Sunday, May 4, 2014

All about the Indy-Mini

How not to do a Half-Marathon
Due to recent and previous injuries, I really had ZERO training for this event. The most I had put in before the race was the 6.2 miles in January and 3 miles last week.

I don't recommend to anyone to ever do a race without any training.  If you do, make sure it's a walker friendly race like the Indy-Mini, as they have a minimum race pace of 18:00 minutes per mile.  Given my corral placement and condition, I was able to finish the race before the time limit expired.

Re-cap of the Indy-Mini
This year was the first year that the Indy-Mini used wave starts.  It seemed to work well, as there was a LOT of people on the course, but never did I encounter a bottleneck.

I started at the back of wave 4 of 5.  Corral V, on corrals that went A-Z.

They were actively checking bibs, not allowing anyone to pass that they didn't view their bib before entering the corral.


2014 Indy-Mini Starting Waves and Corrals
Corral Entry
Waiting in my Corral
Photo-bombed Selfie
I crossed the start line and took off with everyone.  I look at my watch (15:30m/m) and know that I'm already in trouble, as I'm starting off WAY to fast for having no training.  My legs let me know this fact very quickly and I immediately slow down.
2014 Indy Mini Course Map
We're off!  Heading to the Start Line!
For the most part, the course is made of up long straight roads, going through some of the poorest sections of the city.  Residents were out cheering for the most part, while others just looked quite annoyed.

The small stretch going north towards the track takes you by Dallara IndyCar Factory and Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing.  Then you head into the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, entering under the 1st short straight of the track, heading to the Museum.
Dallara IndyCar Factory - Producer of all IndyCar Chassis
Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing
Nearing the entry to IMS
YEAH!  Made it to the track!
The IMS Museum
You wind around a bit in the inner track sections before you make it onto the speedway track itself.  It was at this point, by some actual restrooms, that I made a pitstop of my own.

With that business finished, I was out and onto the Indianapolis Motor Speedway!
On the track, approaching the 10K line
Out of Turn 4 and heading to the Start/Finish!
On the main straightaway
Take a look back at the course map and you'll realize that Mile Markers 6, 7, 8 and 9 are all within the IMS area!  

It was also at this point that I notice that my phone is almost dead.  At some point, the screen stayed on, thinking I was going to take a video and drained the battery.  So I have very few pictures after this.

Once I was at the track, it was all walking from there on out.

After leaving the track, you wind through a couple of areas heading south of the track.  Once we hit 10th street, it seems like it is an extremely long straight road heading back to downtown!  It probably just seemed that long, since I was just walking at this point.

Once you cross the bridge and head into the Victory Mile, they have lined the streets with checkered flags.  I tried a couple of times to start jogging, but I had nothing left.  I had several people encourage me on, so I must have looked pretty miserable at that point.

Nearing the finish line they are playing loops of many exciting Indy 500 race finishes, which gets you a little pumped up to get to the finish.

I made my way across the finish line and head to the medals area.  Got a bottle of water handed to me, a bag (Finishline, you're brilliant for handing out bags before getting all of those other race finish items!)  I grabbed a banana, a small bag of pretzels, a couple of oatmeal cookies.  I ate one of the cookies right away.  Then I went to the finish photo op and then headed into Military Park for the end of race festivities.

I wasn't feeling festive at all, as I took my own finish medal selfie.

The phone camera lens was all munged up with sweat, so it makes my photo look "soft".

They had several food trucks at the park, but I just wasn't thinking about food at that point.  I had brought a little bit of cash with me just in case, but the smell of food was actually kind of revolting at that point.  I eat the other cookie instead, while I walked over to get my official time.

The walk to the parking garage was awful.  It was the longest 8 blocks to walk in the condition I was in by then.  Then, the parking garage elevators weren't working!  One wasn't working at all, then the other, the 5th floor button wasn't working!  I, of course, was on the 5th floor.  So I went to 4th and slowly made my way up a flight of stairs.

Made a couple of calls on the phone in the car once I hooked it up to the charger.

So that pretty much winds up my race experience!

