Derek Savick-Hesser, April 2023
In 2021, I made the choice to up my running game and take on my first ever half marathon, and since then, the Indy Mini has been a staple of my yearly training plan. Why? Because the event has continued to provide a way for me to keep connecting and continue growing as a runner and person.
In fact, as I head into my third Indy Mini this year, I have begun to recognize the many lessons I’ve learned throughout my Indy Mini seasons.
Running is a Team Sport
As I amped up my training for my first Indy Mini, I ran the streets alone almost always. But, I realize now just how many friends, family members, and community supporters were rooting for me. Even on the virtual race day, my partner and I were dropped off by a dear friend who was there to cheer us on at that finish and celebrate later that day. This support only grew as I joined my first in-person Indy Mini. I saw a vast group of diverse participants and spectators who were there for one purpose – to finish together. That day, I knew that although I had to journey the course on my own, I had an entire team backing me up and wanting nothing but success for me and everyone else around us.
Resting is Essential
Entering my second Indy Mini training season, I was ready to crush my goals. I was going to run 5-6 days a week, implement at least one day of cross training, and boost my approach to nutrition. Just one week into the new year, I was faced with extreme muscle fatigue, restricted breath, and more. Soon after this, I was diagnosed with COVID and would experience prolonged symptoms impacting my muscles and joints. As I continued to try pushing myself to achieve my steep goals, I experienced elevated levels of pain. Finally, I built in time to pause. I stretched, did yoga, walked, and even just rested. As I continued to focus on those moments of pause, I began to heal, and I began to focus on gratitude for my ability to move. Come the morning of Indy Mini race day, I was full of gratitude and ready to just be in community with other participants. Turns out that rest paid off…I was able to PR and exceed my goals thanks to my moments of pause heavily integrated with moments of activity.
Seeing Beauty is a Choice
Every time I run the Indy Mini, I am reminded of the beauty within my city (which I miss when inside the hustle and bustle of the daily grind). The same places I see in a car every day look different and feel different when running the streets and choosing to really see everything around me. As I’ve come to appreciate being forced to take in my surroundings while running, I have owned the choice I have to see (and create) beauty in my community. Thanks to the Indy Mini, I now find myself not just seeing a city around me. Rather, I am able to see a connected community of people, places, and stories that form beauty all around us and deserve to be seen.
Succeeding Means Many Things
As someone new to running in my adult years, I had little to no idea of what success was. With no benchmark, I was eager to explore articles for qualifying times, pacing guides, and records. I was soon overwhelmed and uncertain that I’d ever be “successful” as a runner. Then, I ran my first Indy Mini. At the end, I felt it…success! Simply completing a distance and knowing I accomplished a goal was success to me. The more I talked to other participants, the more I recognized that success is really an individual definition. So, I run each Indy Mini with new goals and celebrate every other participant for coming to the race with their own. Together, we can all work to be the best versions of ourselves and succeed together, however different that looks from one person to the next.
I am so grateful for the moments of pause and lessons I’ve learned in my Indy Mini journey. As you prepare to join in or support the Indy Mini festivities this year and beyond, I hope you, too, find time to reflect and recall the memories and lessons from your event involvement. After all, that’s the beauty of the Indy Mini and the 500 Festival!