Good Weather coupled with a well run race made Cheryl very happy yesterday. True, Indianapolis is not a very exotic location for a run, but it was fun and the scenery was different compared to Iowa. (Mostly) The people were friendly and there was even food and beer! ( Also very good!) So basically, it was a fun and enjoyable day. The end.
P.S. The Details: That Eastern Time Zone change really hit us both hard as we had to get up around 3 am (our Time) to shower, shave, and prep for battle. For the first time in FOREVER! The Temp was actually below 50 degrees! Cheryl was a little worried how she might run now that the weather was actually GOOD... I was worried about finding a parking spot before the lineup. ( It's my only worry and job before the race....)
Again, the Race director did an outstanding job there. We were directed to the free parking lot and volunteers directed us "dress right dress" in rows in available parking slots. It was perhaps the easiest parking I have ever had while not actually staying in the hotel where the race was beginning.
We stayed in the car for a while resting a bit and trying to say warm. About an hour before the start time, we headed towards the Port-A-Jons. 
Another very nice thing was the several heating areas around the staging area. I was wondering why clusters of people were hovered in a circle. They were standing and sitting around the moderately sized fireplaces spaced around the field. Even Minnesota did not have that! They were well build with real firwood. You did not have to hover on top of it to get warm, there was plenty of space and plenty of heat radiating from the fire.
We met a woman who ran the Quad Cities two weeks ago with Cheryl. Cheryl and her had a good chat about all the races they have done and want to still do. The running world is so small sometimes. 
Eventually Cheryl handed me her coat and entered the gate. I moved a little ways from the start and prepped with some other spectators for our action shots. I teamed up with a couple of women as we waited. They had a map of the race course and We traveled together to each spectator spot. Along the way, we chatted about our runners. Sometimes the Runner's Spectator's world is pretty small too!
One of the cool things about the race was the start. They delayed each "gate" by just a few seconds to allow people to start comfortably. Each runner's results are based off of "chip time" (Time crossing the mats.) and not the actual gun time. Cheryl was in the first wave and she was a little concerned that she might be in the wrong one. However, her results would prove otherwise. (Foreshadowing... Duh Dummm! )
As Cheryl passed by, myself and the others in our "Spectator posse" moved on to the next site. Mile 4. Cheryl ran by and looked pretty comfortable. She was ahead of the 1:40 pace group and just behind the 1:35 pacer. I wondered if she would push herself or just treat this as a training run with a number of other big races coming up later this month. I was encouraged she might actually be trying at this race...
The race route looped around and it was possible to see her at maybe a couple other places, but the racers were running so fast and the 5K-ers were cluttering up the area by now so I simply waited for her at the finish. I weighed my options and before I could even figure out where to see her, the Winner of the Half-Marathon was coming across the finish line!
I did not have to wait long for Cheryl to finish. She came in at 1:39 and some change. She was pretty happy with that time, especially compared with the last race. It proves that all that hot running in the middle of summer helped condition her for the cold months. Plus, she tends to like the Fall racing the best.
The finisher's medal was a gold Maple leaf. Pretty cool for an Autumn race. Cheryl was happy with it and we both headed for the food tent to get our "after race meal." I did have to pay for the food, ( Cheryl's was included in her race fee.) But the food was good and the area they set up for everyone was roomy and fun. Another plus for this race. I also had to purchase the beer, so I chose the local one and we both shared it. It was tasty.
Overall, Cheryl and I, after talking about all the good things, ended up giving this race 5 stars. 5 stars does not mean we will want to do it again, but it does bode well for the Marathon coming up. ( the same company runs the Marathon as well.) Going to a new scene and doing a race we have never done before, there are always quirks. But it is refreshing when the race is fun, well done, and just plain professional. Aside from the long drive, at least there is no reason NOT to come back.
Oh, And before I forget, I urged Cheryl to go find out her "official" time at the tent. They informed her that she had won another age group award! ( Second place! The #1 45-49 female was a Speed Demon!) She was very happy with second place though. Much happier than the last race. ( Where she also won a second place age group award.) Possibly because she had better competition for this race. Or maybe because she ran a better race at a comfortable pace. Or maybe... just maybe because she beat the #3 45-49 female by just one second! ( Her competative streak is so dangerous.)
So that is all, Cheryl ran a race, got a leaf, reclaimed her self-esteem, and won a mug. The Food was good; the race was good; and the beer was good. She is very pleased with the results and it gives her "hope" for the future. ( I hate the word: "hope") It proves that Cheryl is not an aging old lady who can no longer run. She can run just fine... As long as the weather allows for it. And she will continue to pile up trinkets and dustables in the spare room for the future. ( Oh! Joy!) As long as She is happy, I guess I can be too. Thanks for stopping in.
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