Holly, Stacey and I enjoyed a 4-mile group run in Philadelphia last summer. I had met them the day before this run, but I had known them for years.
When I tell people I’m running my first (and only) half marathon on Saturday in Indianapolis, the question I get most often is “Why Indianapolis?” Sure, it’s the largest half marathon in the nation, and the buzz of 35,000 runners, live music and both beer and chocolate milk at the finish line are enough reasons to get me pumped for such a physical challenge. But my answer has to do with eight other women, three of whom I’ve never met in person.
At the urging of my running sisters, I submitted the following essay on the Indy Mini website a week or two ago, and our story has caught the attention of the media in Indianapolis. We’ll be featured in the Indianapolis Star, and there’s a possible local TV news feature in the works too. (As if I won’t have enough pre-race jitters.)
So here’s my answer to the question, “Why drive all the way to Indianapolis to run a race?”