This is my (3 part) story and I'm sticking to it

For now.

October 29, 2006, 5 a.m. - 8 a.m.

5 a.m. I woke up too early. So I went to the blogs. That is an easy way to kill some time and calm the nerves.

530 The marathon valet had done everything right for me. My layer-heavy wardrobe was laid out in perfect donning order: Shorts. West Point Army tech shirt. Socks. Kayanos with MCM ChampionChip attached. Disposable long sleeve cotton T-shirt. Army PT warm up uniform (black ankle-zippered pants and gray jacket with underarm zipper vents and light reflective striping). Breathable cap. Throw away gloves.

Applied body glide where it mattered. Loaded up with Gu in shorts hip pockets, sports beans in shorts waistband pocket, camera in zippered jacket pocket, $10 bill and debit card in other pocket and cell phone in pants pocket. Ready for breakfast.

600. Tiptoe downstairs for early morning breakfast party with my hosts' cat. I go for the toasted bagel and OJ. He goes for something really fish smelling that I stay away from. I study maps. I have two places to be this morning and am worried about how it will all work out. Just how far is Place A from Place B and how long will it take to get there among 30,000 or more people in a place I've never been to?

618. Knock on hosts bedroom door and hear him stir. The 15 minute warning for departure. That's all he asked for and all he needed. I finish eating and take a picture of me and the cat having breakfast together.

635. We're on our way. Gil knows the roads and manages to find a roundabout way to get past closed off roads on the marathon route to get me within 200 yards of the Iwo Jima Memorial.

655. Marines are everywhere sipping coffee, going over their briefing, checking gear, looking very ready for the day. I found it curious how many were officers. Lots of LTs. There was hardly a sergeant or corporal anywhere. I even saw a two star general walking around.

So where is Jeanne and the Charity Village? That is mission #1 for me.

It's downright nippy out. I'm shivering. Is it nerves or the chill? I presume the latter. I find the Autism tent and, voila, Miss Get Me To The Church Way Before It's Time is already there ready to go; or rather wishing she could go.

Here's somebody I've known for a year but only met in person 36 hours before and she's hinting as how the nature call has not happened today. I get the message loud and clear and express genuine concern; because I know the difference between running free with an empty load and wishing you could stop the clock and sit on the throne for however long it takes.

715. I grab a water bottle from the tent and check out the other charity runners getting ready. The T.A.P.S. folks are across the way. They are all running in memory of fallen military men and women. I pause to contemplate my good fortune that son T made it through seven months in Iraq.

Jeanne and I wander off to get a cup of coffee on the premise that caffeine has a motivating effect. She sips. I taste. It's Marines field quality mud and I endorse its chance of success for her.

We notice what Jeanne describes as Marines snipers up in a tall tower. I only saw them using binoculars but I was not going to argue with her on that.

720. We are waiting on Richie and Bex. We call Richie. Can you believe he was still in the hotel? He wouldn't believe us when we told him he had 55 minutes to get his butt to the starting line. Jeanne takes all the credit for his making it to the start on time.

Bex is en route but late. We sit in plastic chairs sedately, soaking up the warm rising sun. I am happy to be here where the crowds are thinner and everybody has a friend.

740. Okay Rich is out. Bex is closer but nowhere in sight. Jeanne has come back from an uneventful trip to the port-a-potties. The snipers haven't shot anybody and lots of folks are starting to head down to the start line. I chat with a few Autism benefit runners.

Why am I still here? I still have Mission #2 to accomplish. I call Michelle to see where she is. Approaching the start. I tell her to find a landmark and I'll call her when I get close so we can find each other. I hang up and cuss to myself because the valet failed to charge the cell phone the night before and I am down to one bar. I may need more juice than I have to connect with Michelle now and my host later, after the race. Air time is precious.

750. I take a picture of me and Jeanne from close range just before I say "it's time to go; Bex be damned." She agrees and we start heading down the hill that will be the Iwo Jima mountain for all of us when we finish the last .2 miles of the marathon.

800. We are approaching the front of the double inflatable Marine Corps arch start line. The noise is building. I need to find Michelle so call to get a fix on her location. Near Ambulance 14 on the west side of the road. Roger that.

