The month of May in Indianapolis is a pretty big deal. The city spends the whole month celebrating the 500 Festival, which is capped off at the end of the month with “the greatest spectacle in racing,” the Indianapolis 500. Kicking off the 500 Festival at the beginning of the month is the Mini-Marathon, a half marathon that includes a lap around the 2.5 mile track at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. To commemorate 100th running of the Indy 500, this year, Mini participants will get a medal featuring a mini version of the Borg-Warner trophy, the trophy the winner of the Indy 500 will receive Memorial Day weekend. Hopefully we’ll be at the Speedway for the Indy 500 at the end of the month, but for the first time ever, I’ll be one of the runners kicking off the celebration in the Mini.

Am I a runner? Nope. To be totally honest, until last Monday, the last time I’d laced up my running shoes was last March. Over tapas and beers, a friend convinced me I could totally train for a half marathon and it wouldn’t be that hard (Ha…). After a few beers at Bacon Fest and a cocktail at Hotel Tango, my sister and I agreed we’d take on this adventure together. I figured it’d be a great accomplishment for a milestone year, so why not?….Then, my sister sprained her ankle the night before training was supposed to start. Sooo, it’s just me right now, until I can convince someone to take on her spot.

In all reality, I don’t have to run the whole thing to feel like I accomplished something and I was part of a really cool tradition in my city. I’d like to run as much of it as I possibly can, but let’s be real, I’m not above walking when I need to – I just want to kiss the yard of bricks at the Speedway (yes, really, it’s a thing) and not die.

Week 1 of training has been a challenge, to say the least. My body has been pushed and it’s also let me know it’s pretty shocked about the change. Saturday was a BEAUTIFUL 72 degree day, so I hit the Monon Trail for my first outdoor long run. The Monon is this fantastic path that runs through the city, and there were hundreds of people who had the same idea for the gorgeous day as I did, so the people watching certainly helped the mileage go by. The thing about the Monon, is you have to remember you need to turn around at some point, which doubles your mileage. On Saturday, I forgot. So 8.47 miles later, my legs were feeling pretty strongly about my decision. (No, I did not run the whole thing. I ran a total of 3 miles, but not all together…I’ll get there.) Luckily, my sister and her fiancé were waiting at the end of my trail at Big Lug Canteen, a fun new brewery just off the Monon Trail.

Their Quintana American Wheat Ale was a refreshing treat after my miles, and yes, I drank lots of water afterward too. My sister and I also shared a great salad, but of course we also sniped more than a few fries from Jair too. Today was not so warm and a little more like February in Indiana, and I learned how my asthmatic lungs feel about running in cold air. Spoiler alert: they don’t love it, and I’ll be figuring out a way to take my inhaler with me from now on. Whoops.

It’s going to be an adventure, but I have 75 days to get myself in gear and ready to cross that finish line. Wish me luck!