A series of "firsts"

My first marathon - success. I finished, in about 5:12 according to the chip (that's pretty darn official, huh?). My GPS has me at around 5:08 or so. Whatever. I finished. It was a hot day, and the hills were all in the last 5 miles. I had a ton of fun. I trained seriously for a couple of months in our dread Chicago winter, so I don't have any reason to complain at all.

I also experienced yoga for the first time. What a great feeling that was! I've been to 3 classes now, 2 out in LA and one here in Chicago last night. I felt a lot better after last night's class (I'm definitely in need of some recovery).

I was also in a car accident, my first. No injuries, no fault, just an unfortunate event. I'll always get the rental car insurance though, that made everything easy.

I really wanted to break 5 hours on Sunday. My good friend Kevin (whom I blame for putting me up to doing the marathon) paced really well together through most of the race. He's truly faster and leaner than I am, but I went ahead on the hills going into Boyle Heights after about mile 22. We didn't care. We had to walk some just because the constant sun beating down on us was really draining. We were both feeling really thirsty yet full at the same time. The gatorade needed to be chased by water.

I was wearing a Universal Sole shirt (my local store, excellent place - http://www.universalsole.com), and a few people recognized Chicago - that was very cool. It was also really cool having people yell out your name in support. I wonder who that brunette around mile 1 was...I never saw her again.

I've already signed up for Chicago on October 7.