Full Metal Lunchbox

 

I finished in 5:14:57.

Not as good as planned (and substantially slower than Oprah) but I did manage to avoid further injury.




Intead of the usual race report, I'm just going to give props...

To Shea for going early with me to get a good spot near the starting line.  Shea is also responsible for bolstering my pride with his example.  Pride is all that got me through this race.

To Justyna for introducing me to the sport of running.  Justyna stubbornly believed that this couch potato would make a good runner, and the message finaly got through.  Special thanks also to Justyna for running several miles with me during the critical middle portion of the course--and for carrying my chocolate!

To my mom for more things than I can list!  But mostly for being there on 35th Street when I was starting to crack.

To Muriel for surprising me with a big hug at 35th and Michigan when I needed it most.  This was the turning point for me.  I owe you a drink.

To Alyx, Darryn, Nada, and Kathleen for coming out to Mile 16.  Your good cheer made me forget about my cramping.

To everyone else who came out to watch me but I didn't see and to the legions of friends who tracked my progress online.  Thanks for believing in me.

To the people of Pilsen for being the world's best marathon spectators.  Each one of you is worth at least 100 screaming Lincoln Park yuppies.  And you were the only ones with good music.  Si se puede!!

To Barb and Mike for putting a human face on this intimidating massochistic sport (and for running at the same speed I do!).

To Leah & Jason for introducing me to weird and wonderful world of runner blogging--and for showing me that there is always next year!  When I grow up, I want to be just like you two.

To Ted for joining me at 31st Street and coaxing me across the finish line.

To Jay for bringing a 40oz bottle of Colt 45 malt liquor to the finish line.  Refreshing!!!

And to Jeanne.  For everything else.  I could not have done this without you.



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It's early Monday morning, the day after my first marathon.  I'm awake now because my dog was insisting that I feed her the dinner I was too tired to scoop into her bowl last night.  

To any of the Chicago Running Blog CRU reading this, I'm sorry Shea & I were so antisocial yesterday.  We both had tough races, and talking took a back seat to beer drinking.  Special appologies to Barb for my stealing the bacon off your uneaten burger.

I'm going to go back to sleep now.  I have a big day ahead of me of doing absolutely nothing.  Later I might order a pizza and enjoy some da ma (inside joke for Jay and Justyna) and watch the entire season 10 of South Park I have stored on my media player.

My motto for the next three days I'm off work: "What would Cartman do?"

Tomorrow I turn 38 years old.

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Postscript:  I have just received word that I'll be joining the prestigious "Buffalo Warriors" team at the 2007 River to River relay race on 4/21/2007.  What a honor to hear of this the day after my first marathon!  I'm also in the process of assembling a running/walking/drinking team for the 2007 Shamrock Shuffle.  I'm already excited about next year's running season!!