My right calf cramped from miles 9-13. I stopped frequently to massage it, and that seemed to help. I also consumed more gels and Powerade. It was a bit stiff for the second half of the race but didn't really bother me and did not affect my stride. I felt good throughout the race and from miles 18-23 felt very strong. However, on the way out of Crystal City, with only two miles to go, I felt nauseated and overwhelming fatigue. I managed to suck it up though and still got across the finish in my goal of sub 5 hours.

Perhaps carry a small regular food source of carbohydrate other than relying only on gels. My hydration was good. Wished I had arrived a little earlier to afford more time to warm up.

Just walked around a bit. Got pretzels, Powerade, and an apple at the food tent. Drove home and went to the pool where I took a hot shower, sat in the hot tub for 30 minutes, took another hot shower, sat in the sauna for 10 minutes, and topped it off with another hot shower! Then home to indulge in a piece of my son's birthday cake that I did not eat the night before!


I think I gave it my all. I did well in staying hydrated and was successful in picking up the pace to turn in a negative split. I actually thought around mile 22 that I might get a better time by 5 or 10 minutes than I did. But I really slowed toward the last two miles and that killed me. I wonder if that might have been averted by consuming the cookie and more gels, or stashing hard food for a carbo boost earlier in the race. I could also improve by getting in more long runs in training. But, as for race day, I was pleased with my performance.


Now for my critique. There should be sricter enforcement of the rule that prohibits wearing walkman/ipod devices. Some of these people were an obstacle to runners trying to pass as they could not hear calls of "on your left." It also posed an inconvenience bordering on danger to the wheel chair athletes who often had to slow down preciptiously when these runners could not hear the multiple shouts of runners from behind to clear a way for the wheel chair. This is also a reason to start the wheel chair athletes well ahead of the bulk of the runners rather than between the scarlet and gold waves as was the case this year.

Overall, I think the Marines did an excellent job on this event. The newspaper reported that about 27,000 competed, which makes more sense than the 20,000 Championchip listed on the results page. Regardless of one's politics, the Marines are a great group of guys. I'll never forget when I was assigned to U.S. Embassy Caracas in the 1990s, how these young men, just in there 20s, seemingly so young and boyish, and with whom we often joked, took such authoritative and life-saving command of our safety when the Embassy was threatened by an unfolding coup attempt. They're the best and can be counted on when the chips are down.