Carmel Marathon

Published March 30, 2019

RAIN. Not a question of if & when, question of how much & how heavy. Weather app check’d & recheck’d & recheck’d. Thunderstorm cringe. Let it only be rain, they cancel runs for thunder – even just the potential of lightning (Minneapolis 2014).

March 30th. Crazy late in the month to assure ‘the streak’ continues. Wednesday/Thursday researched Plan B options. Only 2 races NATIONWIDE where I could physically travel from Indianapolis to an alternate Sunday 31^stStart line (with race day registration & same day bib pickup). Would spend $1k on last-minute airfare & not get home ‘til Monday the 1^st. No April foolin’. Notta option.

Conservative in politics & life, always show with a back-up plan. Live alone, survivalist mentality. Extra credit card. Food/water in the backpack, names of restaurants near my hotel. I come prepared. Maybe too much so. This time no Plan B, it’s a Plan A only weekend.

It’s gonna rain; I’m gonna get wet. BUT I’m also gonna run the Carmel Marathon AND finish. Positive energy, all in. Streak maintained, 50 State count reduced to 4. Worry isn’t gonna change the situation. “Cast all your cares upon him, for he careth for you.”

The 9th annual Carmel Marathon on Saturday, March 30, 2019. Photo by Tony Vasquez.

Friday a.m. flight. 3pm touchdown, Indiana. Rental car, bib pickup, hotel digs in nearby Carmel (Carmel like the candy, not the posh California town). Early dinner, early to bed. Heaviest precip expected at 7am. Fingers crossed. Plan A only weekend.

Marathon alarm. Outta bed, drapes pulled, eyes at the window. Sometimes weather folks are right. Ho hum. Quick Internet search. No word on cancellation. Just rain. Lotta rain. Cold rain. Raining ALL day, rain. But just rain. 3 choices on jackets, pair of throw-away shoes. Focused, layered. Dressed for SUCCESS – large black trash bag, neck to knees. Dude’s styling. Hoosier Day.

Heaviest of the downpour, walk to the Start. Way/way/way in the back. Car-waited 8 minutes to kick off. Combined FULL, Half Start (car-waited wee too long). THOUSANDS of runners. Corral starts cancelled. Free-for-all first 2 miles. Ok by me. I generally go out too fast anyway.

Comfortable easy course, few inclines – wouldn’t call anything a hill. Shed my ‘Oscar the Grouch’ outerwear before mile 3. Steady even pace ‘til sideways rain blew mile 9. Two separate loops intersecting at the Half finish. Thanks Indiana, notta fan of laps – appreciate seeing 26 unique miles.

Sideways rain again at marker 22, finished the day in drizzle. FINISHED. Monthly streak continues. First 50 State progress of 2019. Hands apex-cramped like claws, all dexterity gone. Hadn’t felt this cold since Antarctica. Mile walk to the car. Rain soaked my core.

Hypothermic, stripped down in a random mall parking lot in Carmel Indiana (one of those proud moments only another marathoner can appreciate). Discarded jacket, shirt, shoes, socks, hat – dorm room style in the back seat. HEAT set to HIGH. Duct in my dashboard hovered, FULL 20 minutes.

North Indy YMCA. Wore my bib & my medal – and asked for a hot shower. THANKS! Me & the 200 people on my Southwest flight HOME very very much appreciate your generosity 😊

Airport dinner. HOUR-half wait on the runway, unexpected season change. Indiana SNOW ❄️