I have successfully completed my 2nd marathon. My time was 25 minutes faster than my first marathon. This alone makes it a success.
However, I do not feel like the race itself was that good. I feel like I could have broke 5 hours which I did not end up doing. The first 1/2 of the race was good. The 2 up-hills near the beginning were not too bad and the downhills were wonderful. I just had to pick up my feet and down I went. I had to pee at one point, and I stood in line for a port-a-potty, but decided I couldn't waste that much time so I found a tree. Funny, any other time in DC you would be arrested, but during the marathon there was no second thought about it. About 1/2 way through the race I started getting horrible cramps in both of my calf muscles. I tried to stop and stretch some but to no avail. Matt, the Gatorade, and the Miniature Butterfingers (thanks Kim & Jim) around the 16.5 mile mark were life savers. Mine 4 was my best, while mile 20 was my worst. Along the 14th street bridge I managed to ignore some of the pain by shutting my eyes. I would look ahead, shut my eyes and take a few steps, open my eyes to make sure I didn't run into anyone and repeat. With this I was able to "beat the bridge". I decided that no matter how bad I felt I was going to gut out the last .2 miles up the hill to the finish. I had been dreading the end, but truthfully I didn't even notice it. (!)
It definitely helped knowing where Matt & friends were going to be along the course. They were a great motivator. Just knowing there was going to be a known friendly face cheering me on helped propel me further along the course. Even saw some of my other friends surprised me and came out and it was a great boost to see them on the corner near the end. Many thanks to everyone who was cheering me on in person and from afar.
My final time: 5 hr 46 minutes 14 seconds.
My professional photos can be found here
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