18 hard weeks of training, over 500 miles, and three pairs of shoes are what it cost me to prepare and complete the Marine Corps Marathon this morning. My goal was 3:10 in order to qualify for Boston next year… I had run a pretty good half in preparation and was able to complete my pace runs, but simply didn’t have the stamina to hold out. I made it to about Mile 18 before things blew up; I closed with ~9 minute miles (from 7:15).

The odd thing, everyone says how running your first marathon is up there with child birth and other wild stuff. I did not feel that way… Maybe because I felt so awful? I dunno. Regardless, I’m pleased with my time and just completing the darned thing… No matter how much you prepare, marathons are a serious kick in the pants and unlike anything I could have imagined.

Ohoh! I also made a visit to the medical tent for some drainage! I had the gnarliest looking blood blisters ever… they were almost as big as my toe! Pretty sweet. Aside from that, the body held up pretty well. I felt a leg cramp coming on for a split second halfway in, but it went right away. Unfortunately, I’m now suffering from a severe case of “runner’s stomach.” I haven’t been able to stay away from the bathroom for more than 15 minutes.

On the bright side, I set a new marathon personal record (funny how that works, eh?), and I came through the half 30 seconds faster than my previous best. Do splits for longer races count as PRs?

Check here for results (enter my bib 5886).
Click here for my friend’s blog and a couple of really bad pics of me (he was the first to say it!).

And I’m sure I’ll have more links to add as the pics come in.

Also of note, Ms. Caitlin ran her first today as well. She was shooting for 3:30, but was also afflicted by the Mile 18itis. She didn’t get it quite as badly as I did (we actually ran the last 6 or so at the same pace) and finished in 3:36, a Boston qualifying time! She’s still unsure if she’s going to do it this year or next (it’s in April, kind of tight on the schedule… qualifications done at MCM are good for two years since it’s such a late race). I’m gonna try to talk her in to it

To celebrate this all coming to a close, we’re now off to St. John for a glorious week of nothing. We’ll be staying at Estate Lindholm in the Jumbie Suite.

Big thanks to our cheering crew (I’m including you in this, Brian… even though I know you were only out there because you were stuck at your house for half the day thanks to us ), my friends from high school who weren’t there for me, but cheered anyway, and to the fam who couldn’t make it out due to some extenuating circumstances, but still watched the whole darned thing on a little computer map.