HOORAH!! 18 miles

I did it!!! I finished 18 miles of running. My nutrition was spot on. I started carbo-loading on sunday. I tried to keep them more healthy carbs. I had oatmeal with almonds, bananas and honey for breakfast on sunday and monday. I made for sunday lunch Italian Chicken soup with Italian bread. I cant remember what I had on sunday evening but it was at work. Monday for lunch I had light minestony soup, supper was Spaghetti Amaritian with Italian bread. This morning I got up and ate my normal pre run breakfast of english muffin with lots of peanut butter and banana. I ate 1/2 cliff peanut butter crunch ( I am doing this because there will be several hours between breakfast and the race.) I drink plain water for the first 12 miles and took two Blueberry Roctanes. (one at 45 minutes and the other at 1 and 40 minutes) After 12 miles I did munch on a few of the cinnamon gold fish crackers I had in my pocket. I run by the house at 12 miles and grabbed my hand held bottle which had gatorade watered down. I drank that the rest of the mileage. I did take the Roctane at 13.5 miles(washed down with water). I did have a little dip in energy at mile 13 to 15. Then I was okay again. Not sure if it was due to the Roctane not taken until 13.5 miles. The last mile was something else. My legs were tired. My feet were cramping up. But my mind and determination remained very strong. I yelled very loud at 17 miles....however at the very same time I did that, a bicyclist was passing me. I did not see him. That poor guy! He jumped and looked at me. He waved. hehehehe. But that yell, help relieve the tension in my legs and feet and helped me push through it. I will have to apologize to him when I see him next. Over all 3 hours 45 minutes. Not bad. 30 seconds per mile slower than what I would like to run but I will still beat the bridge and finish the marathon. That is all that I want to accomplish!