Indy-Mini race Entertainment
There are loads of entertainment spots throughout the entire course of the Indy-Mini.  The ones that I liked the most were the groups of kids playing rock songs and a drummer line that was mostly made up of kids.  I wish Indy-Mini would post a list of all of the entertainment, because a lot of it was quite enjoyable. 

2012 Video of the Indy-Mini
The course has had a SLIGHT change, due to one road having been re-worked from a straight to one that has a curve in it now, so the markers going on the track onward a just a bit off of how it is actually run now.



Would I do this race again?
Yes.

I would like to do this race again someday, when I've actually trained for it.  I would like it to be a much more favorable memory than what I experienced yesterday.

In the last half of the half, I was pretty miserable.  Once we were out of the IMS setting, there wasn't much to keep my mind off of how I was feeling.  At that point I was mainly just trying to keep my legs to continue moving forward.


The Road to Goofy 2015 has officially started!
With this race in the books, this sets things in full motion going forward for the Goofy Challenge in January 2015.

I have four more races before Goofy!  Three of them are more half marathons and one is a full marathon!

Thanks for Reading!
Regards, ~Kipp


2014 - The Road to Goofy 2015!

Check the link above to see my current and past races.

Saturday, April 26, 2014

The Long, Long road ahead.

My journey there and back...
Just to give a comparison, I have a picture of me in the same shirt 3 years ago and then again today.  Bad haircut 3 years ago and needs a haircut today!

Sad part is, the huge neck and extra chin are back, making most of my shirts uncomfortable.  The huge belly means my shirts no longer tuck in very well either.
May 2011

April 2014
First intervals since the groin pull...
This is kind of how I felt the first times hitting the run interval, for at least 2 out of the 3 miles tonight:



Yeah, it wasn't feeling that great.  Like a big knot or having an extra... *ahem*  Once I got past 2 miles, everything started to feel better.  Now that I'm home and cleaned up, everything is still in it's proper place, so I think I'm good to go.

The last mile I was actually able to get in some longer intervals of actual jogging speeds, without it feeling awkward.  

How I think I look out there
The self consciousness of being out there again at this weight is just making me feel uneasy.  I know that I've just got to say I don't care what anyone is thinking, just get out there and get this done... again!



Around the 3:50 mark in the video really is a strong expression of how I was feeling out there today!

Eating
I was much more aware of what I was eating this week.  Was it all good, no.  But I was much better than I have been in months.  

I will now be hitting the farmers markets and local butchers to start getting some cleaner foods into me.  Today was the first local farmers market of the year and they didn't have much.  They said Mid to late May is when they will have a good variety of items.  I still bought a pound of ground beef from a local farmer and looked at some lamb patties, thinking that those might make some nice lamb sliders, if I can find the recipe again...

A big difference 3 years ago and now was that I was monitoring my carb intake much more closely.  I know I need to drop most of what I have been eating because my body cannot handle those carbs anymore.


Past time to hit the RESET button...
*BAM!!*

Indy 500 Mini Marathon (1/2 Marathon)
With a week to go for the Indy 500 Mini Marathon, I'm really not sure what to expect out of myself.  Almost zero training and a lot of extra weight.  It's going to be rough.

Oh, I'll be there!  I'll be starting!  Next Friday I'll be at the Mini expo and I know I'll post some pictures up about that on my Facebook account.  I don't remember if KT Tape had a booth at the past Mini Expo's, I think they did.  The Indy Mini is a pretty big race, so I expect they'll have a taping boot there.  I may get my ankle and calf done up again, just for some extra psychological measures (and maybe some physical ones).

The thing I'm most looking forward to is actually being on the track.  Kiss the Bricks!!!

The Long, Long Road Ahead
It's very evident that I've lost a LOT of conditioning these past 6 months.  It's nowhere near as bad as when I started 3 years ago, but it sure feels like it sometimes!

I'm signed up for races throughout the year, all leading up for next years Goofy race and a Half challenge at Disney world.

I have plans, I just need to stick to them and STOP EATING all the junk I have been.  Also to eat much less than I have been too!  

I have a couple of months left to pay off my car, so once that monthly expense is released I'm going to sign up at a local gym too.  I want to have a full Running/Riding/Strength training program in place before I go to my full marathon in September!

