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Indy Mini Marathon

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Location:

Fort Collins,CO,

Member Since:

May 15, 2003

Gender:

Male

Goal Type:

Local Elite

Running Accomplishments:

Unaided PR's:
5K: 14:48 (Track - 2001)
10K: 30:45 (Track - 2001)
10K: 31:32 (Bolder Boulder - 2013)
Half Marathon: 1:06:09 (Duluth - 2013)
Marathon: 2:17:54 (Grandma's) - 2014)
Marathon: 2:19:47 (Indianapolis Monumental - 2013)
Marathon: 2:19:49 (Indianapolis Monumental - 2010)

Aided PR's:
10K: 29:38 (Des News - 2011)
Half Marathon: 1:05:30 (TOU Half - 2011)
Marathon: 2:18:09 (St George - 2007)
Marathon: 2:17:35 (Boston - 2011)

Short-Term Running Goals:

Diagnosed with Ankylosing Spondylitis in June of 2008. Started taking Enbrel in March, 2009.

Run as much as I can, and race as well as I can. Make the most of however much time I have left as an able-bodied runner.

Training for the 2018 Colorado Marathon

Long-Term Running Goals:

  Run until I'm old, and then run some more. Stand tall.

Personal:

1 wife, 2 kids. 1 cat. Work as a GIS Specialist/Map Geek

Endure and persist; this pain will turn to your good. - Ovid

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. - Romans 5:1-5

 

 

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Miles:This week: 0.00 Month: 0.00 Year: 0.00
Saucony Trail Shoe Lifetime Miles: 247.50
Hoka Clifton Lifetime Miles: 491.50
Saucony Type A6 Lifetime Miles: 186.50
Saucony Zealot Lifetime Miles: 478.75
Saucony Kinvara 6 Lifetime Miles: 433.50
Saucony Kinvara 6-2 Lifetime Miles: 358.75
Brooks Pure Connect Blue Lifetime Miles: 337.25
New Balance Trainers Lifetime Miles: 314.50
New Balance 1400 Racers Lifetime Miles: 65.00
Brook Pureflow Lifetime Miles: 99.50
Race: Indy Mini Marathon (13.1 Miles) 01:08:35, Place overall: 11
Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesCrosstraining milesTotal Miles
2.000.0013.100.000.0015.10

Indy Mini Marathon, short report for now, maybe more later.

Great course, very flat with just a few tiny hills. Weather was perfect, 50 degrees and low humidity, no wind. No rain.

I had about an hour to warm up. The elites got to use the NCAA headquarters to stretch out, stay warm, and use the bathroom. A good early sign was that this was a 3-star race for me.

Went out to the start line about 15 minutes before the start, and listened to the singing of "Back Home Again in Indiana" (a classic), the National Anthem, and the pre-race prayer. The wheelchair racers started, and then the runners started a few minutes later. Before the start, I tried to look back on the 35,000 runners, but couldn't see much.

The race went out slow, first mile was 5:22. I was running with Sean Sundwall and a local guy, about in 10th place. The next 2 miles were 5:08. I decided that was too fast for me, and backed off Sean and the other guy. However, the next mile was 5:08 again, so I guess my strategy of backing off failed. Eventually, I settled into 10th place, according to the spectator feedback, and hit 5:14-5:17 for most of the rest of the way.

Ran alone for the next 8 miles (so not much to say about it), watching Sean and the other guy about 20 seconds ahead of me, and trying to key on them. I also noticed that a Kenyan was very slowly dropping back way out ahead. Around Mile 10, I got passed, which dropped me from the money (not that I really care; money is just gravy). But around Mile 11, Sean and the other guy ate up the Kenyan who had been falling back, and he was coming back to me too. With 600 meters to go, I finally came up along the trail-leg of the Kenyan, but he sensed me and took off, and I could not catch him. So I settled for 11th place, but more importantly I got a 50 second PR, which of course you can't put a price tag on.

5K in 16:15, 10K in 32:25, 15K in 48:45. Mile splits 5:22, 5:08, 5:08, 5:08, 5:14, 5:13, 5:15, 5:17, 5:14, 5:15, 5:12, 5:19, 5:17, 0:27.

Very awesome event, highly recommended. The course was not particularly pretty, but it was fast, fast, fast. There were time clocks at every mile mark, chip splits for 5M and 10M, and also clocks at 5K, 10K, and 15K. Crowd support was good. Although there was never a mob of spectators, it was pretty much continuous the entire way. There were lots of bands and even cheerleaders all over the place. The worst part of the race was probably running around the Indianapolis 500 Speedway. I thought this would be cool, but it was very boring and mentally challenging, and there were no spectators here, other than aid stations and high school cheerleading teams. The straightaways were very long and...straight. The curves were very long too. I thought it would never end.

