My First Marathon I finished my first marathon and am SO HAPPY that I did. The first half of the race was OK after which things started to go wrong when my legs (quads) started to get tight. By mile 18, my quads were cramping terribly. I did not know what the word agony meant until that experience. At that point, all I could do was run slowly and stretch every mile/mile and a half. I still do not understand why it happened... I was making sure to drink water the night before the race and during the race, I made it a point to walk through each of the water stops and drink water and gatorade. Weird. Anyway, my running/stretching routine got me through each mile (I was taking this one mile at a time... no thinking about the 26.2 mark that I had to reach!!) By mile 23, I was in the "zone" as I like to call it... I had little realisation of the pain even though I still stretched every now and then. By mile 25, I was running without stopping any more... at mile 26, I dare say, I picked up speed and started passing the other people around me, went up the first little hill while increasing my pace and when I got to the second hill, I decided to slow down a bit to save some energy for the finish line dash. When I made it up the second hill, I saw the finish line and BOY DID I LET LOOSE! I was sprinting (or at least it felt like it to me...) I cannot even describe the things I was feeling at that point.. pain, happiness, feeling of accomplishment, joy, the adrenaline rush.... I surged through the finish line (I did not look up at the cameras though... I kept looking straight ahead) and I kept running like a Robot and I had to FORCE myself to stop when I saw the volunteer ahead giving out the mylar blankets. I got the blanket, another person took off the chip from my shoe and then FINALLY the medal. I really couldn't even walk now.. Somehow, I controlled myself, finished the other formalities and got my marathon photo taken and headed off to the chutes. I tell you all one thing... I am there for next years marathon. I cannot wait. A special thanks to Neal Saxe and family for putting up with me and waiting for me until I finished. I was an hour off target at least and they all waited so generously. Neal, congrats on your sub 4 hour time. Michelle, I am so proud of your finishing the race in spite of all the odds mounted against you. My official finish time was 5:52:54. Next year, I hope for a sub 5 hour race. Let's see. -- Richie BAKSHI