26.2 Miles in 4:46:25

Well it is safe to say that everyone was wrong in predicting my time for the marathon this past weekend. The important thing however is that I finished. Luckily we have pictures to share, since I accidently deleted them last night from the camera, only to recover them with a program I found on-line. So how do I write about the race, well it is almost impossible. Emotions and thoughts were all over the place that day, but overall it was a great experience. Chris Warthen and I were ecstatic with our races, but more importantly excited about the friendship that developed during our training period.

I have included pictures of the entire weekend. We left Friday morning for the beautiful city of Eugene, Oregon and spent the next few days taking in the whole atmosphere. The easiest way I could think of to write this blog is to do the 26.2 Highlights and not so great highlights of the weekend in no particular order. You can guess if it was a good or bad thing. Look for more pics of the weekend to follow from Vanessa...

.2 - Someone decided that it is a good idea to break wind on the shuttle bus taking us to the starting line. Seriously, this was so not appropriate or necessary. A mouth full of poopoo is never good for anyone.

26 - Mile 6.3 when Chris and I almost both missed our families waving to us.

25 - The 90 year old man(at least) that ran by both Chris and I...I can only hope that I am able to do what he was doing at that age.

24 - Having my I-pod knocked off by some Jack--- right at the beginning of the race....Sure it was an accident, but did he not see me standing there.

23 - Chris W. ran the last two minutes at a 9.00 pace ensuring his spot below the 5 hour mark.

22 - I had to take a poopoo the last mile of the race. Not good....

21 - The mean lady at the front counter of a certain hotel, who would not allow us to move back our check out time a half hour for showers...

20 - Nacho Libre, The Toilet, and the Pink Pig....Three character that we met along the route.

19 - Chris W. hugging Claire at mile #16. A real power boost to get him through the rest of the race.

18 - Getting to meet Steve Prefontaine's Sister and Kenny Moore(Marathon Olympian and Author)

17 - Finally getting to the #$%^ bridge for the cross over the Willamette River thus making our turnaround for the last 5 miles of the marathon.

16 - Hurting the top of my foot at mile 8 and wondering if I was going to be able to finish.

15 - Breaking my half-marathon mark by 14 minutes.

14 - Our families and friend(Amber Wood) were amazing cheerleaders.

13 - The celebratory beers at the Eugene Beer Factory(I think that is right)...Whatever...That beer was good...

12 - Visiting Hayward Field...

11 - Tracktown Pizzas BBQ Chicken Pizza...Was as great as I remembered it being back in 1995.

10 - Vanessa telling me she was proud of me.

09 - Tim K's inspirational e-mail.

08 - Seeing the 4:15 pacer run by me, and me realizing that 4:30 would be pretty tough.

07 - Getting to mile marker 10 and seeing the name of my running hero Steve Prefontaine. Gave a little boost to my step.

06 - Pancakes and Pasta Dinners...

05 - Woman with a sign that stated push here for POWER....Pushed it twice.

04 - Crossing the Finish Line and not knowing what to do, say or feel...

03 - all the small hills over the last 6 miles that made the large hill at mile 7 look like nothing and feel like nothing.

02 - The volunteers were amazing....Putting your name on the bib was an ingenious idea..
01 - all of the untold stories that you will continue to hear in person over the next how many years.

Enjoy the pics.....

Steve's Sister(as Emma knows her) Kenny Moore and I

Camden and I w/ Steve Display outside Hayward Field

Some Pictures of the Race and a Celebratory Beer!!!