Monumental Half Marathon 2013

If you have been following the blog for the past couple of months, you know that I have been training for the Indianapolis Monumental Half Marathon. Β This was my fifth half marathon, so I wasn’t just training to complete the race I was actually training with a goal time in mind.

Up until now, my fastest pace was 8:53 with an overall time of 1:56:20…and I wanted to beat it! Β My goal was to run the half marathon in 1:45:00, which meant that I needed to maintain an 8:00 pace throughout the race. Β It would be a challenge, but I was ready to do it.

Here are some posts recapping my training:

Friday night, Brian and I headed to the race expo to pick up my bib number and bag of goodies. Β We walked around the expo, but didn’t stay long.

monumental half 1

I woke up early on race day and made myself one of my favorite pre-race meals: a smoothie bowl.

smoothie breakfast day 2

My smoothie bowl contained cherries (anti-inflammatory!), banana, Greek yogurt, Designer Whey protein, coconut water, spinach, coffee and a bit of almond butter on top. Β I was ready to go after this tasty smoothie.

Because the race was in downtown Indianapolis and I live downtown, I just walked to the start with my mom and Brian and met up with a couple of friends.

Monumental Half 1

Thousands of runners huddled at the start line as we waited for the race to begin.

Monumental Half 2

I found the 8:00 pace group, and stuck with them for as long as I could.

 

Monumental Half 3

Brian tried to snap a pic of me at mile 3 but I was moving too fast for the camera to focus πŸ˜‰

Monumental Half 4

The course is relatively flat, but it is so scenic. Β It really takes you through all of the highlights of Indianapolis. Β I absolutely love this race!

While I was running with my pace group, I was doing great but as soon as we got to mile 7 the pace group headed towards the FULL marathon course while I stayed on the half marathon course. Β Needless to say, I was a little bit nervous at this point about maintaining my pace.

I debated asking some of the runners around me if they were trying to keep an 8:00 pace, and just when I decided I was NOT going to ask someone, a kind girl asked ME if I was running for a specific time. Β When we both agreed that we wanted to finish with an 8:00 pace we decided we would push each other to the finish and stick together. Another man ended up joining our group too and it was completely awesome!

We didn’t talk much, but at each mile we would check in with time and pace and give each other a couple of positive words to keep us pushing. Β I was so thankful for my little pace group.

There were a couple of moments when the running started to get to me, but as soon as it happened the PERFECT song started to play in my iPod. Β Two specific instances that stick out to me are mile 7 when the pace group initially left to run on the FULL marathon course and when I hit mile 12. Β At mile 7 Eminem’s “Lose Yourself” started playing and at mile 12 “Defying Gravity” from the Broadway musical Wicked started playing. Β It was perfect and so motivating!

Monumental Half 6

As soon as I crossed the finish line, I hugged my little pace group and immediately looked for Brian and my Mom who were cheering me through the finish.

Monumental Half 7

I looked at my Garmin and although I didn’t know the official time, I knew that I DID IT!

Monumental Half 8

Monumental Half 9

I completed my goal of running a half marathon in 1:45:00…actually I exceeded my goal and I couldn’t be happier!!

My overall stats were: Β 25th (age group), 01:44:04, 7:57 pace

Monumental Half 10

It was such an amazing feeling to truly have worked to accomplish my goal. Β I couldn’t (and still can’t!) stop beaming from ear to ear when I think about it!

After the race, I came home and showered up and Mom got a delicious lunch ready for us.

Black bean soup Lunch 1

She made her black bean soup that tastes JUST like Panera.

Black bean soup lunch 2

I made a yummy salad to go on the side full of romaine, black beans, chickpeas, feta, and roasted delicata squash.

Salad lunch

And Mom also made a batch of beer bread for dipping. Β Yum!

beer bread lunch

It was such a yummy lunch with amazing company!

brian lunch

mom lunch

After our lunch, we walked around Mass AveΒ and shopped for a bit before Mom headed home. Β Brian and I then met up with our friends Joy and Alex at Bru Burger for more tasty post-race food.

I can’t write this post without saying congrats to Joy-she completed her first marathon yesterday at the Monumental Marathon! Β We were both in need of some refueling πŸ™‚

I opted for the delicious veggie burger with cottage cheese on the side and some of Brian’s french fries. Yum!

Bru Burger

The day was absolutely beautiful, I am so happy I was able to break my personal record, and I am so thankful that I was able to spend the day with Brian and my mom and celebrate with friends after!

I am also so thankful for all of you and your support. Β It truly means the world to me, and I can’t thank you enough for the kind and motivating comments, tweets, instagram comments, and for just reading this blog. Β THANK YOU!

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  1. Call me crazy & emotional, but this post brought tears to my eyes. I know how hard you’ve been working day in and day out to hit your goal of an 8 minute pace for this race and to see it pay off is just fantastic! I can only imagine how happy you were- ARE! :):)

    • Jessie you are too sweet!!! Thank you for the positive energy and support it has truly made the difference πŸ™‚

  2. GIRL YOU ARE AWESOME! So happy for you!! Running with a goal in mind and then reaching that goal is so rewarding! Defying gravity was just what you needed!! And I’m sooo making that soup this weekend! You go girl!

  3. That’s so awesome, congratulations! I love that you found a little group to bond with while running. I’ve had that experience in OCRs before and it’s just the coolest. Long-distance high-five! <3

  4. Congrats lady, those are some pretty awesome stats ya got there! πŸ™‚ I love having people around you at races who push you and motivate you; its such a great feeling and it always ends up helping tremendously!