Sorry the race didn't go as well as you had hoped. But, you can always learn from these experiences and apply them to the next one. Perhaps in the future you can eat more bananas in the days leading up the race; focus more on hydration (were you underhydrated); make sure you're replacing lost electrolytes; and maybe try salt tabs. Lots of things. Look at what other people do/recommend to prevent cramping and maybe try to do some of those things you didn't do.

No worries. You will surely break 4 hours (maybe even better) at your mary later this year!

Great work. You did an awesome job training the past few months. Don't get down on yourself, because while you didn't meet your goal time, you accomplished a lot: months of solid, consistent training; pushing through the pain and finishing when you felt you couldn't; and, duh, COMPLETING A MARATHON!!! How many people can say they've done that? Not many. I can't!

Take care, rest up, and once you're recovered, get back to training.

Oh, and I'm a Beatles fan....

Heheh.  I'm with you on this one brother. 

Serious congrats on your race.  I'm sorry you missed your goal.  I'm even sorrier that I missed you out there.  Running in NC also showed  a long course.  What did you think of that last 5 miles where you could see a couple miles of course in the distance and it was slightly upgrade.  heh heh.  That part blew.  LOL! I'm glad you had the family out there with you for support and I can't wait to see you crush your goal in the future.  You've got a nice heavy chunk of medal around your neck and that's saying something.  Congrats!

Congratulations!  You did a great job completing the marathon.  It is hard enough to complete with everything works in your favor.  To continue on when having cramps is a testament to your willpower.

I grimaced when you talked about getting into your car!  I can just imagine how that felt.  I was so glad that I had walked to the start.  That forced me to walk back to the hotel.  I really needed that walk - I was in so much pain! 

YAY!  CONGRATS FOR A GREAT MARATHON.... don't beat yourself up too much--cramping happens and when it does, it's really hard to combat.  (My hubby ran his one and only marathon at 7 min mile pace, litterally locked up at mile 22/24-ish and had to lie down for a half hour while he tried to get the cramps to go away.  He had to hobble with straight legs (couldn't bend or they would charley-horse-up again) to the finish.... ended up crossing with a friend (he had actually trained with)--a woman who ran steady 10 minute miles the whole way.  He was pissed, and then went and ate straight salt packets after the race.

Do you think you need to try something like eGel that has a high level of sodium?  I found that, especially when I sweat a lot, they REALLY make a difference wiht cramping.