She Power Half Marathon

She Power Half 

I signed up for the She Power Half this spring.  It’s a new race at my local park, Eagle Creek in Indianapolis.  This was a different kind of race, you could “pick your path” either run on trails, road or both.  It also offered a quarter marathon and a virtual option (which seemed really popular based on the social media chatter.)

Now, I’ve been working out nearly weekly with some of my fellow Dance Moms.  They’ve been working so hard at losing weight and embracing an active lifestyle.  I shared the She Power Half info on our FB group on a whim and to my surprise, 4 signed up for the Quarter marathon!  And at least 2 signed up for the virtual option after the race sold out.  

So, race day arrives and it was so hot, 80* at the 7:30 start, reaching 85* two hours later. Which is really hot for a half in June in Indianapolis. 

I arrived early to pick up my packet and to get close parking.  I also wanted to meet up with several other INKnBURN ambassadors who were racing as well.  I pulled into the parking lot and BAM!  fellow ambassador, Angi, was pulling up next to me.  We walked to the packet pick up which was very organized and I got my bib on and put the box with my shirt in it into my car (I had wrongly assumed there would be a bag drop).  I found the dance mom’s in the parking lot too and we all walked back to the starting area as I explained why they shouldn’t pin their bibs on the back of their shirts and where to line up in the crowd.  Angi and I found and chatted with everyone we saw wearing INKnBURN, which was more than I normally see in Indy!  The event company, 13.1 Events, offered a backdrop and FREE professional pictures (shocking!!!!) so we got several group pictures in everyone’s InB.

 Soon, it was time to line up for the race.  They did need to start 10 mins late because of people backed up at the park entrance.  The race course starts with a pretty big uphill climb.  Background on this park, it’s hilly.  Very hilly for central Indiana.  But, I feel pretty good on hills so I wasn’t worried.  At the top of the hill, the trail runners went left and the road runners kept on.  There really weren’t many runners in front of me, I stayed towards the front.  The next few miles passed pretty easily as they were flat but the heat and humidity were already high, at least I thought so.  I decided about mile 2 to take a walk break every mile for 30 seconds just to catch my breath and lower my heart rate.  So I would be passed by a few runners but then pass them back when I ran again.  They probably found it annoying but I was able to run hard without slowing down between breaks.

Now I had looked over the course map the night before and had an idea how it was laid out.  One lap through the park for the quarter marathon and two for the half.  About mile 2.5, we come around a circle and I see a right hand turn but the small group of runners in front of me were continuing straight.  I also saw the course marshall on the phone, holding a printed out map.  Hmmmm, my gut says to turn right but I need to listen and follow the pack so I stay straight.  We end up on an out and back and see most of the slower runners heading into the circle area. That was cool because I shouted “Ink N Burn!” to several runners wearing various pieces and yell hi to my dance moms too.

 Soon my Garmin is beeping for mile 3 with no mile marker in sight.  Yup, I was right, we took a wrong turn.  But I continue on because there isn’t anything to do about it even though in my head I was mad.  A while later I see the mile 3 marker and my Garmin reads 3.87 miles. Great, I really don’t want to be running 15 miles this morning but who knows what will happen on the second loop, hopefully they figure it out and re-route us.  I push the frustration out of my head and continue on to the hilly second half of the loop.  And man, it was hilly.  I was doing my best to relax and lean forward on the downhills, flying down them and passing numerous other runners and I would shorten my stride and keep my head down on the uphills, refusing to give into the walk urges, unless it was a designated walk break for me.   It might have been hilly but it was also shaded so although I felt hot, it wasn’t terrible. 

We arrive back at the split for the quarter, which was mile 7 on my Garmin, and half marathon.  I continue straight while EVERY runner near me turned to the finish.  I was stunned, I didn’t expect that.  I asked the next set of volunteers if any half marathoners had passed them and they said very few.  Huh.  Maybe I’m doing ok at this race.  I start imagining Age Group awards and that gives me a burst of energy for another mile or so.  But I’m alone also.  I don’t see another runner for 2 miles and then only a glimpse of her long pony tail.  It’s very hard to pace yourself in a race without having anyone around you.  I ignored the pace on my Garmin and just focused on reaching the next mile.  Around mile 8ish, the volunteer had me take a turn which I knew allowed me to shorten the course.  Now, each mile marker was closer and closer to being accurate with my Garmin, which was such a mental relief.  Around mile 10, I see two runners in front of me slow down at a water stop to get fluids.  I’ve been carrying a hand-held water bottle so I just rushed past them while they shouted encouraging words to me.  Women can be so cool.

Around mile 11, I run down the biggest hill in the race and it feels like I’m flying.  Seriously, I’ve run down Mt Hood and this felt like that, at least it did a little bit in my heat exhausted, worn out mind.  The water station volunteers are cheering me and I’m feeling refreshed.  I check my watch for my overall time for the first time and see that I’m actually in reach of finishing around 2:00, which was my goal considering the hills and heat.  I push myself up the hills and through the now hot, hot sun.  My water bottle is now empty, my skin and clothing is soaked with sweat.  I want to be done.  The next miles pass quickly and I actually start to pass a few of the quarter marathon walkers, who I gave encouraging words to as I trudged on.  Then I see another runner in front of me but she has at least a ¼ mile lead and I can only see her occasionally as the road is very curvy.  I want to catch her bad so I keep pushing.  But, then the turn for the finish line is in front of me and I know that I just don’t have enough miles left to catch her but I wasn’t going to let that keep me from finishing strong.  I run down that hill to the finish as fast as I can, passing 3 of my dance mom friends along the way.  I see the finish line and run hard to reach it, with my hands in the air.  2:02:29 for 13.26 miles! 

I walk around the finishing chute, catching my breathe, getting the most gorgeous medal and rose handed to me on bended knee by a very handsome young man.  I turn around and cheer for my friends as they finish their very first road race.  The look of pride, joy, exhaustion and pain was in their faces and I was getting emotional for them but then I heard my name being called by the announcer who said “and in 3rd place for the road half marathon, Mary Nabb!”  WHAT?!?!  I screamed to my friends “This has never happened to me before!” as I hurried to the results tent.  The race director handed me a ceramic tile with the race logo on it and started to line me up for a picture when another runner approached, saying that she had finished but her name wasn’t called.  I had a sinking feeling that my overall podium finish was going to be a mistake so I waited while they figured it out (she was listed as a trail runner instead of a road runner so she did come in 2nd place, bumping me down to 4th).  So I handed the tile back and was given a smaller, coaster sized one for winning my Age Group, still a very amazing accomplishment.  Turns out, I was only about 30 seconds back from the 3rd place finisher, so close!  Oh well, nothing wrong with a AG award! 

I hung out with my dance moms and we got some pictures taken and enjoyed free sno-cones (great touch!)  They soon headed home while I waited for the InB ambassadors to finish.  Angi had a great race too and Tasha, who did the trail race, finished strong, even after wading through a foot of water.  I enjoyed hearing everyone’s race stories and cheering people across the finish.  I even got to see the last half marathon finisher walk towards the finish line as I was pulling out of the parking lot, surrounded by water station volunteers who were committed to getting her across the finish line. 

So, all in all, it was a terrific day.  There were some mistakes, like the route being long for the first lap (I think the quarter marathon runners actually went over 7 miles) and I would have liked to have seen a few more water stations considering how hot it was.  But, the rest of the race was exceptional.  I will do it again and would recommend to anyone. 

Next up, another race at Eagle Creek but this time a trail marathon!