I started out a little to fast, but I thought I could handle this pace. I was wrong! The first half the the marathon I felt good. I stopped at a couple of the water stops to walk and grab a drink. When I got to around mile 17 and 18, by calves, and quads really started to cramp up. When I got to mile 21, I had to start walking. My calves,and quads were so tight, they were yelling at me! I thought I was going to go into charlie horse mode at every step. Every hill I encountered, I had to walk up. At this point I had to combine walking and running for the rest of the race.

IF I do another Marathon, I will certainly start out slower. I will also hydrate better, though I thought I drank plenty of water and gaterade.

My warm-down didn't go that great at all. Now for the bad part of the race. It actually came when I was done and standing around after. I felt like my calves or quads were going to go into charlie horse mode
x10 any second. I saw a golf cart to the right of me and asked if I could sit for a minute. As soon as I sat my right calf went into a extreme cramp and it was very painful. The lady suggested I go the get a massage. While I was in line waiting, I felt both of my arms and hands go numb, and I felt really light headed. I knew I was in trouble and headed for the Med-tent. As soon as I got there and they laided me down things got bad. To make a long story short, they hooked me up to a IV, oxygen in my nose, electrodes all over my body, and a blood pressure thing on my arm. I was sweating like crazy, then freezing the next. Really bad experience for my first full Marathon. I was extremely dehydrated, but I drank tons of water the days leading up to the race, and during the race. I guess my body retaliated, and said what the hell did you do to me. Well, I'm much better now, and have learned my lesson. I won't be running another marathon anytime soon


Maybe just the hills.


Well all in all for my first Marathon, I'd say I did well for myself. It's been a really hard road to get here. I've only been running for a year and 8 months, and have come this far is awesome. The 18 weeks of training did me good, and prepared me for the 26.2 miles. I just didn't expect to be in the Med-tent after. I think If I had slowed down a bit in the beginning, and hydrated better, it could have been avoided. It really was a great first marathon experience, except the end. The weather was just perfect, along with the great views.