Felt good until about mile 16, then the cold, rainy, windy conditions started getting to me. Oh, and whoever says this course was flat, obviously doesn't know what flat is! When a race official tells you to slow down (especially at MY pace), due to wet, steep downhill, you KNOW there is a significant hill!!

Talked to Mike/kids, and Stan on the phone for most of the second half. Beka told me all about their adventure getting up to Philly and the pictures she had drawn me. It was really motivating to have my 8 year old daughter ask me when I was gonna be done cuz she missed me! I cried, of course!

Saw Cathy around my mile 18 on an out/back. She wasn't all that happy with the weather either, so at least misery loves company! I was encouraged to get my tail in gear so I could try to catch her.

I started getting a HUGE blister on the bottom of my left foot around mile 15 with the rain and hills. It proved to be a big limitation towards the end. I hung with the 5:30 pace group until about mile 24 when I had to take some extra walk breaks due to my foot. My legs felt as good as they can, and cardio wise, I was fine. Oh, well. Finished 3 minutes behind them, saw Mike, the kids and Cathy as I turned for the finish line. It was awesome! I cried some more, got a Philly pretzel and walked the 1.5 miles back to the car to start my vacation!

I completed a goal of 3 marathons in 3 months and became a Marathon Maniac!!

Ignore Cathy and listen to my inner voice that told me to stay in bed!! LOL!! Not really. I wouldn't have changed a thing! I was so happy for Cathy to start AND finish her first marathon!!! CONGRATS COGIRL!!

Shivered to the car, drove to NYC.


blister, slow, fat, white girl pace


This race was ok. Not enough fluid stations (1 every 2.5 miles), and not NEAR enough bathrooms. Post race food was pretty weak, and the expo was super unorganized.