#Indianapolis Monumental Marathon

Race Information

• Date: Saturday, October 28, 2023 8:00am
• Distance: 26.36mi per Garmin Venu 2
• Time: 03:58:39
• Elevation Gain: 262 feet
• Weather: 51 degrees F. Wet roads. Light breeze overcast, temps dropping throughout the day.
• Shoes: Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 3
• Water bottle: HydraPak SkyFlask Speed 350ml
• On Course Hydration: Nuun

Goals

1/2 Marathon Splits

##Background In May 2023 I ran my 3rd marathon in Cincinnati, the Flying Pig Marathon. I achieved a 38-minute PR then after a long break from running in the pouring rain.

##Training I was loosely following a few training guides, building mileage and some speed work for the first 7 weeks. I switched to the Runna app around week 8. I followed the training as best I could, though rarely hit the paces it prescribed and added in 1 or 2 days of core and leg strength for the first time during a training block. I could really see how imbalanced I was and how that could be an area of improvement for the future. I ran mostly 30–35 miles per week (mpw) peaking at 42 mpw. My easy day and long run paces were 10-11:30. I hit 20 miles twice and did 4 18 mile runs. I did a 2-week taper per the Runna app and that felt nice.

Trying New things

They say never try new things on race day I did the following new things:

• Followed Featherstone Nutrition’s carb load plan, 600g of carbs for 3 days. I have never done more than eat lots of carbs the night before, here 3 days before I was loading up.
• Scratch High Sodium the night before and carried it in my handheld. I never drank it before the night before the race. I usually use some BCAA / pre workout in my water bottles. I also never carried a handheld during a race. This HydraPak flask was GREAT! I could pop the top off and refill it when needed. I didn’t need to stop at each water stop and I could take sips of water anytime I wanted.
• Took 3 Imodium AD the morning of the race. Throughout my training long runs, I stopped by 1-3 McD’s or Port-a-Potties. This stopped me up for 2 days.
• Mixed Maurten Caffeinated + SIS gels. I’ve never tried this combo, worked well. I really don’t like the taste of Maurten non-Caf so I went with SIS. Took these every 3 miles, 8 gels in total.
• Took 2 salt tabs every 3 miles. I blue taped these to my gels. Take a gel and eat 2 salt tabs. On training runs I never took salt tabs.
• Followed a pace group. At home I train solo. Running with people was GREAT! Staring down at the road to watch out for potholes was hard with all the legs in front of me.
• I had no race anxiety. I usually get anxious before a race, the only thing I can think of is that I was going to meet 2 other internet running runs at the start line and I was looking forward to meeting them in person.

The Race

• Wake up: Alarm at 5:00. Took 2 beet root capsules and 2 Imodium with coffee. Ate oatmeal with 1/2 a banana and peanut butter. 1 more Imodium.
• First 5 Miles: My calves felt very tight. I did not warm up at all, only a short walk to the start line. It did loosen up after 5 miles. It was crowded and stayed crowded. The 4-hour pace group rolled deep, with the 2 hour 1/2 group there must have been more than 60 people.
• 6 Miles - 22 Miles: Our pace group leader held the pace very consistently, this is her 73rd marathon! We’re clicking off 8:58 - 9:04 minute miles. Each mile felt very easy, I was running and talking just fine. The 1/2 marathon group split off, and we were down to about 20 people. The roads were still very narrow, and we were bumping each other constantly. Around mile 17 I realized I did not lubricate my toes, and my left toes were bothering me.
• 23 Miles to 25 Miles: It started getting hard, and I was struggling to hold the pace, my hips and glutes were feeling sore. My pace slowed to 9:20s and 9:30s. The pace group was getting further away. I was thinking I was going to tell the story of coming close to my goal and finishing in 4:02 or 4:03.
• 26 Miles to Finish: The last 0.5 Miles I soaked up the crowd energy, the pain went away and my head up looking for the last turns to finish the race. I upped the pace to 8:05 and crossed the line seeing 4:07 on the clock, not knowing if I finished sub 4 hours.

Post Race

My wife found me and told me that I had done it, I ran a sub 4-hour marathon. She’d been following me throughout the morning on the app. My legs felt and is still feeling good. It’s the least sore I have ever been after a race. Now in the off season, I will work on glute, core, and hip flexor strength, and trying to lose of few pounds of weight. I’ll look for a spring race and trying to improve.

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