The Broad Running Broad

Last weekend was the Carmel Half. And holy crap, was it fun.

I’ll get to that shortly, but I have a couple of things I want to say.

First off, I love Indiana. I went to the University of Indianapolis – and still can’t believe next month will be 10 years since I graduated – and the state holds a special place in my heart as being my first home away from home, and the place where I first got to spread my wings.

However … I don’t love the construction on I-70 westbound and especially not on I-465. I didn’t know major construction was happening on I-465 until I was on it, getting redirected into the express/left lane, and then having to cross five lanes of traffic for my exit. How I didn’t get into an accident is a miracle.

It turns out the roundabouts in Carmel are far easier to maneuver than I was expecting and not too bad.

The big task on Friday was 1.) Survive the highway, 2.) Get my bib at the expo and 3.) Get checked into the hotel with enough time to relax before my race. I stayed at the Renaissance Indianapolis North Hotel, which was one of my best hotel experiences to date. The staff were so kind and professional, the amenities were excellent, and the hotel was beautiful. I didn’t realize when I was originally booking the Renaissance that I had gone with one of the two hotels that had shuttle service for the race the next morning. By happy accident I did something right.

After a short swim and shower on Friday night I went to bed early. Saturday was the big day.

Race Morning

After eight years of running, I still haven’t quite figured out how to dress for the weather.

I brought a tank top and a short sleeved T-shirt. It was a little breezy in the morning, and I thought I would be good in the T-shirt and cropped leggings.

Then the sun popped out after 8. I should have gone with the tank.

Speaking of sun, we could not have gotten a more perfect morning for a race. It was in the upper 40s/lower 50s, sunny and beautiful.

During the five miles I felt good. I didn’t want to go out too fast, and I knew at some point there would be hills, but the flat start felt great. I felt powerful and didn’t take as many walk breaks as I thought I would.

During the second leg – Miles 5 through 10 – the “flat to rolling” part of the course description started to kick in. I felt it around Mile 7. I wasn’t tired yet, but I did take some more walk breaks as we weaved through the neighborhoods of Carmel.

Around Mile 10 – which also happened to be a giant hill – I decided the 2:25 finish time wasn’t going to happen. I was tired and that beautiful morning sun was starting to get to me. Miles 11 and 12 took us on the Monon Bike Path back into downtown Carmel. With that final uphill, I made my right on to City Center Drive for the downhill to the finish.

Final time – 2:37:40.

Pace of 12:02, which was close to my estimated pace of 12:00 that I figured would be smartest to run.

Once it was done and I got some water (and found the bus back to the hotel), I couldn’t stop smiling like a doofus. I ran Carmel and had a ball, in spite of getting tired.

Saturday after the race was spent with Makenzie, my best friend and college roommate. We got lunch at Juniper on Main, a Southern Coastal restaurant in Carmel that I’m going to write a full review on in my next post, and went Mother’s Day shopping when we were downtown Carmel. The last time Mak and I saw each other was at Grandpa’s funeral. Frankly, we were long overdue for a girl’s day out.

On Sunday it was time to head home. I made a pit stop at Grandma’s so she, Mom and I could have lunch together. Then I had to get home to Marina, who made it clear she missed her mom.

So Reader-Friends, that was my Carmel Half Marathon weekend. I’m especially glad I transferred from the full to the half, and that I got to spend the afternoon with Mak. Next up on the race schedule: Canaan Valley. But first I still have to unpack my Carmel stuff.

Yours in reading and running,

Allison