That's it. I finished.
I am Jack.
I am Dianna.
I am Luther.
I am Don.
I am Gina.
I am Kelly.
I am Stephen.
I am the Fisher clan.
I am the one everyone on the course was screaming for and who everyone put out signs for.
I was a Kenyan.
I crossed the line in 5:35 and change.
Now I can "retire".
Mad props to the HRBers. You guys rock. Straight up rock, no question about it.
Thanks to Jon who ran with me from 24 to 25.
Everyone I saw on the course--you were a huge boost.
And then there was my lovely wife who was a straight up angel with the banannas and cliff bars and goo just when I needed them the most. FREAKIN' AWESOME!
Special congratulations to Michelle who was running her first marathon and I paced off of for about a mile and a half in the first couple of miles on Allen Parkway.
Special thanks to Fat Elvis who I saw somewhere before mile 9 and the first thought that went through my head was "I can't let that guy stay in front of me."
Special thanks also to Monica's crazy-huge cheering section. She was in the general vacinity of me for just about the last 16 miles and as they cheered for her, I thought to myself "I'm Monica."
I stopped for a well needed potty break and lost track of her for 5 miles near the end, but found her in my sights, then caught her between 25 and 26. After I passed Monica, she charged up and caught back up to me, then faltered a bit. I looked over my shoulder and said "I've paced you for 16 miles and spent the last mile and a half catching you. You're not quitting on me now." She said "I'm going to puke" and I replied "You puke after you cross the finish line. It's allowed over there. Don't you quit on me." She finished strong--but I beat her.
That's the cliff's notes version of the recap. I'll tell more later.
Great work, Joe.
ReplyDeleteSell the bike.
Rock on.
Keith.
Hoooooooooray Joe! You did it! Now doesn't that feel AWESOME?
ReplyDeleteGreat job Joe. Never a doubt.
ReplyDeleteBravo! Bravo!
ReplyDeleteYou did it! Congrats!
Joe- WAY TO GO!!! You're a ROCKSTAR!
ReplyDeleteI really wanted to see you finish yesterday, but we had to leave so Manny coupld go to work. I'm so proud of you and I am really glad we got to meet through our blogs and HRB RC! On to the bike!