Thanks for Reading!
Regards, ~Kipp




2014 - The Road to Goofy 2015!

Check the link above to see my current and past races.


Sunday, April 13, 2014

Full Circle

I've come full circle...
I've actually gone the wrong way around.  I'm right back where I started from, all that time ago.  Albeit I'm still in better shape, but my weight is right back where I was.

Welcome back to 272.

Welcome back to BIG clothing.

What happened at the Marathon?
I didn't make it even as far as I had hoped.  The balloon ladies caught up with me in the Magic Kingdom parking lot.  I went back and forth with them several times before they last passed me going through Adventureland.  

I started off that morning feeling pretty excited.  Watching the other corrals take off is quite the experience in itself.  When you're as far back as I was, it can get pretty nerve wracking to wait your turn.

It finally started and, as usual, I had to hit the very first port-a-potty's.  I'm quite convinced that it's just the waiting around and then the excitement of actually starting that sets things in motion.  Once I had made it to the 1st mile marker after the short break, it became quite clear that my ankle was NOT happy with me pounding the asphalt.  No matter what I tried, I couldn't even squeak out 2 minutes of constant running.  So, I swapped my pace around, from Run/Walk 2/1, to Walk/Run 2/1.  

By the time that I got to the underpass going towards the Contemporary, I was even having difficulty in keeping that going.  I had managed to run for a few minutes to pass the balloon ladies briefly.

As I finally made it into the Magic Kingdom, I just really don't know what emotions I was having at this point.  It was great to be there, but I knew I was currently in the "last place" position and would be fighting the whole way to keep ahead.

At this point, my bright spot is that... Hey!  I'm in last place.  I should be able to get a GREAT picture coming out of the castle.  Yeah... wrong.  As unbelievable as it is, the 2 gals in front of me... JUMPED IN FRONT OF EACH OF THE PHOTOGRAPHERS coming out of the castle.  I've checked my photos online.  Yep, sure enough... not a damn one of them has just me in the picture.  In each and every freaking one of them these 2 ladies are in them.

I progress into Adventureland and the Balloon Ladies pass me again.  I'm pretty crushed at this point.  My ankle is hurting with every step I take (no, not song from The Police), I'm experiencing a jolt.  With fear that I may have a stress fracture, I make the decision to bail at the medical stop outside of the Magic Kingdom.  I stop by the tent, request an ice pack and a towel.  The also give me some Tylenol.  

I entered the med van and wait to leave.  We get the clearance to leave and we make our way out.  2 ladies in the van with me were attempting Dopey.  With no training!!  So I listen a bit to them talking.  The lady directly in front of me is in great pain.  They get out of the van and I hear the med techs say something that it looks like she ruptured her Achilles, because she was unable to move her foot.

Once I make my way out of the van at Epcot, they shove a medal in my hand.  I told them I didn't want it.  They replied that it's mine, take it.  Whatever.  I slowly hobbled my way to the buses.  Thankfully, the Pop Century bus takes right off.

6.2 miles.  That's what I did that morning.

After the Marathon attempt
After I get back to the room and go through the shower, I'm feeling a bit better and decide I've got enough time to go to Epcot and cheer on those still running the race.

I first made my way to the center part were the Christmas tree normally stands, it's the Marathon's last turn towards Space Ship Earth.  I sit down and cheer on people as they come around the corer.  It's extremely hot in this area though.  I'd not eaten anything yet and didn't have anything to drink with me either.  I decided to go to where the runners enter into Epcot at the UK Pavilion.  It was a bit shadier there and I was able to get a Teabreeze (with no alcohol, its the frozen lemonade that I love plus some tea, an Arnold Palmer slushie).  

I got to cheer on many people.  I got to see several of our WiSH team mates come through the last stretch.  I even got a full body tackle hug from one them!  The remainder of the trip on Monday, I met up with teammates for breakfast at the Boardwalk Bakery, hobbled around Magic Kingdom and then got on the bust to the airport.

After the DNF and ankle injury in November and the results from the Marathon, I was pretty crushed.  I was at least hoping to make it half way and didn't managed to get even that.

