Running a Marathon: 26.2 Miles in Bullet Points

I'm still working on a mega recap for my first marathon experience, the Mercedes-Benz Marathon this past Sunday.  For now, here is a list of all the moments that stood out for me, in order from the start to the finish:

• Climbing over the barricades into the starting chute like a deranged monkey.
• Seeing an angry/terrified feral dog loose on the course around mile 2.  Normal Me thought, "poor thing!" and then Lawyer Me thought, "I wonder if that's a liability?"
• Waving to Nate and W at mile 3.
• Watching several people pretty blatantly cut the course around mile 5.  
• "Hey this is actual rain and I'm soaked."
• Seriously loud rap music and droves of people dancing at "Miracle Mile" in Avondale.
• Realizing I was done with ten miles and still basically euphoric and carefree.
• Bumping into my co-pacer and Track Club buddy around mile 12...and then running silently next to him until about mile 16.
• Seeing Nate again at mile 16.5 and trying to smile and wave in a way that would reassure him of my sanity and sound judgment.  

The resulting photo.

• Getting onto the strugglebus near mile 18, the second repeat of the hilly section.
• Seeing some seriously weird stuff on the GPS, like an impossible 15:30 average pace.  Artifact?  Problems with the tunnels?  My own sanity slipping away?  THE WORLD WILL NEVER KNOW!
• Bargaining with myself after that..."I'll run until mile 21, then walk a bit, then see what happens."  "Okay I'll run until mile 20."  "Or maybe just 19 if I run up this hill."  "Maybe I'll just run until my average pace is back under 8:50, then walk for a bit."  Not productive!
• Walking through the mile 19 water stop, chugging sports drink, and feeling immediately better.
• "The dog probably isn't a liability, because participants in an event like an urban marathon assume the risk of stray dogs and other obstacles on the course."
• "OMG shut up, Lawyer Me."
• Shocking myself by getting to mile 22 without hitting a wall or wanting to give up.
• Feeling like portions of my legs were being amputated on the second time down Avondale Hill.
• Being caught by the 4:00 pacers at mile 24 and screaming profanity.  Sorry to everyone within earshot.
• Running with the 4:00 pacers for almost a mile and finally, actually feeling the wheels come off.
• "So this is what people mean when they talk about The Marathon Endgame."
• "I'm actually handling this pretty well."  
• "Okay maybe not." 
• "I've been THREE blocks REALLY??!  Am I caught in some sort of space-time glitch?" 
• Seeing a man puking his guts out around mile 25.  That was...sobering.
• Turning onto the last .6-mile stretch and being amazed that I still felt like running.
• Not really noticing anything about the chute or the finish line except the fleeting thought that the timing pad was wet and slippery.  You know, the important things.  
• Babbling incoherently to the other runners who finished around me, including my frenemies the 4:00 pacers.
• Trying to come to terms with the fact that I finished in 4:00:45.  It hurts so good.