As you know, I’m on the quest to run a race (of any distance) in all 50 states. Any time we plan to cross into a new region, I immediately head to the internet to scope out any potential races I can run. Our last trip took us to Indianapolis in Indiana, and I was cautiously optimistic about completing state 14. There were obstacles to this event. For example, it was an hour away from our hotel. And the government shut down made me incredibly anxious about getting to town at all. And A was in a band competition with semifinals on Saturday, so we didn’t even know how that day would go. Finally, I threw caution to the wind and just registered for the Brown County YMCA Hilly Half 5K. We would see how it went.
About The Race
The Brown County YMCA Hilly Half is designed to showcase the absolutely picturesque setting of the Brown County State Park in Nashville, Indiana. Y’all, they weren’t kidding about the “Hilly” part! The scenic route starts near the Saddle Barn and winds its way past serious elevation climbs, offering incredible vistas and views of the fire tower. It’s a challenging course, but it truly promotes health, well-being, and a fantastic sense of community, and the final two miles are a glorious, fast downhill finish right to the party! The event offers 5K, 10K, and half marathon distances, and there is an after party when the race is done.
The Night Before
Do you want to know how out of sorts I was before this event? There is no flat runner. In fact, I had to stay up until about 10PM to find out if A’s band made the semi-finals (they didn’t, which is totally ok), because I fully planned to skip the race in lieu of watching him if there was a time conflict. I also wasn’t feeling great. Our first flight was pretty crowded and turbulent, which led to some nausea and a mild migraine that I was never able to kick. That being said, I did enjoy a pasta dinner and a glass of wine, and I was pretty diligent about hydrating. I would also like to note that the race sent out an email warning of “unseasonably warm temperatures at the start,” and I laughed in Florida because it was scheduled to be in the low 50s and I couldn’t wait!
Race Morning
To be honest, my race morning was a bit different. The Brown County YMCA Hilly Half 5K was scheduled to start at 9:20AM, which is absolutely unheard of in my running world, where an 8:30AM start is late and annoying. We had no idea where we were going, and I needed to pick up my packet as well. I grabbed a bagel from the hotel breakfast area, and we set out around 7ish. We arrived, and got parking in a big field. My first impression was that there were volunteers everywhere, helping to direct the cars. I would also like to note that the race paid for our parking. They asked that if you already had a park pass to use that to help defray some of the costs, but I thought it was a nice touch for those who didn’t.
I immediately headed to the Lower Shelter to grab my packet. Shirts were a hot commodity, and I wanted to make sure I got mine in the correct size. While there, I also got a wristband for the Beer Mile at the end of the race. Because why not? Then I headed to the portapotties back in the parking area so I could wait comfortably for the race to begin.
I’m not entirely sure what happened, but at a certain point, the DJ made an announcement that we would all be starting at 9:30 due to some technical difficulties. This was close to my original start time so I didn’t really mind, but it put the half marathoners about 30-45 minutes behind their scheduled start. The announcer also asked that we allow the longer distances to go first, and then fill in behind them. Fair enough.
The Start Line
Finally, it was time. I was good to go, but there were still long lines at the bathroom. They couldn’t wait any longer, and made an announcement that since it was a chip timed race, those still waiting could cross the start line whenever they were finished and still get an accurate time. Not how I would have loved to start, but it was time to go.
We all filed into the starting area, and shuffled around to let the half and 10K runners move to the front. I finally got a look at the opening stretch, and was pretty nervous to see that it was, in fact, a very big hill. Gulp. A woman next to me noticed my expression and gave me some encouragement. She said just to put one foot in front of the other, and then we were off.
Miles 1-1.5
Friends, I clearly blacked out when registering for this event. The idea that it said “Hilly Half” and I was asked if I would be running or walking at registration were probably all huge clues. We crossed the start line and went up. And up. And up. In the first 1.5 miles, there was an elevation gain of about 300 feet, which is absolutely incomprehensible for this Florida girl. I made a valiant effort, but when I got to the quarter mile mark, I looked around and saw that everyone was walking. Work smarter, not harder, says I, and slowed down. To my recollection, it was about a half mile until a little flat stretch offered relief. My plan shifted quickly to power walking on the inclines, and running on the flats and dips. I pushed up that steep and gorgeous road, and finally, we reached the water stop and turnaround. Whoo hoo!
Miles 1.5-3.1
And now it was time for the downhill. Again, I’m not used to terrain like this, and it was a challenge. On the one hand, I wanted to just sprint, but it was pretty steep and the falling leaves made things a little slick. So the downhill plan was to run (carefully) on the declines, and then power walk the flats to give my quads a break. It was an excellent strategy, and I got to mile 2.1 without incident. At that point, we reached the Quaff On Beer Mile, where runners could opt in to grab a little cup of beer before finishing the race. When in Indiana…
And then down, down, down, I went.
The Finish Line
I was able to message Mr PugRunner to tell him when I was about a half mile out, but he had left to find a better bathroom and internet, so I finished alone. There was a mat ahead of the finish that fed runner’s names to the DJ, and it was fun to hear my name called, as well as a nod to the fact that I might be the only person from Florida. I collected my medal and decided to move back up to the after party rather than stay in the staging area. There was plenty of water and snacks available for everyone who opted to stay in the lower area.
Back up at the Lower Shelter, the fire pits were ablaze and the live music was starting up.
I took a few photos with my medal and then gathered up my post-race treats. Quaff On Brewery handed out custom pilsner glasses with a choice of beers (I got Strawberry), and volunteers handed out cups of soup, breadsticks, and cookies. It’s very rare to get soup after a race where I’m from, so this was all such a special treat!
The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly
Let’s dive in! This was a fabulous race. It was organized, and very family friendly and community based. I thought there were so many great details and amenities, and I would absolutely recommend this to anyone looking for an Indiana race.
The Good:
This event was super well organized and appointed. There were tons of volunteers, all happy to help, and so friendly. The course was terrifyingly hilly, but well marked with super cute signs of encouragement and plenty of aid stations. Post-race refreshements were top tier! I loved the soft, long-sleeved t-shirt and the custom medal. Oh, and there were free photos! I wish I had a better one of me, but I think this is perfect, with the dog in the foreground and me digging in to trek up another incline.
The Bad:
Picky, but I wish the fires were set a little apart from the after party. I love the idea of campfires, but it aggravated my migraine, and I hated riding an hour back to the car smelling of smoke. They added to the cozy vibes, but I’m also a big fan of clean air.
The Ugly:
Future races should be aware that you can never have enough restrooms. There were a few portapotties scattered around (three in the parking lot, and maybe four in the staging area), one small park bathroom (maybe one or two stalls for men and women), and that’s all I saw. It wasn’t enough and there were huge lines.
Final Thoughts
All in all, I had a great time. This was a great way to score my fourteenth state. Originally, I had planned to do the Indy Mini Marathon, but I regret nothing. I’m so glad it all worked out with scheduling, and I was proud to hang this medal and bib on my rack.
What’s Next?
Next up is the Spiked Apple 5K! We ran it last year, but I’m an absolute fan of the course, the cider and donut refreshments, and the adorable medals. It will be fun to do again. Will this be the last race of the year? Probably, but we ended strong!
Have you ever run a super hilly race? Ever run in Indiana?
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