5:13:07

It was fun running with Michelle for 14+ miles but, after she said goodbye, I shuffled along feeling fine but tired enough to walk a little. Then at mile 25, going down a highway ramp, my right knee said, "NO more running" no matter how much I tried to start up through the pain.
I thought I had an attainable PR (long after I gave up the fantasy medal rounds of 4:15, 4:20 and 4:30). With three miles to go I had a chance. Then I didn't.
It was a beautiful day to race. The course was good throughout. The crowds were awesome.
Best excitement of the race was seeing Eric W. (from RI) twice on the second half of the race who was there cheering on a girl friend; and seeing Susie and David coming off Hains Point. She gave me a hug and took my picture.
Michelle's husband and dad were awesome. They were everywhere and they were prepared with a full game plan of support for Michelle who I admire immensely for her stamina and success today. Ditto to Richie, Bex and Jeanne. Thanks for the comradery.

I'll get that hour later

I am up already, despite the opportunity to have another hour sleep. I am fighting the nerves. Shouldn't this be just like a 23 mile training run? with 3.2 extra? I was composed for that.

And why does Jeanne want to meet at 7 a.m.? The race starts at 8:40.

I have to find Michelle because she is arriving on her own time at a different place. It's these pre-race meet-ups that get complicated and create the anxiety, maybe.

This time tomorrow ....

It will be done.

Today was a beautiful fall day in the nation's capital. I had my host drive me the first 9 miles of the course so I could judge the hills. He offered to make excuses to all of you that, yes, indeed, I did run the race while I slipped away to avoid the hills of Arlington. The first two miles present a 200 foot elevation gain followed by a 3 degree ascent of Rock Creek. By mile 6.5 I will have used hill climbing muscles heretofore untested to such extreme.

Host Gil dropped me off at the Armory to register. The entry line snaked all outside the building. It took 30 minutes to get in but once inside everything went quickly. Running Chick Michelle was already in the Armory with her Army hubby, retired Marine dad and hubby's commanding officer while in Iraq. Only the CO will run the race. Dad and hubby are the elite support team. M and I were excited to see each other and start synching up for the run tomorrow. we have set a 9:45 mile pace as our gold standard. I may talk her down to 9:55 on the watch timer reminder and establish that as the silver medal pace to beat.

I made a technical shirt purchase. They didn't have any of what I wanted in my size so I asked a staff person to check in the back. There were none but he volunteered that that other guy over there might sell me the shirt off his back. In fact he did. So I now own a Staff issue MCM tech shirt. Oo-rah.

We met up with Rich (Plano, TX) at the Armory and called Bex to make lunch plans. We met at a tapas bar in midtown and enjoyed a late lunch and took a bunch more pictures, none of which I can post because the cable doesn't fit in any ports on the Apple. As Michelle reminded me, I am NOT to erase any picture before saving them somewhere. So I am being very careful.

Now it's time to rest and focus on the morning routine. Dinner with some old college mates is still ahead but I am in for the night. And what more can you ask for when you can have an extra hour sleep before a marathon? Sweet.

The forecast is sunny and 46F (feeling like 40) at the start with winds ranging from 15-20 mph all morning. Temps will peak at 56 (feeling like 51). I think I'll be wearing a cap and gloves. In those conditions I may not toss the long sleeve cover for awhile. We'll see.

Okay. I'm here and, yes, it's raining

Air travel today was a marathon all by itself. I mis-timed my parking and shuttle requirements and missed my 745 flight to Cincinnati that would take me to D.C.. Not overreacting, I worked with a kindly flight agent who scarfed up a seat for me the minute it opened on a booked solid flight to Atlanta, which then routed me to Dulles. I made it to DC just at 500 (four hours late) and crossed the finish line into a comfy chair at the Washington Press Club bar where my good host bought me a beer. Ahhhhh.

By 600 I was at Zola's to meet Bex, Jeanne, Susie, Rick and friends for dinner. Much fun and frolic was had by all. A LOT of pictures were taken but I am on borrowed equipment here and haven't figured out the plug ins so you'll have to go to Bex or Jeanne's site for the glorious photos. At dinner I loaded up on Omega 3 with my salmon entree. Yum.

Plan is to meet up at the Expo tomorrow and have lunch or something. Try not to be too touristy on my feet.

Thanks for the good wishes. I feel ready.