)
The logistics were incredibly easy. Race started at 8 a.m. and my hotel was 3 blocks from the start. So I was able to leave my hotel 30 minutes before the race and still have plenty of time. Knowing what I know, I could have waited a bit longer and stayed at my hotel an extra 10 minutes.
I arrived in the wave 1 corral and searched out the 3:15 and 3:20 pacers. The 3:15 guy was a bit abrasive in his personality when I asked him questions about his strategy regarding water stops, etc. The 3:20 pacer was doing his first pacing gig. He was about 23 years old and was clearly winging it.
With the temperature around 28 degrees and a breeze, it was quite cold and I was layered up with sweatpants over my shorts and five layers on my top along with hat and gloves. I got rid of the sweatpants and 2 of my layers up top prior to the race. (I later got rid of the other layers and was left with shorts, singlet, arm warmers, hat and gloves.)
Mile 1 – 8:02
Very crowded start, which is standard for a race that has 15,000+ starting (both half marathon and full marathon start together). Started next to the 3:20 pacer but a half mile into the race, the 3:20 pacer was even with the 3:15 pacer! I was shooting for a 7:45 first mile, but congestion caused me to run this a bit slower than planned.
Mile 2 – 7:28
Finally got some space and the 3:20 pacer was running slow now, so I separated from him and wanted to get back to my goal pace for this mile (which was 7:35) and make up a bit from mile 1.
Mile 3 -- 7:24
Mile 4 – 7:16 (ate a banana)
Mile 5 – 7:27
These miles were a bit faster than I probably should have, but the 3:15 pacer was flying and out of sight. Me running a bit faster just felt right. I started to worry that my second half goals were a bit too aggressive so I was okay with gaining a few seconds here early.
Mile 6 – 7:14
Mile 7 – 7:11
Mile 8 – 7:11 (had a Maurten gel)
Mile 9 – 7:09
Mile 10 – 7:12
This was the stretch where I took off to go chase down the 3:15 pacer. I caught him at mile 10. Admittedly, I went hard but the weather was cool and there was a tailwind on the first half of the race. Knowing it would be a headwind the second half, I decided it would be okay to bank a few seconds here and there. When I caught the 3:15 pacer, my math was telling me he was running fast.
Mile 11 – 7:20
Mile 12 – 7:20 (had 3 shot blocks)
Mile 13 – 7:19
I ran with the 3:15 pacer through this section. We passed through the first half at 1:36:23. Knowing this was about a minute fast, I was comfortable sticking with him a bit longer before I tried to depart from him.
Mile 14 – 7:20
Mile 15 – 7:23
Mile 16 – 7:31
I stuck with the 3:15 pace group and the miles were ticking off pretty easily. Mile 16 provided the biggest hill of the course, so the time was a bit slower and I was okay with that. After we climbed the hill, I decided to make my move and get ahead of the group. As I moved ahead of the group, I realized the headwind was stronger than I anticipated. (While with the group, I was buffered from the full force of the headwind.) After about ½ mile of fighting the headwind on my own, I rethought my plan. I was already ahead of pace and I didn’t want to burn out fighting the wind for 10 miles. I tucked back in with the group for another couple miles.
Mile 17 – 7:20
Mile 18 – 7:23 (ate a banana)
Mile 19 – 7:20
I ran with the group through miles 17 and 18 and at mile 19, I picked up the pace (at least I thought I did) as this was a downhill. Regardless, I was now in front of the 3:15 group. My goal was to stay in front of them.
Mile 20 – 7:23
Mile 21 – 7:25 (ate one shotblock)
Mile 22 – 7:23
This stretch was tough. The wind was picking up and I struggled to find someone running my pace. There was a larger 6’4” guy who was running about my pace but he was always about 10 seconds in front of me. I needed a buffer from the wind. I was passing a lot of runners and I found I would sometimes pass several runners and then tuck in behind a slower runner for 10-15 seconds to get a break from the headwind and then pop back out and go catch the next person. I had done this for several miles.
Mile 23 – 7:24
At this point, I knew me breaking 3:20 was assured unless something catastrophic happened. I kept looking at my 3:13 pace band and saw I was lagging by 5 or so seconds. I wanted to make a move but I didn’t want to go too early and burn out at the end.
Mile 24 – 7:20
The next 2 miles are on an exposed road. Half marathoners on the left, full marathoners on the right. Most of the half marathoners are walking and there I am breathing heavy with probably not the best running form.
Mile 25 – 7:17
I was in pain at this point. But I was holding on. I calculated my PR (3:15) would be broken unless I did something really stupid. I kept pushing and was passing tons of people. I only think one person passed me in the last 5K. I probably passed a couple hundred people maybe in the last few miles.
Mile 26 – 7:02
Now I wanted to break 3:13. I knew I was behind that pace when I finished with mile 25. It was time to either put up or shut up. I started to push the pace. Trying to walk that fine line of red lining my body and keeping it together. This section was a blur. I remember looking down at my watch and seeing 25.6 and thinking “Wow, that was fast.” With just over a half a mile left in the race, I emptied the tank. There are several turns in the last half mile as it winds through the city streets. I almost turned an ankle on one of the turns. Crisis averted!
Last 0.25 – 6:33 pace
I don’t remember much other than I wanted 3:12
x so bad. I remember seeing a race photographer and usually I try to smile or make eye contact or give a thumbs up but I was zeroed in on that finish line. I’m sprinting to the finish. Not knowing if I was going to break 3:13 and not wanting to peek at my watch knowing it would break my stride ever so slightly I focused solely on getting across that finish line.
I crossed the line and stopped my watch.
YES! 3:12:43! Over a 2 minute PR. 7:20 overall pace. I was ecstatic. I ran almost identical splits 1:36:23 for the first half and 1:36:20 for the second half. Thrilled as the second half had hills and headwind.
Any PR is special and this one is no different. The cold weather allowed me to push my body and not worry as much about overheating. The slow start allowed me to warm up and also conserve some energy for the second half. I FINALLY felt like I fueled properly (both in the days leading up to the race as well as during the race.)
This race also gained me entry into the 125th Boston Marathon in April 2021. My time is 12+ min faster than I need so I’m assured of a spot in the race.
What’s next? I’m likely taking a full year off from racing. My body needs a break and just as importantly, my mind needs a break. I’ll possibly run a couple marathons for the pacing company I work for but my training will not be as intense. I will let my body heal the aches and pains it has from this training cycle. Boston 2020 will likely be a fun run for me.
I’m incredibly fortunate to have friends and family who support my addiction to this sport and the goal of constantly improving myself. I’m thankful beyond words.
Overall 624/4700 (top 13.2%)
Male 503/2844 (top 17.6%)
Division 52/392 (top 13.2%)
