the moment you have all been waiting for

Otherwise known as The Most Flattering Video Ever Created.

If anyone is interested in watching me cross the finish line of the Marine Corps Marathon yesterday, here it is for your viewing pleasure.

If you start the video at 1:47, you will see me run up the right side of the screen in a white hat, purple tank, black shorts, and black compression sleeves on my calves with pink tape on my knees.  

Finish video

Despite the look of despair at the end, it was a pretty awesome race.  I took the advice of Runner's World and drank a full 20-oz bottle of Gatorade before the race, and another during the first 10 miles, before I had the chance to get dehydrated.  (Best decision ever, by the way)  

Mentally and cardio-wise, I felt like I could have run forever.  My legs had other plans, though.  I kept about an 8:30 pace for about the first 20 miles, then they decided they had had enough.  My last six miles I dropped to a 12-minute mile.  I tried with all my might to run faster, but my legs just wouldn't move.  

I did, however, have an awesome support team.  Joe was there (although I never actually saw him), and at mile 19 Emily ran with me for a half mile and fed me chocolate milk and orange slices.  Erica and Ben showed up in Crystal City at miles 21 and 23.  Erica can cheer with the best of them, that's for sure.  :)

Mary came to the finish line with diet coke and Nutter Butters.  I had no idea what I would be craving after the race, but those Nutter Butters definitely hit the spot.

If anyone is interested in running the Rock 'n' Roll marathon (or half-marathon) in March, I have already registered!