It's a day later, and I'm pretty tired and my legs are a bit sore, but there's no other damage. Dave came out relatively unscathed as well - no anticipated toenail loss or foot damage. I think we'll try a road one next and aim for a faster time - with this marathon I've improved my personal best from infinity to a mere 7.25 hours; so clearly, with a little preparation for a relatively flat road race, I'll easily come in under 3 hours. Right?

Dave's daughter Lydia joined us for dinner tonight, happy that she'll get to know her daddy while growing up.

Dave's time: 7:16:12. His lightening quick 6:37 at his last marathon was too hard to top with dead-weight Jay holding him back this time.

My time: 7:15:55. I didn't want to set the bar to high for me to top on my second marathon.

25

23 25

Thank goodness for this sign - we were about to stop.

18 8 dave is losing it

Aaargh

16 5 - Dave is peeing here. We had many, many breaks for this activity. I think I went at least 7 times, and Dave was closer to a dozen.

Halfway through the marathon, and halfway through the 12 liters of gatorade we would ultimately consume.

12 Feeling a bit sore

9

8.0 miles. We just "ran" down the first loop, and now we have to turn around and slowly retrace our steps up to the ridgeline.

5 Mi

This is at the top of "Becky's Bluff", a very steep climb from somewhere around mile 3.5 to mile 4. It's the steepest climb of the day, so it should be nice and easy from here. At the top, the half marathoners go left and the full marathoners go right. Everyone we were with at the back of the pack turns to the left. This is not a good sign.

I've nearly hit the 1 mile mark, and I'm feeling fine. I'm even asking around to see if anyone else brought some Kools, in case I run out.

Dave woke up the earliest he ever has to enjoy a pre-race breakfast of fruit loops and a donut. I'm a bit concerned that he might be overdressed for a long run through the mountains.

I stopped by the pasta dinner tonight to pick up my race packet as well as Dave's, as he is running a few hours behind. Dave asked me to "enhance" some of the food in hopes that we might eliminate some competition. If any of the runners get sick tomorrow, it was Dave's idea...

Caroline and I headed down to Georgia this afternoon to visit with the Lerman grandparents. I'll be heading onto the marathon area tomorrow, sleeping (or trying to sleep) in a hotel nearby.
My anxiety has really been increasing - since our arrival, I've been chain smoking (Kool XL - the only brand for a hip, urban, marathoner - or me) in an attempt to calm down. Even with their mentholiciousness, I'm still pretty amped up.

Training

The 2007 Twisted Ankle Marathon is about 4 days away, so I'm about to begin training. Pass the pasta!

I've done a few half marathons, but this will be my first full one. I'll be running with my friend Dave, an experienced veteran of one marathon. His was a trail marathon like this one, so I figure if he's eager to do another one, it can't be that bad.

If there's cell phone reception at the site of the run, I plan on updating the blog with a bunch of photos throughout the ordeal. Text will be added afterwards, if we survive.