NYC Marathon Re-Cap

Well it has come and gone, and I've completed my 2nd Marathon! I've rested, recouped, taken my first post-marathon jog, danced Saturday night away with my running girls, and now recovering from a cold- all in the past week! Not to mention I even signed myself up for a Spring marathon- New Jersey. But before I get too far ahead of myself, I wanted to give an update from NYC Marathon 2008:

A link to some spiffy pictures of me running NYC
Here it goes: NYC Marathon 2008 Recap

Part 1:
Before I left, I awoke to some inspiration magnetic phrases from the one and only Adam Wille.....something that got me smiling and even more excited at 5am! It was a chilly chilly morning as I boarded the bus with about 100 other Team and Training runners at 5:45am, and headed over to Staten Island. It didn't get much warmer, topping out at 43 degrees F. Once to SI, I found a fence and some pavement in the sun and settled in for the 3 hour wait until the start. I met a friendly Floridian, in NYC for the first time and in complete awe of the sight that is 39,000 runners, and 300 port-a-johns sprawled over the base area of the Verrazano Bridge. Something that I guess i failed to appreciate this time around. The chill never lifted and I started the race with 2 extra layers on just to stay warm. It wasn't until mile 3 that i stripped down to my shorts and tank. I felt good, my legs were happy, my breathing controlled, but according to my watch i was flying well, at least by my standards!). At the 5K I had hit 28min, and my first thought was, "Adam is saying to Mom and Dad, she's going too fast, she has to slow down"....and I checked later that day, and that's what he was thinking. I was thinking the same thing! Over the next 10 miles I kept looking at my watch thinking you've got to slow down, but i felt good. At the 1/2 marathon, I was at 2 hours and that's my fastest 1/2 marathon ever-by 6 minues! and i just though, mile 18 it's going to catch up and hit me, and it was largely impossible that I would run a negative split (the 2nd 1/2 faster than the first 1/2).
Part 2:
Running up 1st ave was exciting, I had just seen 4 of the girls and guys I had trained with, another 1 a little bit later, 2 of my friends at mile 16 and at mile 18 THE FAMILY! Adam and Tricia were there and they ran with me for a little, which was good. However, the bad part hit soon after they left me and I headed to the Bronx-at mile 19 i got slammed. This was the part that 7 miles ago I knew was coming, but now it was here with 7 miles to go. Wow, at that point my wall had come hard! Then one of my coaches jumped in right before mile 20....i was dying, my legs were screaming and mentally i was collapsing. He stayed with me for about a 1/2 mile, and got me refocused, and basically told me i was going to run under 4 hours.....he didnt' give me the choice. sooooooo i had to use all the guts and mental toughness i could find because those last 5-6 miles were not run on physical ability! I was in a horrible place, which is funny to think about now. I was lucky yet again, at mile 22 Adam and Tricia were there to greet me again, and joined in the running. Although at this point I was not chipper, smiling or good company by any means, I was so so thankful to have them there to keep me going and getting me water & gatorade. With 3 miles to go I put on a big smile again for the family. Finally, the home stretch, I entered Central Park and had the last 2 miles to go. I didn't think those last 2 miles were going to ever end. But they did and honestly, i almost cried. I was physically drained and my body was screaming and burning but i was so happy- BECAUSE I broke 4 hours (with a negative split and my 2 fastest 1/2 marathons ever)! Something I never thought was going to be attainable. It was a huge PR....by 19min and 6 secs. 3 hours 58 minutes and 13 seconds.