BONUS!
I came off of Marathon weekend to find out that we made a decent year end bonus at work.  I had decided last year that if we did make bonus, I would finally buy a new bike.

The last day of January, a local bike shop had a sale going on on 2013 models.  I wound up with a great deal on a GIANT Defy 5.  They had one left and it was just my size!
GIANT Defy 5
I also picked up a few things for the new bike.  A bottle holder and a helmet.  They weren't going to let me leave without buying one.

I had not ridden a bike since 1996.  I was swiped by a car while riding my bike into work one morning and I hadn't ridden since.

I made an appointment early in February to get it fitted to me.  I also picked up a pair of biking gloves and shorts.

I learned a lot from the fitting!

In late February I picked up a trainer, so I can ride it inside.  I've only ridden it a couple of times, both inside and outside.  We had a couple of days in March where I could ride it outside and I did.

I'm HUGE!
A new injury
A little over two weeks ago, I suffered a pulled groin muscle.  I made a doctors visit and they gave me a prescription for some pain medicine to help me get some sleep.  I was told to call back if by the end of the week my leg wasn't responding, it would mean I would have a very serious tear.

Since I was walking around, they were pretty confident that it wasn't that serious of a pull.

The pain is slowly dying out and I'm getting some of my range of motion back with the exercises and stretches that the doctor told me to do.

What comes next?
With the bonus that I mentioned earlier, I've signed up for more races this year.  I had already signed up for the Indianapolis 500 Mini Marathon that is in May.  Here is a brief schedule:

Indianapolis 500 Mini Marathon
May 2, 2014

With the 18 minute pace minimum, I've decided that with the weight and injury, I'm going to walk this.  I know I can still maintain about a 17 minute walking pace with little effort.

Chicago Rock 'n' Roll 1/2 Marathon
July 20, 2014

Chicago will be my race to fully start serious training.  My new training schedule I've come up with incorporates bike riding as my cross training of choice.  I will be running this with many of my Disney running buddies from WiSH and other groups.

Air Force Marathon  (Yes, MARATHON)
September 20, 2014

I HAVE to get a full marathon under my belt.  Again, I will have Rick as a running buddy.  He was great as a running partner for Cincinnati last year.  He was disappointed that he couldn't be at Disney for my first Marathon, well, he'll still get to be with me on my first marathon!

Indianapolis Monumental 1/2 Marathon
November 1, 2014 (A shot at redemption)

I'm just going to do this because I KNOW I can do this one.  I have to make up for spraining my ankle last year.

This is all in a lead up of hopes of doing the 10th anniversary Goofy for the 2015 Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend.  Goofy is 1/2 Marathon on Saturday, Marathon on Sunday!

I just might have one more race for 2014, but I haven't made up my mind about it yet.

Now it's time to say good-bye...
Thanks for reading this long post.  I've needed to get some of that out for a while.  I've got to get my mind going in the right direction again and start making things happen.

See you real soon!

Thanks for Reading!
Regards,

~Kipp


2014 - The Road to Goofy 2015!

Check the link above to see my current and past races.

Tuesday, January 7, 2014

Marathon Weekend Forecast Update

Just a Quick Update


Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
SUNDAY
Monday
1/8/2014
1/9/2014
1/10/2014
1/11/2014
1/12/2014
1/13/2014
HI
LO
HI
LO
HI
LO
HI
LO
HI
LO
HI
LO
66
56
79
62
81
66
84
66
83
65
80
58
OA
5
OA
5
OA
4
OA
4
OA
3
OA
3
MK
6
MK
7
MK
6
MK
5
MK
5
MK
6
EP
6
EP
6
EP
6
EP
6
EP
4
EP
4
DHS
5
DHS
5
DHS
4
DHS
3
DHS
4
DHS
3
DAK
5
DAK
5
DAK
4
DAK
5
DAK
2
DAK
1
OA = Overall
MK= Magic Kingdom
EP = Epcot
DHS = Disney's Hollywood Studios
DAK = Disney's Animal Kingdom

Crowd calendar from Touringplans.com



Flight Status Update

I'm endlessly refreshing the flight status board to keep watch for my flight tomorrow.  Travel advisory is being downgraded at 5pm here in Indy today.  So I'm hoping that everything goes smoothly tomorrow morning!


