2018 Indy Mini 5K Race Recap
A few weeks ago when I was planning my blog schedule, I thought it would be fun to write a recap of my first time running the 2018 Indy Mini 5K instead of the half marathon.
I’ve written a few race recaps since I started blogging back in 2015.
It was in 2016 when I started having knee problems. What I thought might have been a torn meniscus (although probably was at one time) ended up being worse than that…..arthritis. And not just any arthritis but pretty bad, no cartilage left in the knees and little bone spurs, etc, etc. All for the doctor to say that I have bad knees and I just need to learn to manage them (whatever that really means!).
Needless to say, that summer of 2016 left me doing a lot of biking so that my knees could calm down. They finally did and I learned what I could handle as far as running mileage. By the beginning of 2017 I was able to run consistently adding in some distance again and decided that I’d train for one more Indy Mini and go out on my terms. Then after May 2017, no more double digit running. No more full marathons. No more half marathons. No more 13.1 mile races.
I felt like I adjusted well to that. My experience at the Indy Mini 2017 wasn’t the greatest and I wasn’t too sad to say good-bye to the event. Until…..
Our church announced that as part of the Indy Mini experience there would be a Race for Vocations. We could sign up to participate in the 5K or half marathon and run and pray for vocations. My 15-year-old son was all about it. And how can I turn down an opportunity to go to Indy on the biggest racing day of the year?!?!
I was all mom at the 2018 Indy Mini 5K this year. #runnermom #boymom Click To Tweet
I ran a 10K earlier this year and include a few 3 mile runs and one longer run in my weekly training. This wouldn’t be a problem. So we signed up.
I was itching to do a race. I was ready to test my speed a bit after coming out of a long winter.
But then I had an odd pain in my foot. Nothing brought it on. In fact, the pain happened on a day I had not even run. I knew it wasn’t right and I went to the doctor to check hoping to ease my concerns. Instead I found out that I had not one but two stress fractures in my right foot (big toe and base of 5th metatarsal) plus peroneal tendonitis.
I learned this on Tuesday before the Saturday 5K.
Doctor told me I should spend some time in a boot and ice my foot.
No 2018 Indy Mini 5K for me on Saturday May 5.
We kept our plan to stay downtown Indy on Friday night to attend mass and pasta dinner with everyone participating in the Race for Vocations. The 5K started at 7:00AM Saturday morning. Being downtown had us close to the start line and not having to leave home super early to find parking and all that.
The feelings started coming as I walked with Ethan from Monument Circle in Indianapolis to the starting line of the 500 Festival Mini Marathon on West and Washington Street by the J.W. Marriott. The sun was coming up and the runners were milling about.
Ethan asked me a couple of questions about the course, and I could feel the emotions starting to rise.
He was excited and I was feeling the pre-race excitement as well although I wouldn’t be toeing the line.
I allowed myself to be distracted with getting Ethan into the starting corral and helping him move his way as closely as possible to the start line. It was all I could do to hold in my emotions.
Energy was high at the 2018 Indy Mini 5K as it always is. #indymini #racerecap #injuredrunner #runnermom Click To Tweet
If you’ve ever been part of a big race, the emotion and energy is high. I’ve shed a tear at many start lines due to my excitement and joy to be running. That starting line, whatever one it is, is where all the hard work and sweat comes together. No matter the distance, you’re there because you’ve trained and are ready to face a challenge.
So yes I was getting emotional. It was my son’s first big race. I was excited for him and proud to see him doing something I love to do so much. And I was also sad that I wasn’t getting to participate in this cherished event. I knew it would be hard enough not doing the 13.1 miles but when I couldn’t even do the 5K, it was tough.
Ethan got the starting command and he went off on the 3.1 mile route. I, on the other hand, quickly went off to the side and found a corner so that no one would see the tears. Because they flowed freely at that point.
I texted a friend and told her I was a hot mess. She also was missing out on the big day due to her own injuries and watching everything on tv.
I had my moment and then I chose to take a deep breath and go see if I could find some of my running friends who would now be getting ready for the start of the half marathon. I did run into one friend and chatted for a minute but then it was time to rush over to the finish line (carefully because remember fractured foot shouldn’t be running!) so as not to miss Ethan.
Instead of running the #IndyMini I found myself in the corner crying. #injuredrunner My 2018 Indy Mini 5K #racerecap Click To Tweet
I don’t really know how to be a spectator. It took me a few minutes to figure out where to go and how to get to a place where I could see Ethan but I made it and he came through right around the time I thought he would. He finished under 30 minutes with an official time of 29:16. Very good for someone who had only been running a mile or two a couple of times a week. (I wouldn’t recommend this type of training, but he has youth on his side!)
He was really happy with the experience and pleased with his finish time. My tears and sadness for not running were gone. I enjoyed listening to him talk about his experience. I loved seeing the smile of satisfaction on his face. I knew for sure he was quite pleased because he willingly let me take his picture! (Mom of teen sons you know what I’m talking about!)
We waited around for another Shelby Roadrunner to finish then we made our way back to the hotel. Two days later we were signing up for the 2019 Indy Mini 5K. This time I plan to be standing inside the starting corral with Ethan.
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