Super Bowl XLVI in Indy...

The much anticipated Super Bowl XLVI is finally here. Today. In Indy. Our city has been preparing for this huge event for the better part of 2 years and the hype the last month has been huge. There have been celebrity sightings all over the city, people renting their homes out for the week for $20,000, exclusive invite only parties, concerts, zip-lining and hundreds of thousands of visitors from out of town coming to our city to see it all come together.

I have to admit, I'm not one for crowds. Or traffic. I avoid both at all costs. Pretty sure I've never stayed to the end of any concert for this reason. And pretty sure I vowed never to live in a big city for the same reason (growing up in Chicago put the nail in that coffin). My anxiety and lack of patience gets the best of me and it's just not pretty. This being said, I knew I wouldn't go downtown to witness any of the Super Bowl events during the week or weekend. My company offered free tickets to many a party, zip line, experience, et al...I still wasn't going to do it.

However, I did find a way around this. I run downtown every Wednesday morning with the guys from Back On My Feet. We run through the city, past every major landmark within a 2.5 mile radius. I drove down a few minutes early this past Wednesday to snap a picture of the large XLVI roman numerals on the circle (right in front of the Colum.bia Club, where Mikey and I were married!). Since it was 5:30am, there were no cars on the circle so I was able to stop my car, get out and snap pics. The only other people there were all the news stations setting up camp. I got back into my car and drove to meet all the runners. I asked our pace-leader/coach if our group could run past all the big Super Bowl sites. He obliged.

 These roman numerals were made at the company right next to the Finish Line. We have been watching them create these numerals for the last year or so. I recall last summer looking out the window and seeing the large "X" and I'm pretty sure my entire division got their phones out and took pictures in excitement. We also saw them cart these numerals off via large semi-tractors in smaller pieces 2 weeks ago, heading for the circle. Was amazing to see them all put together, lit up in the heart of our city.

 Mile 2 of fartleks we ran right into the circle and past the roman numerals

We ran through Super Bowl Village and above is the taping of ESPNs morning show. Friday morning the Today Show was downtown and a few of my BoMF friends got some air time.

 This may be a little hard to see, but it's me and James in the heart of Super Bowl Village

 These next two pictures above and below are obviously professional pics but I just had to post them so you could see how our city was transformed into an amazing playground celebrating the big game. The far left (above) is Lucas Oil Stadium and the far right is the JW Mariott where the Lombardi trophy is displayed on the outside of the building. I tried taking pictures of both of these on my run but the lighting was awful.

I'm proud to call Indy my home. Now only if the Colts were playing today...that would be the perfect storm!