Genna Tufa won the marathon in 2:23:10. But the REAL truth is that I beat him. At the finish line, the marathon runners go left (half marathon go right). Watching the news on TV you see me finishing on the right at 2:22:57. I started the race and ended the race at the same location as Genna Tufa and my time beat him by 0.13 seconds - I clearly beat the top marathon runner. Ok - you dont believe that, would you belive that I entered the 1/2 marathon, but I changed my mind and ran the marathon instead and won that way. Or how about I made a wrong turn and did the marathon. OK OK, you are talking about Michael. The truth is I did run the 1/2 and coincidentally finished at the same time as the winning marathoner. Well at least I finally tried one and experienced it. It wasnt a great time or effort, but I did it and I did finish. For me it was more for training and experience, I cant say I was ready for the race as I had hardly run much because of personal issues and injury, had only run a couple times more than 5 miles since last fall. Got up at 4am, didnt sleep well, was wondering if it was something I should try, but my son wanted to do it. Got ready, went and found parking at Gateway, waited in car for 30 minutes, took train, waited in the long potty lines (a marathon in itself), listened to the gospel choir and star spangled banner and then reace starts at 7:00 Ran OK for first 4 miles - about 9 minute miles, then slowed to 10:30 miles for middle stretch and very slow for last 1/3 miles at 12 minutes plus per mile. Physically I wasnt ready for race, as energy drained as race progressed, I wanted to quit but kept going. Where my legs connect to hips ached. Last 1/3 of race I could feel my right plantar (heel) starting to act up and I knew if I ran too hard, Id be back an injury city so I didnt push it. Also by then I was really tired and the goal was just to finish. Cant say I had a good competitive attitude, it was disappointing to see how many that passed me compared to who I passed; but that really wasnt part of my plan - I just wanted to experience it and finish it. I stopped at 3 of the water stops, but only walked enough to drink the water (not very good at drinking on the run) and stopped a couple other times briefly to stretch my plantar. I ran with John Cahill, the 83. year old wonder for a couple miles but couldnt even stay with him. At one point they had music playing, the "YMCA" song so I moved my arms in fun with the music doing the Y-M-C-A letters. Its kind of a boring race except for the excitement of running with 6000 runners (4000 1/2 marathon runners and 2000 marathon runners) - I just dont care for city street running that much. Yes it was windy, but didnt seem that bad as others mentioned but maybe I was going to slow to be effected. It was warmer than I expected. It was abit surprizingly and comical finishing my 1/2 as the same time as the winner of the marathon - was nice with all the cheers at the finish (although somehow I dont think they were for me!). Was even more surprizingly and amusing to see me on TV finishing at same time as marathon winner. Then went through the line to the food, where I wanted to fall asleep. I pigged out in food craving nutrition for my tired body My son did fantastic, 1:37, winning his age group and around 150th overall, very good for someone who just turned 11 years old, farthest he has ever run, and hasnt trained either except for his other sports. Both of us got finisher medals. He got a different medal for winning - actually same medal but in gold color. Kind of a cheap award, I was told in past winners got some kind of embroidered jacket. Then we rushed to his flag football game, where he showed he still had alot of energy running for 1 touchdown and passing for two. Meanwhile Dad (I) laid down on the grass and tried to survive. Im sore this next morning, left hip hurts some, right heel seems fairly OK which is a big relief. Well on too the next running, I made it.... | 