Carmel Marathon: Carmel, Indiana, April 13, 2024 – Marathon #45
Well, that was a quick trip to my 46th state and back! A huge thank you to Carmel, Indiana, for an unforgettable marathon experience. As you scroll through the pictures from this race, you might notice something a little different from my usual marathon photos. As I mentioned in my pre-race post, I had a lot on my mind and needed to leave it all on the roads of Indiana.
The weather was perfect, the course was beautiful, and the support along the way was incredible. I knew I’d need every bit of that positivity to get me through this race. On just 4.5 hours of sleep in 48 hours, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but my determination and my “no-quit” attitude kicked in. My playlist was filled with every “never give up” anthem I could find, and I sang and ran my way through it.
Along the course, I kept seeing people running with their dogs, and being a huge dog lover (even though I don’t have one of my own anymore), I couldn’t resist. I decided to stop a few times, dedicate this race—and its time—to all the dogs out there. It was my little tribute to them. 😊 While my finish time wasn’t what I hoped for, it didn’t even matter. I was even fortunate enough to get a few kisses from two dogs after the race—unasked for, but so needed. It was just the comfort I needed at that moment.
I also met some amazing people on this trip. I finally had the pleasure of meeting Brian from the Marathon Maniacs, who works tirelessly to keep the group’s information updated every week. I also met several first-time marathoners who crushed it on their debut race—huge shoutout to them! And of course, I can’t forget my seat companion on the flight from Indianapolis to Denver. He graciously listened to my race stories the entire way—thank you for being a good sport! 😆
Next week, I’ll be rerunning a marathon that almost made me swear off racing for good: the Garmin Marathon in Olathe, Kansas. I ran this race in 2022, just 11 weeks after major surgery. Looking back, I definitely shouldn’t have run it. I was still recovering, the weather was brutal, and the whole experience was just tough. But I finished it, and now it’s time for round two.
Why rerun it, you ask, especially when I’m so close to completing my 50-state challenge? Well, here’s the thing: When I submitted my certifications to get my 50-state certification, I was told that the 2022 race, which was about 1,000 feet short of the full marathon distance, wouldn’t count. To get certified, I’ll need to rerun the course. The silver lining? It’s only 45 minutes from my house. I’ll take that over having to go to Hawaii or Alaska for a rerun! The downside? Well, I’m running Kansas again. 😞
That said, I know this year will be different. I’ll be in a much better place both physically and mentally, and I’m looking forward to it. After Kansas, I’ll run Ohio, North Dakota, and Vermont in May, and then my 50th state will be Colorado on June 16th in Estes Park. I’m closing in on achieving my first major running goal—something that once seemed impossible to me.
I’ll keep running, no matter what. I’ll run when I’m happy, mad, glad, or sad. I’ll run in the sun, rain, snow, or sleet. I’ll keep running until my final sleep. 😊🏃♀️❤️