OVER AND OVER AND OVER AND OVER

Sunday morning I woke up at 4:32am, showered, pulled on my new red & black sugoi shorts and red drifit shirt. I threw a couple other red shirts in my bag in case it got cold. My red #348 race bib was already attached to my race belt, packed away in my bag along with energy gels, luna bars, vaseline, extra socks, camera. I had my new nike plus red paceband and matching headband. The day before I painted my toenails red for good luck. or you know, just so that it matched my outfit. My dad and I met Vicki at the start line of the Mississauga Marathon, along with a few other familiar faces.
When the gun blew I couldn't find my Dad, but I suspected he was up near the start line, so I looked up and started out on the 42.2KM course.
At the 5K I was right where I wanted to be..24:50. 8K in 40mins. 10K in 50mins. As I rolled along threw the course boppin along to my Ipod playlist specially created for race day, I wondered if today was going to be my day. 10K in and I was feeling pretty strong still. Better eat my first energy gel now. Orange Burst with caffeine...not bad. At the 15K mark I did a double take on my watch 1:15...3 minutes faster than I needed to be. The marker must be off I figured. Then I got to the 21.1K (1/2 way) mark at 1:47, still 2 minutes ahead of schedule. This is wicked. Just one more hill and I'm still feeling strong. Around the 27K mark the 3:40 pace bunny passed me with his entourage. This is usually a heartbreaker for me, but today I didn't care because I knew I was still on pace with my chip time. 30K still on pace at 2:36. 32K 2:50...a little slow, but still leaves me 50 minutes to finish the last 10K. I can do this! I ran 10K in 46 minutes the week before, this should be easy! And plus I'm done with the hills...or so I thought..the last 10K was rolling hills and high winds coming off the water. I put down and tucked in behind some guys trying to draft behind them. My legs were starting to feel the fire by now, but I was not going to give up. I ran so hard so far I was going to make it to the finish line in 3:40. I gave it everything...but in the end, crossed the finish line in 3:46:38. Got my massage, visited my dad in the medical tent and congratulated everyone that qualified for Boston.
And now I have got to get the motivation to do it all again in September.