So far, all flights direct to Orlando have all gone today, with delay, which is what I have tomorrow!

Packing

I'm almost completed my packing process.  I'm down to a couple of items and the remaining items that I'll need to toss into the bag after I get ready in the morning.


Thanks for Reading!  Regards,
~Kipp

2014 - The Road to Goofy 2015!
Walt Disney World 1/2 Marathon
January 7, 2012-  FINISHED 3:48:49
January 12, 2013-  FINISHED 4:00:29
Indianapolis Monumental 1/2 Marathon
November 3, 2012-  FINISHED 3:37:29
Cincinnati Flying Pig 1/2 Marathon
May 5, 2012-  FINISHED - 3:32:27 PR

Monday, January 6, 2014

FROZEN!

Vacation Has Begun


With the horrible COLD weather here in Indianapolis, work was called off Today and it has been canceled for Tomorrow.  I'm hoping that everything goes okay when I go to fly to Florida on Wednesday.

Hey, if all else fails, I could just Drive down!  LOL!  no.  Only if it were drastic would I even consider that option at all.

Disney World Forecast


Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
SUNDAY
Monday
1/8/2014
1/9/2014
1/10/2014
1/11/2014
1/12/2014
1/13/2014
HI
LO
HI
LO
HI
LO
HI
LO
HI
LO
HI
LO
66
58
80
62
81
65
82
65
82
62
79
57
OA
5
OA
5
OA
4
OA
4
OA
3
OA
3
MK
6
MK
7
MK
6
MK
5
MK
5
MK
6
EP
6
EP
6
EP
6
EP
6
EP
4
EP
4
DHS
5
DHS
5
DHS
4
DHS
3
DHS
4
DHS
3
DAK
5
DAK
5
DAK
4
DAK
5
DAK
2
DAK
1
OA = Overall
MK= Magic Kingdom
EP = Epcot
DHS = Disney's Hollywood Studios
DAK = Disney's Animal Kingdom

Crowd calendar from Touringplans.com

I'll take it, but I rather wish it would be a little bit cooler for runners Saturday and Sunday.  Especially Sunday.  I know last year the heat was brutal and I had trouble with "just" a half.  With being in the Full Marathon this year, that's just going to add another layer to this.

Excited

I'm now getting excited to be heading down to Disney.  I'm still dreading Sunday, but whatever happens, it's much better than never having started to begin with.

Packing

My running shoes have been in my carry-on bag for a couple of days now.  I've added some of my running gear to it.  I've got the GPS watch on the charger and many other items charging up one last time before heading down.

I've been doing laundry today, with my day off of work.  I've been trying to figure out what exactly I'll be taking down.  I've settled on a couple pair of jeans and then mostly shorts & t-shirts.  Thankfully, I'm flying Airtran/Southwest that I booked through Southwest, so no baggage fee.

I'm just going to take my little camera this time and I probably will NOT be running with it.

New Slogan

When I get back from Florida next week, the real work begins.

2014 - The Road to Goofy 2015!

The plan is to sign up for AT LEAST the 2015 Goofy, if not the Dopey.  Let me define what that is exactly.

Goofy Race and a Half Challenge - Run the 1/2 Marathon Saturday, Run the Full Marathon on Sunday.

Dopey - Run 5K Thursday, 10K Friday, 1/2 Marathon Saturday and run the Full Marathon on Sunday!

2015 is an anniversary year for Goofy, so our racing team is gung-ho on going for this achievement!  If you enter the Dopey, you still get the Goofy medal too!

With this idea in place, my goal is to run 1,000 miles in 2014!


Thanks for Reading!  Regards,
~Kipp

2014 - The Road to Goofy 2015!
Walt Disney World 1/2 Marathon
January 7, 2012-  FINISHED 3:48:49
January 12, 2013-  FINISHED 4:00:29
Indianapolis Monumental 1/2 Marathon
November 3, 2012-  FINISHED 3:37:29
Cincinnati Flying Pig 1/2 Marathon
May 5, 2012-  FINISHED - 3:32:27 PR