The November chapter of the Half-A-Month saga for 2017 was the Monumental. In it's 10th year, this was the first time I've run it.
"Why?" you ask? "Why have you not partaken in a pretty big city event so close to home?"
Uhxxck... I don't know. The course looks boring. It grown too big. It's a hassle.
Case in point... I made the mistake of driving to packet pickup even though it was only a mile from my office. Why drive? Because I left before the mad rush at 5:00 and I wanted to get home fast.
Big mistake... I was actually just in time for the 4:30 mad rush, and traffic was a joke, and parking was impossible and I know that Indy is a small city but I hadn't planned for this!
I spent 40 driving in loops before I got into a parking garage. 10 min walk to the expo from the car. 7 minutes in the expo. 10 minute walk back. 15 minutes to get out of the damn garage!
Yes, I know I could have used bike share. That occurred to me much later.
Anyway... lots of people. Corrals packed.
And there was this guy...
Yes, you're very gangsta...
The first few miles, the interesting ones, were jam packed with people, which was mostly my fault because I started at the back of my corral. But once it the jam opened up a bit, I put it into high gear and took of like a...
Uh-oh... no high gear... something was wrong.
I'd spent 3 miles going WAY slower than I'd planned, and couldn't seem to get myself going any faster. I was stuck. I knew this race was a mistake.
Then, to rub it in... the 2:00 pace group passed me.
Well, fuck...
But then, a long dormant racing gene from the good ol' days perked up. The long lost DNA was saying "Oh HELL no!".
I took a few longer strides and got onto the shoulder of the 2:00 pacer. I was going to hang with her no matter what.
But then... only about a quarter mile later... it happened...
I felt fucking good.
I slowly pulled away. My splits fell. I was making up time, by handfuls.
The last 10 miles were easily the best I've run all year. I was pushing but under control. It almost felt like I was racing again.
1:56:43
Sure, the perfect weather helped (high 40s, overcast, light breeze). I sure can't marked it up to good training. It was just a good day all around... except for my right nipple.
Good running
Doug
If you'd like to catch up on the year in halfs so far, here are links:
- Jan: runDisney StarWars half at Disneyland
- Feb: Gasparilla Half in Tampa FL
- Mar: Sam Costa Half in Carmel IN
- Apr: Carmel Half in Carmel IN
- May: Geist Half in Fishers IN
- Jun: Zionsville Half in Zionsville, IN
- Jul: Rock 'n' Roll in Chicago, IL
- Aug: Viking Dash Trail Half in Muncie, IN
- Sep: Mill Race Half in Columbus, IN
- Oct: Purdue Boilermaker Half in West Lafayette, IN
Next up, the last one of the year, Kiawah Half in Kiawah SC
Bonus: Fun story about the number... after the race I showered and changed at one our offices downtown. When I got home, I couldn't find my number. No big deal to most people, but I have every race bib I've worn since college. I tore the car apart, tore the house apart... nothing. I had to have left it in shower room. With my OCD flaming out of my ass, I drove all the way back downtown, went the the shower room and there it was... a clear floor. Not in the trash, not in the hall. "I know! I must have swept it up with my towel!", I said with my index finger raised in the customary "Ah-ha!" pose. I was very proud of myself for figuring that out. I was not proud of myself when I was pulling out all of the dirty towels in the shower area... 15... 20 maybe... many still damp. WTF was I doing? I gave up.. mostly... I still looked under every cabinet and piece of furniture, and re-traced my route to where my car had been parked. Dejected, I walked to my car from the passenger side. On a whim I opened the passenger door.. .and there it was... in the slot between the seat and the door. I was at the same time relieve to see it there, and a little frightened at the control that thing had on me... yikes...
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