If you have been following the blog for the past couple of months, you know that I have been training for the Indianapolis Monumental Half Marathon.  This was my fifth half marathon, so I wasn’t just training to complete the race I was actually training with a goal time in mind.

Up until now, my fastest pace was 8:53 with an overall time of 1:56:20…and I wanted to beat it!  My goal was to run the half marathon in 1:45:00, which meant that I needed to maintain an 8:00 pace throughout the race.  It would be a challenge, but I was ready to do it.

Here are some posts recapping my training:

• Half Marathon Training Time
• Was it 6 or 8 Miles
• Not Easily Defeated
• Double Digit Miles
• Tips for Tackling Your Long Run
• The Final Long Run
• Final Run

Friday night, Brian and I headed to the race expo to pick up my bib number and bag of goodies.  We walked around the expo, but didn’t stay long.

I woke up early on race day and made myself one of my favorite pre-race meals: a smoothie bowl.

My smoothie bowl contained cherries (anti-inflammatory!), banana, Greek yogurt, Designer Whey protein, coconut water, spinach, coffee and a bit of almond butter on top.  I was ready to go after this tasty smoothie.

Because the race was in downtown Indianapolis and I live downtown, I just walked to the start with my mom and Brian and met up with a couple of friends.

Thousands of runners huddled at the start line as we waited for the race to begin.

I found the 8:00 pace group, and stuck with them for as long as I could.

Brian tried to snap a pic of me at mile 3 but I was moving too fast for the camera to focus 😉

The course is relatively flat, but it is so scenic.  It really takes you through all of the highlights of Indianapolis.  I absolutely love this race!

While I was running with my pace group, I was doing great but as soon as we got to mile 7 the pace group headed towards the FULL marathon course while I stayed on the half marathon course.  Needless to say, I was a little bit nervous at this point about maintaining my pace.

I debated asking some of the runners around me if they were trying to keep an 8:00 pace, and just when I decided I was NOT going to ask someone, a kind girl asked ME if I was running for a specific time.  When we both agreed that we wanted to finish with an 8:00 pace we decided we would push each other to the finish and stick together. Another man ended up joining our group too and it was completely awesome!

We didn’t talk much, but at each mile we would check in with time and pace and give each other a couple of positive words to keep us pushing.  I was so thankful for my little pace group.

There were a couple of moments when the running started to get to me, but as soon as it happened the PERFECT song started to play in my iPod.  Two specific instances that stick out to me are mile 7 when the pace group initially left to run on the FULL marathon course and when I hit mile 12.  At mile 7 Eminem’s “Lose Yourself” started playing and at mile 12 “Defying Gravity” from the Broadway musical Wicked started playing.  It was perfect and so motivating!

As soon as I crossed the finish line, I hugged my little pace group and immediately looked for Brian and my Mom who were cheering me through the finish.

I looked at my Garmin and although I didn’t know the official time, I knew that I DID IT!

I completed my goal of running a half marathon in 1:45:00…actually I exceeded my goal and I couldn’t be happier!!

My overall stats were:  25th (age group), 01:44:04, 7:57 pace

It was such an amazing feeling to truly have worked to accomplish my goal.  I couldn’t (and still can’t!) stop beaming from ear to ear when I think about it!

After the race, I came home and showered up and Mom got a delicious lunch ready for us.

She made her black bean soup that tastes JUST like Panera.

I made a yummy salad to go on the side full of romaine, black beans, chickpeas, feta, and roasted delicata squash.

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And Mom also made a batch of beer bread for dipping.  Yum!

It was such a yummy lunch with amazing company!

After our lunch, we walked around Mass Ave and shopped for a bit before Mom headed home.  Brian and I then met up with our friends Joy and Alex at Bru Burger for more tasty post-race food.

I can’t write this post without saying congrats to Joy-she completed her first marathon yesterday at the Monumental Marathon!  We were both in need of some refueling 🙂

I opted for the delicious veggie burger with cottage cheese on the side and some of Brian’s french fries. Yum!

The day was absolutely beautiful, I am so happy I was able to break my personal record, and I am so thankful that I was able to spend the day with Brian and my mom and celebrate with friends after!

I am also so thankful for all of you and your support.  It truly means the world to me, and I can’t thank you enough for the kind and motivating comments, tweets, instagram comments, and for just reading this blog.  THANK YOU!