Well I can finally say that I am a marathoner.  As I sit here and reflect on the weekend I can't help but to feel blessed.  I couldn't have asked for a better introduction to the marathon.  I will not soon forget my first experience.  It was the most exciting race I have ever run.  The crowd was deafening, the competition stiff, the conditions challenging, and the last two miles never-ending.
  
Here are my abbreviated recollections of the race.  The most nervous I was before the race was saying goodbye to my family and friends in the hotel lobby and then being escorted to the bus.  I was glad that I saw the whole process this past November at the ING New York City Marathon so I knew what to expect, nevertheless I was still really nervous.  I was glad to have Terrence and Meb along with me.  Meb and I warmed up 45 minutes before the start.  It was weird to only jog a mile for a warm-up but I felt ready to go, as my opening 100m can attest.  The first 15 miles were a breeze.  They felt easier than my training runs.  I just took in the sights, enjoyed the enthusiasm of the crowd and the feeling of floating along.  It was really enjoyable.  It wasn't until 20k that I began to gather my energy for the race.  Meb and I worked together in the second pack (including the 2004 Olympic champion and recently crowned NYC champion).  The pace was erratic as we jogged through the first mile in 5 minutes.  After a slow opening two miles I knew that all attempts at a world record were off.  It became clear that the warm weather would be a factor. After the first three miles I took a swig of water at nearly every mile till late in the race.  I began to think more about how to finish as high as possible rather than running a fast time. 
  
The leaders never got that far in front of our second pack so once we hit 20k I decided to start making a push to catch them.  I knew that if I was going to have any shot of winning I had to move now before one of the big guns made a big move.  I did my best to be patient but still covered my 14th mile in 4:42.  Once we joined the pack Ramala went to the lead and started to push.  After about a mile or so we settled back in but I think those fast two miles may have played a factor for me late in the race.  Nevertheless, I was excited.  I noticed that some of the other runners were surprised to see me.  I knew that they hadn't factored on me being around late in the game.  It took me a little while to get used to running next to Tergat and Geb but after a couple of miles I stopped thinking of them how I always had, as running gods, and started to think about how to take a swing at winning the race.  I don't remember exactly when it happened but around 18 miles or so I got on the shoulder of the rabbits.  I knew that I had to go to the front if I was going to have a shot.  I had to get excited and engage in the race.  This was my chance.  Once the rabbits pealed off at 30k I took the lead and started to run hard.  I thought about all my long runs through the mountains dreaming about this moment.  Me and the big boys at 22 miles pounding away.  I still felt good at this point and was receiving a lot of support from the crowd.  I was a little hesitant to put in a hard surge as I was intimidated by the last couple of miles.  In hindsight I wish that I would have surged and tried to get a gap.  If I could have gotten away I might have gotten even more excited and perhaps gotten my legs out of the monotonous pace that I was stuck in.  I knew that this was my shot but despite all my efforts I was not able to get away.  Somewhere around 23 miles Limo put in a surge and I was off the back with Gomez.  At this point I was just trying to get to the finish.  I was able to pull away from him with a mile to go but unable to make up any ground on the leaders.  I was disappointed when I saw my 25th mile split in 5:08.  I knew that I had to hang on and finish up the best I could.  I was also disappointed to not be among the leaders gearing up for a final sprint.  So, I set my sights on the yellow jersey of the fading Tergat and did my best to real him in.  The last 2k was a very unusual experience.  It was a pain that I had not felt before.  My legs were getting really tight and numb.  I tried to relax as much as I could without slowing too much.  It was hard to stay positive at this point but I was so close and had run so well for so long that I knew I had to give it my all these last couple of miles.  When I saw my time I was pleased.  Not bad for the first time out, especially considering the conditions, but what I was more pleased with how I ran the race.  I knew that I could run 2:08 ,and even faster, but to have been leading the London marathon in what the press was declaring possibly the greatest field ever assembled was special to me.  I had taken my swing.  I may have come up short but I didn't have any regrets. 
  
Once I finished the first person I saw was my wife.  Boy was she a sight for sore eyes!  It was special to see her there.  We were a team.   We had been through so much training for this day.  She had sacrifice so much for me it meant a lot to see her proud of how I ran.  One thing that I love about the marathon is that it really is a team effort.  I had observed this watching Deena train for her marathons, but it wasn't until I had been through it myself that I realized how important it is to have a supportive spouse, teammates, and a great coach.  The results of my marathon debut were a tribute to the support of my wife, coach, teammates, and friends.  It wasn't just me running out there.  I am so grateful to have Terrence for a coach.  I really had no idea how to prepare for a marathon so I totally trusted him that I would be ready to go and I was as ready to go as I could have been at this point in my career thanks to his skillful coaching. 
  
While my debut went as well as I could have hoped I remain hungry for more.  Now, I know that I was made for the marathon and I know that there is so much more in me.  On Sunday I got a small taste of what is possible.  I want to be even fitter and more ready to go for next November's trials.  But that will have to wait a couple of weeks as I will be forced to take a break.  But come July I will be training with a new fire in my eyes as the beginning of my journey begins towards Beijing.

Highlight of the week:  Seeing my wife at the finish of the marathon

Low Point of the week:  Waiting for race day. 

High point of the week:  Spending the day in Carlsbad with Sara after being apart for the past 10 days.  

Low point of the week:  Having snow pelting my bare neck as I muscled my way through the rain and snow during Tuesday's workout.