Positives of my race:

  • Feel like I performed to my potential, and close to best possible outcome, in terms of both time and placing.
  • Did not slow down much during second half; very even splits, despite aggressive Miles 2-4.
  • One of my fastest 10K times in years, as a split
  • 15K PR.
  • Obviously, a great PR that I am very happy with, and is my best souvenir of the trip (we all collect PR's don't we?)

Negatives of my race:

  • Was not able to finish the deal. You never want to come up on someone near the end of the race, after working on the person for miles and miles, and then not beat them. Top 10 would have been really sweet, not for the $100, but because Top 10 is simply cooler than Top 15. I'll reiterate that I'm really happy with my race, but kicking down the 10th place guy would have made it complete.

 

Here's some coverage from the Indy news station. If you look hard, you can see Sean and I at the start:

http://www.wishtv.com/dpp/500_festival/mini_marathon/2009_Mini_Marathon_5

And there's some good footage of me getting outkicked, and some better footage of Sean's finish (late in video, past the 5:00 mark):

http://www.wishtv.com/dpp/500_festival/mini_marathon/2009_Mini_Marathon_13

Frank Shorter and Bob Kennedy do commentary of many of the segments, but most are pretty boring.

Saucony Type A Miles: 13.10Brooks Adrenaline 8, #1 Miles: 2.00
Comments
From cody draper on Sat, May 02, 2009 at 10:39:38 from 207.224.61.205

You da man!

From Jon on Sat, May 02, 2009 at 11:01:47 from 75.169.142.109

Nice job, Paul! A PR on a flat course. Plus very consistent splits. 11th place at a race that large is amazing.

From josse t on Sat, May 02, 2009 at 11:35:06 from 75.216.63.59

Amazing, you inspire me. Great job on a pr!

From Superfly on Sat, May 02, 2009 at 11:40:17 from 209.33.210.52

A 1:08... I'm not going to be amazed anymore with you. I'm just going to expect amazing races every time. Great race! You look to be ready for anything now.

From Mike Warren on Sat, May 02, 2009 at 13:27:00 from 74.211.7.227

When you get to your level, the competion is just insane! I look at your times and think, how the heck can others run faster than that? Then I think, and paul is doing this on limited training. Holy #@#, really that was family friendly. Your just amazing, no doubt one of the best period! Great job on the PR.

From James W on Sat, May 02, 2009 at 13:35:50 from 70.190.199.29

Congrats on a great race and a PR, Paul!

From Burt on Sat, May 02, 2009 at 13:39:34 from 98.167.151.26

Another awesome half. You're skewing my data. Way to go!

From dave holt on Sat, May 02, 2009 at 14:39:43 from 75.169.73.61

Paul - how do you do it! Glad things went well; you deserve it.

From MichelleL on Sat, May 02, 2009 at 15:31:39 from 71.219.40.17

A PR???? That makes me want to cry for joy. Very nice splits too.

From dutterman on Sat, May 02, 2009 at 16:18:09 from 71.114.167.189

Glad you made it to Indy for the race. Excellent job!

From Dustin on Sat, May 02, 2009 at 19:33:09 from 209.33.192.10

Great race, excited to hear you had such a big PR!

From Jon on Sat, May 02, 2009 at 20:26:13 from 75.169.142.109

I saw Paul, Sean, and Floppy in the video!

From james on Sun, May 03, 2009 at 01:14:53 from 67.172.226.141

Oh wow! That's amazing! You're an inspiration to us all.

From jtshad on Sun, May 03, 2009 at 09:49:29 from 69.20.133.43

Congrats on the PR and a strong race on a flat course. I agree with Cody, you are da man!

From Sean Sundwall on Sun, May 03, 2009 at 16:04:39 from 24.16.6.48

Paul...I can't say enough about how awesome your race was. The things you've gone through since the Trials would have permenantly sidelined many. Kudos for fighting back and congrats on a great race, especially given where you are in your training. If you get the itch, join me in Duluth in June for Grandma's. It was great to see you and enjoy the rest of your vacation in Indy.

From Dave S on Sun, May 03, 2009 at 17:43:28 from 4.254.225.153

Awsome race and congrats on the PR! 11th place out of 35000, thats amazing!

From paul on Sun, May 03, 2009 at 19:11:39 from 63.134.175.179

Thanks everyone. It was certainly a memorable race. Now it's just a matter of trying to figure out where to go with running from here.

From Jon on Sun, May 03, 2009 at 19:13:21 from 75.169.142.109

I would suggest trail running. I can propose a few races :)

From steve ashbaker on Sun, May 03, 2009 at 20:37:15 from 76.27.0.45

Paul, Congrats on the PR. You are an intelligent runner and can always run good consistent times. Something to be proud of for sure.

From James on Sun, May 03, 2009 at 22:10:37 from 71.199.40.246

Pure studlyness!

From dutch on Mon, May 04, 2009 at 08:38:06 from 130.11.38.98

must have been that pizza. good thing we got the Kujo.

From redrooster on Mon, May 04, 2009 at 16:39:01 from 129.123.3.31

geez that is FAST. I am in awe.

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