My training partner, Jarrod, and I chose to do the Indianapolis Monumental Marathon for our fall marathon this year. The Monumental Marathon had a lot to entice us to make the trip from North Carolina to Indiana. The course was relatively flat with just a couple small hills. The course goes by Indianapolis landmarks such as Lucas Oil stadium, Monument Circle, Butler University, the Museum of Art, the State Fairgrounds, the Fall Creek Parkway, and finishes at the State Capitol. The date and time of the event was also a perk. It was on November 2, 2013 and this race has generally had ideal weather for a marathon. This was my first Saturday marathon and my sixth marathon overall. Another good thing was we got to see and stay with my good friend Sarah and her husband Ritchie. Sarah and Ricthie were great hosts and took us to dinner on Friday night at Maggiano's Little Italy. I ordered the chicken piccata with angle hair pasta and it was very good.
My goal was to run 2:50-2:52 but if I felt good and had a shot at sub 2:50 I was going to pick it up the final 10K or 5K. My PR is 2:54:26 from Boston in 2011. I ran 2:54:29 at Marshall University Marathon last November but had to battle GI issues from miles 22 until the finish. If I hadn't had the GI issues I think Marshall would have been a 2:51-2:53 marathon.
My goal was to run 2:50-2:52 but if I felt good and had a shot at sub 2:50 I was going to pick it up the final 10K or 5K. My PR is 2:54:26 from Boston in 2011. I ran 2:54:29 at Marshall University Marathon last November but had to battle GI issues from miles 22 until the finish. If I hadn't had the GI issues I think Marshall would have been a 2:51-2:53 marathon.
Shaun, Jarrod, and Me pre race After a good night's sleep, Jamie, Sarah, Ritchie, and I drove to the start where we met Jarrod and his Dad. After wishing each other good luck, Jarrod and I headed off to warm-up while Jamie and Jarrod's Dad left to drive to the first spot they planned on seeing us during the race, and Sarah and Ritchie got ready to run the half marathon. The weather was great for a marathon. The temperature was in the low 40s with a light breeze. Although I have ran two marathons in the Adidas Adizero Adios I opted for the Adidas Adizero Boston 3 for this race for a little more cushioning. While in the porta-potty I realized I left my GU Roctane gels in my jacket in Jarrod's car. It was a minor panic until I was able to call Jamie. Since Jamie and Jarrod's Dad were going to be driving around the course and were planning on seeing us multiple times I was fortunate I was able to get my gels from her during the race and not have to go without or try the Cliff Shot gels they had on the course.
Jarrod and I got in the our assigned starting corral and met Shaun there. Shaun ran the Marshall University Marathon with us last year. Shaun's planned pacing for the half marathon was the same as ours for the full so we decided we'd run together for awhile. We were at the front of the second corral, the first corral was for the elites; which included 16 year old Alana Hadley of Charlotte, NC. She was shooting for sub 2:43 to qualify for the U.S. Women's Olympic Marathon Trials. While waiting for the start we also talked with my friend Rich and a new friend Ethan from the Runners World Sub 3 group.
Jarrod and I got in the our assigned starting corral and met Shaun there. Shaun ran the Marshall University Marathon with us last year. Shaun's planned pacing for the half marathon was the same as ours for the full so we decided we'd run together for awhile. We were at the front of the second corral, the first corral was for the elites; which included 16 year old Alana Hadley of Charlotte, NC. She was shooting for sub 2:43 to qualify for the U.S. Women's Olympic Marathon Trials. While waiting for the start we also talked with my friend Rich and a new friend Ethan from the Runners World Sub 3 group.
It was still dark when the race started at 8:00 am. The sun wasn't due to rise for another 15 minutes. Jarrod, Shaun, and I started off together. We ran the first two miles in 6:29 and 6:34. We went by the home of the Indianapolis Colts at mile one. Just after two miles I saw Jamie. She ran over towards me on the race course and I took my three gels from her. I dropped one and in a split second stopped to reach for it but Jarrod had swooped it up already. I shouldn't have worried about it but I was counting on my gels. After tucking all three gels in the pocket of my Nike woven split short I picked my pace back up. That's a great thing about those shorts, the inside gel pocket on the right hip holds three gels easily.
We were under an overpass for a tenth of a mile or so on mile three. The GPS dropped out under it but regained signal fast once we were out from under it. Even though the weather was cool I took water at the aid stations. The volunteers at the aid stations were great. The cups were paper making it easy to grab, pinch, and drink. Jarrod was trying to get his cup in the trash cans on his toss after drinking water. He started 0-3 before hitting one and he got better as the race went on. I was just tossing it as far to the side as I could or near a trash can. I did get a few in a couple trash cans though, one a perfect shot right in the middle without touching any sides of the trashcan.
