Yeah, I did that.

So, it’s official. Alana Devich, bib #19009, finished the marathon in 5:30:34. That’s official finisher #16,257 to you, kids. My overall pace per mile was 12:37—about 97 seconds slower than I was hoping to average, but then again it was 84 degrees out, which was about 20 degrees hotter than I was hoping for it to be. I’ve got my official finisher’s medal and I’m (achingly) sitting on top of the world.

Everything about Monday is like a surreal blur, and the pain of it is quickly being forgotten and replaced with warm fuzzies and fondness--and believe me, on Monday night, as I was struggling with my post-run, um, issues, I was certainly wishing I could go back in time and take it all back.

For now all I can do is rest and recover. I’m still in the force-feeding stages and while I can walk pretty well I can’t really make it down the stairs.

Thank you thank you thank you to everyone. Y'all know who you are.

Everything was worth crossing that finish line.