My first marathon report

Okay folks...here it is...for what it is worth. My original plans were to complete the race in under 5:00. I was pretty much right on track up until somewhere between mile 10-13. When I reached the 1/2 marathon mark at 2:45 I knew I was in trouble. :( Just before I stepped over the start line I ran into kattzoo! Somewhere around mile 4-5 I ran into her again. Thinking I would see her in the link up area at the end of the race I decided just to keep moving at my own pace. I missed getting the photo op, Kat! :( Plus, I missed getting to really know you. :( :( NEVER, NEVER, EVER do something different on race day then you did in your training. How many times have I told people that??? UGH! So, the day was pretty warm and I was feeling very dehydrated before mile 10. All my gatorade from my fuel belt (thankfully I carried it) was gone and I felt like I needed electrolytes! Introducing...for the first time...POWERAID!!! :puke: Or, should I say :puke: x 9. Yep, 3 times at mile 17 and 6 times at mile 25. But, I knew I had to keep going... BIG TIME KUDOS to my friend, sistergoldenhair, for keeping me alive during one of the worst times of the race. She stepped in at around mile 15 and carried me (not literally...although, it would have been nice! :D) until mile 23. She missed the big "show" at mile 25 but she caught all the action at mile 17. She was such a big, huge encourager, though. I just can't tell you what I would have done if she wouldn't have been there. SISTERGOLDENHAIR...YOU ROCK!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you so much, sweetie!!! After SGH left me at mile 23 I was feeling pretty pumped. She left me feeling very encouraged and believing in myself to finish the race. It was very hard at this point because the people in the "finish under 6:00" group were all a bunch of walkers. When I would run I didn't even have enough energy to pass the walkers and it was very discouraging. Early that morning as I was going to the race I heard this song on a Christian radio station that SGH helped me bring back to the forefront of my mind each time she saw I was struggling...it goes something like this: "Don't give up, don't give in. This is a race that you can win. Every time you get passed by, there is a reason why. God loves and believes in you. He knows the pain that you're going through. He's with you every step of the way. And he's by your side." I kept singing that song over and over and I kept repeating "If Abby can do it, I can do it" and THAT is what kept me going to the finish line. I love you guys...you have been such an encouragement to me. I know my time truly sucked even way more than I thought it would but, hey...I CROSSED THE FINISH LINE...and THAT is all that matters, right??? :) Next marathon (you heard me right!) I'm breaking Oprah's record (4:30'ish). You can BET on it! :D BTW, I am feeling GREAT today. I have very minor discomfort in my right quad but other than that...GREAT! My knee feels wonderful, my back feels wonderful, and I am ready to start training again. :D :D