I’m seriously amazed that I finished my first marathon in 5:14. This is why.

• Training was going perfectly in July, August, and September.
• I PR’d my half-marathon time in September by 38 minutes.
• I ran my longest distance in training of 16.5 miles.
• The next day it hurt to even walk.
• After a week off, I went to the doctor. He said it was overuse, and told me to take another week off.
• After two weeks off, I went back to the doctor. He was not helpful.
• After four weeks off, I went to another doctor. He nailed it down to inflammation, and was proactive about my recovery, giving me several medications to help. He encouraged me to still run the half, and if I felt good, the full.
• After five weeks off, I ran. It felt all kinds of awkward.
• I decided to try to still run the St. Jude Half Marathon. I’d walk if I had to. 
• I can’t explain what happened, but something made me decide to run the full marathon. With all of you support, prayers, kind messages, and with hope, I finished injury free.

Now, let’s see what I can do when I actually train for the next one, shall we? Coming for you, NOLA.