Jarrod, Shaun, and I stayed on 6:30 pace through the first 10K. My 10K split was 40:16 and Jarrod's was 40:18. We bid Shaun Good Luck at seven miles when he had to turn for the half marathon course. Jarrod and I continued on the full course feeling good and comfortable. I picked up the pace just a little bit without trying to. Miles 7, 8, 9, and 10 were 6:27, 6:29, 6:25, and 6:30. I took my first gel, a caffeine chocolate raspberry GU Roctane, just before mile 7 and chased it with water. We passed by the Indiana State Fairgrounds just before mile nine.
We were under an overpass for a tenth of a mile or so on mile three. The GPS dropped out under it but regained signal fast once we were out from under it. Even though the weather was cool I took water at the aid stations. The volunteers at the aid stations were great. The cups were paper making it easy to grab, pinch, and drink. Jarrod was trying to get his cup in the trash cans on his toss after drinking water. He started 0-3 before hitting one and he got better as the race went on. I was just tossing it as far to the side as I could or near a trash can. I did get a few in a couple trash cans though, one a perfect shot right in the middle without touching any sides of the trashcan.
Jarrod, Shaun, and I stayed on 6:30 pace through the first 10K. My 10K split was 40:16 and Jarrod's was 40:18. We bid Shaun Good Luck at seven miles when he had to turn for the half marathon course. Jarrod and I continued on the full course feeling good and comfortable. I picked up the pace just a little bit without trying to. Miles 7, 8, 9, and 10 were 6:27, 6:29, 6:25, and 6:30. I took my first gel, a caffeine chocolate raspberry GU Roctane, just before mile 7 and chased it with water. We passed by the Indiana State Fairgrounds just before mile nine.
I thought I was going to ditch the throw away gloves and arm-warmers during the race but I wasn't feeling warm or hot. I was feeling comfortable and kept them on for the whole race. The breeze was a little chilly but I was loving the weather. Miles 11, 12, and 13 were 6:27, 6:28, and 6:28. My half marathon split was 1:24:53. Pretty good pacing the first half which put me in great position to run 2:50. Jarrod's half split was 1:25:03.
After the half mark, I saw a group of three guys ahead of me. I didn't want to run solo so I did a surge and caught them. Once I got to them, I asked what their goal was and they said 2:50 or under. I said that sounded good to me and I told them I'd run with them. Two of the guys had ran the race before and gave me a heads up on a couple rolling hills that were still to come. We started running some of the rolling hills starting around 14 miles. They were not steep and I welcomed the change from the flat course we had been running.
The group I was running with was staying consistent as well but the pace did slow some. I took my second gel, a non-caffeine pineapple GU Roctane, at mile 14 and chased it with a cup of water. Miles 14, 15, and 16 were 6:34, 6:32, and 6:30. The group I was in started to dwindle down till it was just me and one other runner, Jason Land. Jason and I were talking about training, the weather, and the course as we kept running together. We ran by the campus of Butler University after 17 miles and the Indiana Museum of Art at 19 miles. Miles 17, 18, 19, and 20 were quicker at 6:29, 6:29, 6:22, and 6:29. The last timing mat split for tracking was the 30K mark. My 30K split was 2:00:56. Jarrod's 30K split was 2:01:18.
After the half mark, I saw a group of three guys ahead of me. I didn't want to run solo so I did a surge and caught them. Once I got to them, I asked what their goal was and they said 2:50 or under. I said that sounded good to me and I told them I'd run with them. Two of the guys had ran the race before and gave me a heads up on a couple rolling hills that were still to come. We started running some of the rolling hills starting around 14 miles. They were not steep and I welcomed the change from the flat course we had been running.
The group I was running with was staying consistent as well but the pace did slow some. I took my second gel, a non-caffeine pineapple GU Roctane, at mile 14 and chased it with a cup of water. Miles 14, 15, and 16 were 6:34, 6:32, and 6:30. The group I was in started to dwindle down till it was just me and one other runner, Jason Land. Jason and I were talking about training, the weather, and the course as we kept running together. We ran by the campus of Butler University after 17 miles and the Indiana Museum of Art at 19 miles. Miles 17, 18, 19, and 20 were quicker at 6:29, 6:29, 6:22, and 6:29. The last timing mat split for tracking was the 30K mark. My 30K split was 2:00:56. Jarrod's 30K split was 2:01:18.
