26.2

People often compare marathons to childbirth- the months of anxious preparation, talking to everybody about their experiences, practicing your breathing, knowing the big day is looming and wondering if you're ready. But my husband just trots out there on marathon day, full of confidence and sporting his muscle shirt, and made it look easy.  Perhaps he will be in charge of birthing any future children in our family.

Charlie kicked so much ass yesterday.  He ran an impressive time of 4 hours 6 minutes, and looks none the worse for wear. 

Scarlett and Grandpa taking one of many walks, which she calls 'wats'.  As far as I know, she didn't run into the race route and didn't trip any runners.  Not even one! 

Charlie and Jon at mile 6.  This is where you yell encouraging things like 'Only 20 miles left to go!  Keep up the good work!'

Mile 6 support crew- Cheri, Burt, and Jon's adorable girlfriend Adelina who was one half of team 'keep Scarlett away from imminent danger'. 

Scarlett cheering Grandma on, at mile 6. 

My dad and I are really good sherpas.  We can hand out water bottles and energy bars, and stand there drinking coffee like nobody's business.  I enjoyed this marathon tons more than the one I actually ran.

Mile 11 support crew- Erin and Ramona. 

So there's a big gap of time here, in which we changed locations, drank more coffee, cheered for runners, saw my mom finish the half marathon, ate some animal crackers and raisins, and met Charlie's huge fanbase at the finish line.  And then, here he comes around the corner, smiling after 26 miles.  Sally ran the final 10K with him and when I asked how his morale was, she said 'he's great.  He wants to go to Foster Burger this week.'  There was no hitting the wall at mile 20, no complaints about legs that couldn't keep going.  He ran the last 10K faster than he ran any of his earlier splits.  It's sortof irritating, because isn't running supposed to be hard and sometimes unpleasant?  And Charlie makes it look easy. 

Thanks to everyone who came to cheer him on. 

All week we were preparing Scarlett for Sunday.  We said- Daddy's going to run lots of miles.  Grandma will be walking lots of miles.  Grandpa will be there.  We taught her to say 'marathon'.  We will cheer, we'll say 'Go Daddy' and 'Go Grandma'.  It might be cold or rainy.  And by Sunday, she was massively prepared- she cheered and clapped and seemed excited.  Which is good, because she has a lot of race spectating in her future.

Jon at the finish:

Dirk at the finish:

"Most people run a race to see who is fastest. I run a race to see who has the most guts."
-Steve Prefontaine