#bemonumental

• The fans! Oh the fans!  From the people lined up 2, 3, or 4 deep along the course in downtown Indy to the lone volunteer at mile 20.5 (a barren spot in the race) “cheering her tail off” to the Team World Vision Cheer Zone to the residents in neighborhoods along the course who cheered from their porches or sidewalks, to the Indy Runners/Carmel Running Club tent a few blocks from the finish line—the fan support was truly beyond monumental.

• Signs – lots of funny signs!  My personal favorite was black ink on white poster board with the words Motivational Sign. But, how about these: “Pain is temporary. Internet race results are FOREVER.” “Run like you’re chasing a hot guy and being followed by a creepy one.” “Tap here for power.” (The fan holding it chanted “power up” every time a runner touched the sign). Another favorite: “Only Postal Carriers Walk.”

• The volunteers!  They greeted thousands of us at the expo with gifts of commemorative posters, offered words of encouragement, took photos of us on our cell phones, handed out race shirts, said thousands of “Have a great run tomorrow!”s. They carried “ask me” signs and answered thousands of questions. They staffed water stops and poured Gatorade. They cheered us on at turns in the course, placed medals around our necks and offered hats and blankets when we finished. They were the perfect “road crew.” (Thank you, volunteers!)

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• Erika Smiles Tributes.  Surely you saw them: the bibs, patches, ribbons, wristbands. They honored Erika Wells, a much-loved kindergarten teacher, track coach, Girls on the Run supporter, member of Indy Runners, marathoner and triathlete. Erika lost her life in mid-October when struck by a vehicle while riding her bike. The running community honored Erika’s memory in a touching show of support during Saturday’s race.

• Those students in bright green race t-shirts (Monumental Kids).  It began as a pilot program at IPS Super School 19 with a goal of teaching kids the benefits of exercise, nutrition, and a healthy lifestyle. On Saturday, hundreds of students from IPS and metro area schools showed up in bright green shirts and participated in the 5K – a 3.1 mile victory lap for completing the Monumental Kids Movement program. It was a visual reminder that the Monumental is a race with an important mission.

• Creative (ahem) Offers of Food and Beverage along the Course. Candied bacon around mile 12. PBR. Bloody Mary mix. Leftover Halloween Candy. Yep, not your traditional race fuel!

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• Public Safety Officials.  We thanked them at the intersections, but we can’t thank them enough—the officers from IMPD and the Marion County Sheriff’s Department kept us safe and traffic orderly. One on 10th Street even entertained us with party music from his squad car.

• The starting line instruction to “report to your carrels.”  This made for a good laugh in the corral. One runner friend observed: “I thought he was directing runners who hadn’t done their homework back to their study carrels.”

• The finish line!  The finish line, the beautiful finish line! How inspiring to see marathoners and half marathoners bring it home—some looking fresh, some struggling, some overcome by emotion or exhaustion. How awesome to see Carlton Ray high-five students who completed the 5K. How funny to see a runner dressed as a hot dog cross the marathon finish line! How cool to see a 19 year old finish his first marathon and celebrate a Boston qualifier finish time! And, once again, how cool to see cheering fans lining the barricades! As one running friend put it: “The finish line crowd is always a highlight. They really get into it and help push you in.”