I typically take my third and final gel during a marathon at mile 20 or 21 but I was I was still feeling strong and opted not to take it and risk stomach issues. Jason and I kept miles 21, 22, and 23 at 6:30, 6:35, and 6:34. After 23 miles the full marathon and half marathon courses join again. Before the race I was worried about weaving around slow half marathoners the final 3.2 miles to the finish. The course was marked well and the volunteers did a great job keeping the slow half marathon runners in the left lane while reserving the right lane for the marathon runners.
Although I still felt good and was ahead of Jason, who I had ran with since 14 miles, my splits were slowing down. The course was all flat, even a slight downhill to the finish, and the wind wasn't bothering me either. Miles 24 and 25 were 6:42 and 6:48 though.
Although I still felt good and was ahead of Jason, who I had ran with since 14 miles, my splits were slowing down. The course was all flat, even a slight downhill to the finish, and the wind wasn't bothering me either. Miles 24 and 25 were 6:42 and 6:48 though.
Jarrod had kept me in his sights and my slowing down on miles 24 and 25 allowed him to do a surge to catch me. He caught me as we ran down N. West Street at 25.5 miles. He pulled up beside me and said "We started this together, let's finish it together". That's exactly what I needed to hear! I ran mile 26 in 6:37. Shaun was on the final turn and got video of Jarrod and Me running to the finish side by side. Jarrod and I were sprinting to the finish and he pulled ahead by just a couple steps. Jarrod finished in 2:50:41 and I finished in 2:50:43. My final 0.2 miles were at 5:55 min/mile pace. As soon as I crossed the line Jarrod was there waiting and I almost tackled him with as hard as I hugged him. Jarrod and I placed 52nd and 53rd out of 3,518 finishers but the full sold out at 5,000 runners.
Although it would have been nice to beat Jarrod, I was very happy with the race and my performance. I was glad him and I finished so close together. I was even happier Jamie got to see me run a marathon. Jamie had fun spectating on the course. She made some original signs that runners and other spectators loved. The sign she had at 10 miles said "I know a shortcut". She had another that said "We tripped a Kenyan, you still have a chance" at mile 23. The ironic thing is a Kenyan did fall down early in the race at mile one. Jamie also had fun size Snickers and Starburst at mile 23 and they were all snatched up by runners as they passed her and Jarrod's dad.
Although it would have been nice to beat Jarrod, I was very happy with the race and my performance. I was glad him and I finished so close together. I was even happier Jamie got to see me run a marathon. Jamie had fun spectating on the course. She made some original signs that runners and other spectators loved. The sign she had at 10 miles said "I know a shortcut". She had another that said "We tripped a Kenyan, you still have a chance" at mile 23. The ironic thing is a Kenyan did fall down early in the race at mile one. Jamie also had fun size Snickers and Starburst at mile 23 and they were all snatched up by runners as they passed her and Jarrod's dad.
I've dropped almost ten minutes from my first marathon of 3:00:21 at Shamrock in Virginia Beach in 2009 to my 2:50:43 at Monumental. In the days after the race, miles 24 and 25 have bothered me. I might have had a better shot at breaking 2:50 if it wasn't for those miles. It was still a great race for me and a PR by 3:42. My pacing was consistent and the best paced marathon I have ran to date. Two gels worked well for me, no issues at all. Although I only took in a total of 200 calories the whole race I didn't feel like I needed more. My muscles didn't cramp or lock up until I finished but they got better the more walking I did after the race. I took water every other aid station and even back to back aid stations a couple times.
I loved this race. The course was great, the weather was great, the volunteers were great, and the expo was good. It wasn't a huge expo like Boston but it was the second best expo I've been to out of the now six marathons I have finished. They had great deals at the expo. I was able to score the new Adidas Adizero Boston 4 for $49.99 when it is $110 everywhere else. There were plenty of water and Gatorade stations on the course. I highly recommend doing this race. If you're looking for a PR course then this is the race for you.
I loved this race. The course was great, the weather was great, the volunteers were great, and the expo was good. It wasn't a huge expo like Boston but it was the second best expo I've been to out of the now six marathons I have finished. They had great deals at the expo. I was able to score the new Adidas Adizero Boston 4 for $49.99 when it is $110 everywhere else. There were plenty of water and Gatorade stations on the course. I highly recommend doing this race. If you're looking for a PR course then this is the race for you.
Me and Jarrod Post Race
Me and Jamie post race
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