Frank and
Jackie, sorry we missed you post-race, but I never fault anyone for leaving (and
Frank you were unbelievably chivalrous to
return and wait around that long!) After Disney, I typically drag myself to the bus, so you both went "above and beyond" in my books.
As for the Indy Mini... Funny thing is that I wrote a long race report at about 3AM on Monday, then lost it as I was trying to post it. When will I learn to do those things in Word and paste them in!?! Let's see how much I can remember...
As usual, I loved the cold (and really didn't mind the wind -- though there was a
lot of it). I walk slower now than I have in years past, and I seem to get overheated a lot more quickly, so the cold serves me well. On the flights there and back, I kept overhearing runners say how the weather had been brutally hot some years (Wonder if they've done Disney?), so I was very blessed that this was a cool year. I was not trained enough to attempt a PR, so I began the race with no expectation other than to build my confidence and to get a medal. I am hopeful that I can do a little better than that next race. The race is truly remarkable in the number of entrants and the seemingly endless bands and entertainment. I heard every sort of music you can imagine -- and even saw some square dancers! It surpassed my expectations and I'd recommend it to anyone who enjoys big races.
View from Corral X
On the Indy Motor Speedway
The reason I'm writing this report, though -- the thing I REALLY want to share -- is that I was
so wrong not to expect more from Indianapolis itself. I expected another boring downtown, and instead I'm quite certain I could have stayed an extra day or two and still not seen everything within walking distance of my downtown hotel. I was surrounded not just by restaurants and shopping -- which is convenient -- but by more monuments and museums than I could squeeze into my long weekend.
Besides the car ride to visit the
Hall of Fame Museum at the Indy Motor Speedway (and I loved walking the 2.5 mile tour of the track starting at about mile 6 during the race) with a fun group of WiSHers, we
walked to the
Indiana War Memorial Museum and Monument Circle (which has a Civil War Museum). Because I had a later flight, I also walked to the
Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art which was next door to both the
Indiana State Museum and the zoo that I'd hoped to see but just ran out of time! I took tons of photos -- but kept saying to everyone within earshot that you really had to BE there to appreciate the beauty and enormity of it. What a cool -- and extremely walkable -- city! I am
so glad I went.
And it wouldn't be a race report without acknowledging what a wonderful experience it is to be engulfed by such a supportive group of WiSHers -- who cheered me, hugged me, Facebook-ed me, and made me feel a part of the group. I did not realize how much I'd missed that affection and acceptance, and how much I needed the weekend.
Thanks to all of you!
GO! WISH Team GO! 
