Post 5th bathroom break, we get in line...queue ourselves around the 4:00 pace group. This is my first marathon, so I'm trying to take it as it comes. Hoping to break 4:00. Based on training, I'm on the edge...no leeway whatsoever. So, I'm going to just start relaxed and hope for the best. I was going to run with a friend that's a 9:15-pace guy for the first 7. Gun goes off, we settle in nice and comfy, but it's like a 9:02 pace. I'm fine at that, but am worried about my friend. He assures me he's fine, so we continue clicking through the miles. I loved this part...no real pace pressure, lots of people around, and the feeling of something epic. I really felt smooth for the first 7. And predictably, within 10-minutes I was down to the T-shirt and shorts. Wind a non-factor at this part, in the crowd and heading primarily with the wind to the east or crossways when we headed south.

At mile 7 we pick up Erv, a relay partner that was only doing the middle 12-mile segment. Bruce had gotten quiet and I was afraid we'd gone too fast. Erv started out pretty skippy and I stuck with him, eventually dropping Bruce. He gave us the thumbs up to keep going, so off we went. Through 7-16 things just clicked along. Erv and I chatted, high-fived spectators, and generally had a fine time. The 4:00 pace guy was loud and fun/bordering on obnoxious. Not saying he was obnoxious, A+ for enthusiasm and stuff, but I wasn't interested in hearing him. Fortunately, during this time we were well ahead of him and he was out of earshot. At random I looked at a spectator group and saw Deanna in here somewhere. I said "hey Deanna" and she looked at me like I was a creepy stalker. ;)

Now, around 16 I can feel I'm holding pace with Erv, but the effort level is building. He's more dragging me as much as anything. If you'd have asked, I'd have said I felt alright. RPE was still fine. Legs though, were getting heavy. I kept battling. At 19 Erv was scheduled to drop off, which I was not looking forward to. He went about a half-mile past 19 and said seeya.

OK, here we are, the dangerous 20-mile point. How many times have I read/heard that the race doesn't start until 20. About a billion. Kept on going but legs heavy. Random twinges of cramps are starting to come up. For the most part, I'm ignoring them and they're going away. However, with the passage of time they're getting more irritating, and sticking around longer. Kept pumping water, some gatorade, and gels. Stomach is good. 20-mile split is at 3:02, so I'm still in range of 4. Gotta. Keep. Moving.

Around 21.5 it happened. Had a twinge of a cramp in my IT band. Had a negative thought about that cramp, and BOOM. My brain literally MADE ME walk. That sounds strange, and I wonder if I'd have been more ready I coulda supressed it? Don't know. But, walked for about a quarter mile and knew the farking goal was lost. Started up again with the epic shuffle and held it until mile 25. Was happy with that. Fought through some random cramp-pangs in all kinds of different places, but got through them. Hit the lakefront area at mile 23 at 3:40-ish. I tell ya, that last 3 was the longest three miles I've ever experienced. The hardest thing I've ever done, without question. Continuing to put one foot in front of the other. Walked at one point and saw djdavey. Sorry he saw me walking. Got a water from PeterAK at mile 25. Struggled my way in until the finishers chute.

The finisher's chute was like a blessing. In my opinion, it's kinda bleak and lonely along bradford beach and coming up to the finish. As I started down the queue, I start looking for Denise. Out of the corner of my eye I spot a Boston Finishers jacket. Of course, even in a state of complete exhaustion I notice mundane crap like that. Who's the playah sporting the jacket? WTF, it's Schmize!!! That was a pleasant surprise! Then, outta nowhere on the other side, my son pops out of the crowd and starts running with me. Sweet. Then, he opens his coat and says "look what I got" and it's a freakin' Chocolate Milk!!! I always joke how much I love me some chocolate milk after the long runs. Bingo! He's smiling and randomly holding it just outta my reach, busting up the crowd around the finishers chute. It was awesome. Needless to say, I downed that bad boy in seconds after crossing the finish! Great way to end the race.

I kinda entered this in mid-training program. I have a lot of run base over the last few years, but probably need just MORE training, and more experience at longer distance running. Not done with this distance, for sure.

Tried to speak in coherent sentences to my relay partners, Schmize, family. Got the heck outta there before I got too cold. Had to head to Six Flags to pick up my daughter afterward, so that made for a fun cool-down.


Wind was a bit of a problem at the end. Otherwise, training.