CIM (California International Marathon) 12-7-08

Wow it's been awhile since I've blogged. I will be honest. Blogging has slipped to a very low priority this past month. Work has been loca en la cara (crazy in the face), I had to finish with my marathon, buying a house, getting ready for Christmas, and dealing with relationship issues.
I thought I would be able to copy and past my marathon pictures when they came out like my 30k but these photo punks have it blocked so if you want to bore yourself you can check out the website if you want to see my pics http://orders.racephotonetwork.com/QPPlus/Proofs.aspx if it asks for a bib number it was 1975.
I'm still very much a rookie when it comes to the whole marathon pacing. I blew through my first half and suffered through my second. It took me 20 min longer on my second half than it did on my first. It SHOULD be the other way around. A few comments about the race...
1) The spectators were awesome!
2) It was about 42 degrees during the run. Foggy as all get out which means no wind however, fog has moisture and so within the first 5 miles I'm soaked thinking...hmm I've got 21 more miles to run, LAME. I was cold the whole way. Not to the point where I was shaking but my layers were damp and just from the motion of running you constantly have a slight breeze running through your clothes. I planned ahead. I packed a set of dry clothes so at the end, where brother Brent was to greet me and drive me home, I could change into dry warm clothes. Ahhh
3) I've always geared up for myself to hit "The Wall" in the 20's but it caught me off guard since looking back it hit me at mile 16. I was not mentally prepared for that. Who is? Damn wall!!
4) I watched Run Fatboy Run on the eve of my marathon. Funny movie.
5) I was in the best shape for this marathon than any other run. I've been working out at the gym almost every day with weights to make myself stronger and not focus solely on my running. It burned a lot of calories too. Thanks Andy!
6) Favorite spectator: He was just getting ready for what I have no idea but as I was running by this tall man about 30ish, 6ft 5in, really thin took off his coat and had a red Speedo on and was rubbing something on his skin (perhaps to stay warm) Not sure what that was all about but it made me smile :)
7) I was talking to a gentleman before the run just people watching and he's an experienced runner, he's run Boston. We were talking how great it is to be in a group of people so large that want the same thing you do, to finish this marathon. We have conditioned our bodies to complete a 26.2 mile run. We all have some method to our madness. We were all running for different reasons but we were all running. That felt good. No, it felt great!