In the most simple terms: First 17 miles: EPIC (didn't even feel like I was racing until after I crossed the halfway point) Next 3 miles: Intentionally scaling back to try and hold the cramping at bay. Last 6.2: EPIC FAIL In a nutshell: I felt very much the same way one feels when they put a quarter in a candy machine and only get three small M&Ms (but on a much larger scale)! :-) My last three marathons I have suffered some pretty severe cramps, but nothing like the ones I suffered yesterday. The last 6.2 miles I could only run roughly 800 - 1200 meters at a time before one would seize. When I finally crossed the finish line and I got to the grass where I could stop for a second to see my family my entire lower body seized up to the point that I literally and I mean LITERALLY fell to the ground and rolled around like a crazy lady screaming. Ryan, Rylee and Sophia were trying desperately to release the many different cramps that were seizing my legs that felt as if they were going to snap at any moment from the force of the muscle contractions. The pain was insane. Ryan finally got me up and I had to stomp and slap my legs for the duration of the car ride home. Once home I began to cry like a baby - but I'm not sure why. I wasn't crying because of sadness or pain, my body just wouldn't stop crying. Per Lowell's suggestion I immediately engulfed a bacon burger (which I hate) and some fries. The crying and cramping stopped shortly after. That's it! I truly believed that I was prepared (and was going) to run a sub 3:20. First world problem, I'm not going to dwell on it. - Worked 46.5 hours M-F evening and tried to keep hydrated but nutrition and sleep were far from adequate. - Horrible night sweats for the past several months. - One of my best training seasons ever. Splits: 7:20, 7:44, 7:17, 7:24, 7:20, 7:15, 7:18, 8:32, 7:55, 8:05, 8:08, 8:04, 7:28, 7:55, 7:13, 7:27, 7:26, 8:24, 9:09, 8:01, 8:34, 9:09, 8:35, 8:43, 9:13, 9:10, 2:06 With that said, had a GREAT weekend with Smooth, Lowell, Christine and Ben!!!! :-) :-) :-) | 
