Now, let’s get something out of the way. I don’t run. I don’t think I’ve ever really been into running, nor will I ever be into running. But I can walk. People that know me and my dad know our long strides and fast pace can tire out those that want to keep up with us on race weekends (it’s one of the reasons my mom doesn’t ever come with us to the track). So I signed up and said to myself, ‘I’m going to walk this 4k. It will be fun.’I began the trip from my car—parked in the middle of the infield at IMS—and walked to the registration area on Main Street in Speedway, Ind. It was probably a 4k walk from my car, but it was good practice.I showed up at the registration tent and I immediately knew I was out of place. Real running people—you know, people that enjoy running, for fun—were all around. They had their number papers (I think they’re officially called “bibs” but don’t quote me) pinned to their shirts and some were stretching and warming up.‘This won’t end well for me,’ I thought, noting on Twitter that my race number, 100, was also probably the percentage that I would finish last. I milled around and got my number pinned to my shirt as well as my race timing chip tied to my shoe.And those running people were still getting ready, prepping by stretching and warming their legs up. Now, I have nothing against you folks if you like to run. To each his/her own. But for me, it’s just not my cup of tea.In fact two guys sitting on a curb (they weren’t a part of the race) looked at me and said “How long is this race you’re doing?” I told them around 2.5 miles, but I wasn’t running. Nope. I was walking.
At 6:30 a lady with a microphone gave a “Go” and the crowd took off. I almost got run over, I kid you not, by two people behind me who were setting their watches and iPods as they ran by. I immediately thought like a NASCAR driver and got over to the curb of Main Street before turning on to West 16th Street.From West 16th Street the race took me into the track via the big gate next to the Admin Building at IMS. And from there I walked, while others ran, into the track and toward the “crossover gate” at the entrance to turn one.I’ve been on this part of the track before. In fact, if you’re at the track on raceday they let you walk onto this part of the track for a few hours. I did it in 2003 with my dad. But now I was back in turn one, walking this race, trying to keep up with the folks around me that were running.Needless to say I settled in like a distance runner, set a good walking pace and enjoyed the ride.The race swept through turn one, and I will always contend that no matter how flat people say Indy is, it just isn’t. Turn one, banked at nine degrees, is still quite banked for being “flat.” Turning through part of the infield road course and up onto pit road completed half of the journey.I walked past Gasoline Alley. I saw Mark Martin’s garage stall for the weekend. And I crossed over the yard of bricks on pit road. I was halfway home. 
I always use the phrase “kid in a candy shop” when I talk about going to Indy because no matter how many times I visit the track there’s still a special, unique aura about the place. Walking up pit road and out toward turn four before looping around part of the infield road course gave me an opportunity to look around the facility again.I was a “kid in a candy shop” again.You can feel the history, the prestige and the honor of the racetrack. Legends have raced at Indy. So have I.As I came out of the infield and bounced back onto the front stretch—literally the home stretch of the race—it hit me: I was in a race, on the track, at Indy. I’ve always talked about dreams coming true at Indy, and this year was no different. Last year I wondered how I could ever top my experience at the track.I found a way this year, and a cool way too.
I walked down the front stretch and toward the start/finish line walking over the famed yard of bricks to the finish. In 32 minutes and 15 seconds I completed a walk of four kilometers. Not a bad time, but it’s something I know I’ll be able to look at and possibly improve on next year if I do the Hauler Hustle 4k again.I got to race at Indy though, and that’s pretty cool no matter who you are.-------------------------------------------------------------------------------I’m here in Indy and for most of the weekend will be at or around the track in Speedway. Let me know if you’ll be around too. Send me a tweet and perhaps we’ll be able to hang out at the tweetup on Sunday (check Jeff Gluck’s Twitter feed for more info on the annual tweetup). Thanks for reading.Source:http://adamniemeyer.blogspot.com/2013/07/hauler-hustle-4k-offers-fans-and-me.html
Hauler Hustle 4k offers fans (and me) a chance to race at Indy Images
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