ClockTime:  4:16:26
10K: 1:01:13 - Half: 2:14:13 - 21M: 3:18:41
Pace: 9:37
OverAll: 3686/15877 - OverSex:  873/6159 - OverDiv: 221/1263

My first marathon! There was a light fog at the start with temperatures in the 60's. Once the fog broke and the sun came out, it warmed up more considerably. I paced myself well at the start, taking in the spectators and the pack of runners. It was hard not to gallop off with all the adrenaline.  I settled into my pace. Drank well. Cathy, the angel, dropped off some gatorade and the halfway mark and offered support throughout the course. I stuck true to the negative split speeding up at Mile 14. I felt strong. The 14th Street Bridge was barren of spectators and an eerie experience  - I could only hear the steady rhythm of runners footsteps. My left quad decided to cramp up at Mile 23. I had to stop and stretch it out a few times after that, but kept on trudging along.  The last mile is a blur. With the crowds, the music and the pain, I charged up the Iwo Jima hill into the finish area. What a relief to be done. I was now a marathoner!

Mile 16 of the Marine Corps Marathon...been running for almost two and half hours.  More than half done!

Here I am very happy to be finished.

Pace: 9:20
OverSex : 86/238 - OverDiv: 14/47

For my first real race, this was a challenging one. The whole course was either uphill or downhill...there weren't any flats at all! It was a fun one though and I almost hit the two hour mark. I was still happy regardless!