Indianapolis Marathon

I have spent my entire year "preparing" for one race or another. It started in February and didn't stop until August. I swam, I rode, I ran my heart out. I consider this time of year to be my play time. There is no pressure. If I get my workouts in, then great...if not, a nap is just as wonderful. This will last until January, and then I will start doing more structured workouts.
From the moment (mile 85 of the bike) I knew my Ironman 2008 was over, I wanted to do the Indianapolis Marathon. There is a pain that one feels at mile 16 (give or take) of a marathon in which your legs are stinging, they are cramping and your mind must take precedence in order for you to make it to the finish. I love that feeling. I don't want to be exposed to it everyday, but I do want to feel it a handful of times per year. It is the heart of an endurance athlete and it is one of the driving factor in their quest. I was cheated out of that feeling in Louisville, and I needed some redemption.
So when I toed the start line on Saturday morning, I was fully aware of the pain that would be awaiting me somewhere past the 1/2 way point. Mind you, I have only done one 13 mile run since early August. Since I didn't specifically train for this marathon, my goal was to take my time and hit the 13.1 mile marker at 1:50. That would be an easy pace and then hopefully I could maintain that pace through the last 13.1 miles. That would be a 8:20 pace and would put me at a 3:40. That was my goal for this race. That was my ironman goal, and that's all I wanted for this marathon.
I came in to the 13.1 mile marker at 1:45 (uhhh ohhhh). I was a little ahead of schedule, but I didn't freak out. I actually felt really good and was already holding myself back. That lasted until about mile 14 and then the wheels started to go flat (that would be the whole not training issue). Around mile 16, the wheels fell of the bus. Somewhere along the line, I found a mechanic and we got them back on. They were kind of wobbly and I could only go so fast in order for them to stay on, but damn it...they stayed on. I finished with a 3:45 which I am totally happy with. I think next time I will train, and I will go for a 3:35ish. That is very doable.
When I crossed the finish line, I felt wonderful. I believe that I do the crazy stuff I do so that I can experience the last quarter mile. It is a great place to be and it is even more surreal when you had to work your ass off to get there.
So, here I sit...I can barely move and this pain will last for a few days. That's okay. I can deal with it because I know that it will go away and the experience will linger in my memory for years to come.
This next week will be a recovery week and I will probably spend most of the time in the weight room (doing upper body:))and swimming. Next on the agenda is the planet adventure sprint adventure race http://www.planetadventurerace.com/
It will be a fun filled off-road adventure with great people and I look forward to being back out in the woods and on my mountain bike. After that, I have a weekend off from racing and then we have the big adventure race in Georgia!