Conquering the Indy Mini Marathon

In 2024, I made the decision to sign up for the Indy Mini Marathon. 13.1 miles through the heart of downtown Indianapolis. It was a mix of excitement and nerves as I hit “register,” knowing I was committing to something BIG. But I was ready to test my limits and prove to myself that I could do something hard.

I trained for 12 weeks with a plan that gradually increased my mileage each week. The funny thing about half marathon training is that you never actually run the full 13.1 miles until race day. At first, that idea felt a little intimidating, but I trusted the process. Each run built my endurance, both physically and mentally. Alongside my running, I focused on clean, balanced eating to fuel my body the right way. Training was more than just lacing up and running it was about discipline, recovery, hydration, and mindset.

Race day finally came, and the energy at the Indy Mini was a bit overwhelming with excitement. I started out strong, finding my rhythm early. For the first 10 miles, I felt confident and steady. But those last 3 miles? That’s where it got real. My legs were tired, the finish line felt far, but I kept telling myself: you didn’t train this hard to quit now.

I never stopped. Not once. And I crossed that finish line with a time under 2 hours—just like I set out to do. My fastest split was the last mile when I knew the finish line and my family were in reach.

Setting a goal, showing up for myself day after day, and seeing it all pay off was really rewarding. If you’re thinking about running a half marathon, or chasing any big goal, I want you to know something: you can do it. Start small, stay consistent, believe in yourself, and trust the journey. You might surprise yourself.

Here’s to many more finish lines ahead! - Delaney

For info on the Indy Mini click here!