Sunday was the Flying Pig Marathon in Cincinnati.  I ran it.  It was my first marathon.  It may be my last.

It was a beautiful day and a great time, all things considered.

The race started late due to an arson that happened around 3:00am on Riverside Dr (around mile 22).  That ended up adding on almost .3 to the total distance.  Ouch.  The late start led me to fidget too much with my blood sugar.  I thought I may have been dropping a bit before the start (even though I knew I wasn't :rolleyes: ) So my sugar was screaming high for the entire race.  This lead to me having to pee for the opening miles.  Worse than that, I was just having trouble finding my pace.  The 3:30 pace group was right up my ass.  The pacer was awesome, the way he talked to the group.  The group...well, I didn't like them very much.  First off, they couldn't just pass me.  They had to rub shoulders.  I realize that competition happens...but come on...at 3:30 pace?  Right.  Then running in a big cloud of their farts was unpleasant.  I finally just passed them and rocked it starting about mile 4.  Passed my wife among a huge gauntlet of cheering crowd at mile 5 on 7th Street downtown.  That was awesome.  Got me up the hill into Eden Park with no trouble at all.  Most people fear that hill, but I have never had too much trouble with it [in the 2 Flying Pig half-marathons I've ran].

I was running at a 7:50+ pace...exactly what I was after.  Felt pretty good...passed my mother- and father-in-law close to the mile 9 mark.  They took this picture:

Passed a friend who was watching around mile 12.  Still going strong!

Stopped to pee just before the half-way mark.  Only lost 30-45 seconds.  Still tracking a 7:50 pace somehow. 

Kept going, but feeling it a little at this point.  Passed a co-worker watching at mile 15 or so.  Still tracking.

Hit the hill going up Southern Avenue heading towards Columbia Parkway...wasn't expecting it, but I handled it well.  Lots of folks flagged there.  One guy (maybe 23~25 years old) was on his back hurting bad!

Passed my mom watching near the 18-mile mark.  Still going strong.

Hit Columbia Parkway...reality started setting in.  I took in a little too much water at the 18.5 water stop and ended up having to walk for a little bit.  Got it back and headed conservatively down Eastern Avenue. 

Passed the Fleet Feet Party at mile 21.5.  That gave me quite a jolt and I felt like I might just finish strong.  Then I got to the re-route.  OUCH! I say to you!  OUCH!  It wasn't that far out of the way, and it was pleasant, shady scenery (on a riverside bike trail).  But we had to go back up a hill to get back to the main course.  That set me to walking again.  :(

Got back at it in a little while.  My memory of this part of the course is a bit fuzzy.  :freak:  At some point, the 3:30 pace group passed me.  :mad:  Again, bumping shoulders with me.  :mad:

Round about mile 24, a friend (my wife's co-worker/our spinning instructor) ran with me.  She hung for maybe .75 miles.  It was enough.  She dropped off.  I pushed up to the top of the last hill (as Riverside become Pete Rose Way).  Then all downhill.  3:33:24.  8:04 pace.  I'll take it.

Total muscle failure afterwards.  My thighs HATE me!  I hobbled back to the car (trying not to fall down and simultaniously vomit and poo myself :o), only to find that the parking garage my wife had parked in was completely clogged.  We sat in the car without even being able to back out of our spot for 30 minutes.  About then, my wife called a cab.  :idea:  Except, I got hit with the worst leg cramps of my life.  :cry:  After they passed, I got out of the car as quickly as I could and we headed home.

In the following hours and days, I'm getting better bit by bit.  I still look like a pregnant lady trying to get out of a chair.  I have to use my arms or I'm stuck there.