Indy Mini or a tail of a pseudo runner

Last Saturday I completed my 4th mini-marathon (Indy Mini). It's taken me a week to write about this because this is how long it takes to get over the pain that it generated.
But no, it was great. Yes, the pain was definitely there, both physical and emotional and my ankle is still paying for it, but I loved every minute of it. I think it was the first time when I didn't say "never again" upon crossing the finish line.
I trained for it. Some. I found a training plan that encouraged not to run longer than 30 minutes per day during the week and do long runs on weekends. I liked it, mostly the 30 minutes per day part. Long runs on weekends weren't that doable or desirable or anticipated. I attempted it 3 times, one of which was a total disaster and the other 2 successful. So I would say I was 2/3 ready for the race.
We drove to Indy Friday night and stayed at my sister-in-law's house. On Saturday morning our rockstar family friend Betty came to stay with that kids and Greg and I drove downtown. I started the race strong and was ready to rock. By mile 5, however, the heat was blasting and I was sweaty and already sufficiently tired. At mile 6 I may have asked myself "Why did I do this again?" a couple of hundred times. As we were leaving the Indy 500 track (it's about 2.5 miles and it's smack in the middle of the race... it's a fun little detail and I would have enjoyed it immensely if it wasn't for the heat radiating from the black pavement... geez!), I realized that if I didn't see a porta potty in the next 2 seconds I would pee my pants. Luckily I made it, but sadly lost a couple of minutes to that. Darn nature calls!
By mile 8 or 9 everything everywhere started hurting, burning and cramping and that's when I realized that I was in trouble. Up to that point I was jogging consistently, but now I had to walk a bit. For the next 4.1 miles it was an inner battle. I kept going from almost crying of pain but still jogging to succumbing to my baby-self and walking for a few seconds or stretching a bit. I was so preoccupied by that battle that I didn't hear or see Greg making a scene trying to get my attention somewhere along the road. But I finished, guys. I wanted to make it under 2:09 (which was my time last time 4 years ago), but ended up adding 4 minutes. I was disappointed at first, but I'm over it now and maybe next year I can beat myself:)  Yes, I think I'm going to do this again. Don't tell my ankle.

(* I ran into a friend before the race. *photo taken from here)