Jack, what a great job you did out there!  You were super consistent with your training, and it really paid off here.

Those splits are a thing of beauty, man!  You should have them framed.  I know that I really need to work on continuing to push at the end of a race when my legs are getting tired, and it looks like you have the mental part of that game down cold.  Love the photos, too, they came out great!

And finally, what a special present from Cherie!

Awesome, Jack.. Beautifully executed.. Loved the pics, esp the "come on"

First I absolutely love the painting of your DD by She Can. What a gift.

It is very hard to execute the first marathon the way you did it. It is actually very hard to execute any marathon this well.

You really listen to advises from people you mentioned, you followed your plan, but were open to suggestions for changes and trusted the guidance.

You ran an ideal race in a less than ideal conditions.

Anybody who followed your training and now this RR could learn from it.

Well done Brad and I guarantee, that you have an even faster race in you.

Talk about delayed gratification. Sounds like the year's wait was well worth it.  That's a fantastic way to end an outstanding year of racing.

Loved the RR! So proud of you, you totally rocked this marathon! Look at those perfect splits! Also, you look fantastic in all that green.  It was totally the calf sleeves that made you go so fast! Congrats Jack!

Wow Jack, it was just a great read. You are a good writer, and even a better runner! Great job on your debut and running an incredible time. A BQ! You ran a BQ! I hope I can do the same in the future.

Thanks, everyone! All your comments are truly humbling.

Obie:  The last three miles were painful but I just dug deep and did it. It was the carbs!

Nevrgivup: Who is Rick?  I'm glad you like the RR. I am really not a writer.

Traci: We are getting the painting framed and it is going to be a Christmas present for DD. Shhhhh! Thank you for the kind words.

SF: Stunning? Tell my DW!

Jerry: Thanks for the advice, Jerry, I will work on it.

Dave: If I get a new Cadillac I might crash it in the swamp in Alligator Alley.  That last mile was insane! Thanks for the edit, but I think the carbs helped.

Birdwell: Patience is something I learned from running. To get results, you have no choice but to be patient. It's frustrating at times, but it won't happen overnight, as we all know.

Awood: Keep it up. I know you are dedicated and you will always reach your goals. Also, you have been a big motivator for me. Someday we will have that race and beer together!

Fuzzy: How can I thank you? I can't, so just "thanks for everything." This BQ is just as much yours as mine.

Ginny: The course was ok.  People may say downhill courses are easier and that may or may not be true. I was pretty beat up at the end from the abuse. Gradual hills are fine, but the steep ones hurt. The course would have been nicer scenery wise if it weren't such a lousy day; constant wind, cold, occasional rain, clouds, no sun.

PAD and NATA: Thanks!

FSocks: I know you knew the course and it's too bad you couldn't join me. Maybe next year? I might do it again.

Zel: I don't know how the consistency thing worked out. I just got in a zone and trusted the Garmin. Yes, the painting is awsome!

Docket: After running one, I don't know how you do it all the time. You really are a bad ass.

Bin: It was fun comparing training notes on the same plan. I might buy the fist pump picture.

Kiwi: Yes, the last mile was the fastest. I think I avoided the death march because of the carbs and the pacing plan from Goo and Fuzzy. I stuck to my pace for 20 miles and hoped to have something left at the end and it worked out for me.

Goo: If there is one thing I can do, it's listen. Thanks a million times over for your help. You and Fuzzy are quality people and your advice is sound. Like I said to Fuzzy, this BQ is yours as well as mine.

LRB: Yes, it was windy! Very windy!  By the way, I passed on the wine but had plenty of suds!

Wcrunner: Thanks. It was your initial advice to wait a year that got me here. If I had done a marathon earlier I likely would have quit by now.

Baboon: Thanks for your help, as well. If I make it into Boston, we will definitely meet up and have one hell of a post race FE.

Kristin: I almost wore the blue ones like your Dad has. I guess the green worked out for me.

Pink:  Me? I inspired you? Wow, I'm blushing... 

Brrrr: Wow, I am humbled, but I am really not a writer. Thanks so much.

She Can: It was great meeting you!  Thanks, thanks, and more thanks for the BEAUTIFUL painting. DW had tears in her eyes when I showed her and DD is going to LOVE it when she opens it on Christmas morning. You are the coolest!

Discipline, trust, and execution.

Discipline.  Discipline is not about doing what you want.  Any damn fool can do that.  Discipline is about doing what you need to be doing even when it's the last thing on earth you want to do.  Discipline is a 4:00 a.m. run or a 10:00 p.m. run.  There is nothing in you that wants to run but you do it anyway.

Trust.  You have to trust the training to get you ready for your first marathon.  You have to trust the taper rather than wigging out.  You have to trust that you can actually do what your training has led you to believe you can do.

Execution.  The race hits and now you have to execute your race plan.  A lot of folks go out and hammer it.  Even doing my jog this year at Boston, I started passing those folks around Mile 21.  Hammering frequently = walking.  You see plenty of that.  You have to bear down for all you are worth after Mile 22.  You have to know that everyone, even world class runners, are hating life at this point.  You have to execute no matter how badly it hurts.

Failure in any one of those three equals a rough day.  Putting all three together doesn't guarantee a good result but it increases the chances by a whole lot and the story is in the splits.  Whether you run a 2:30 or a 5:30, you should run relatively even splits if you put discipline, trust, and execution together.

BTW, just to be the wet blanket I am so well known for, you didn't burn 3,000+ calories.  Garmin lies.  

But you did run one hell of a race.  Give yourself permission to be a worthless slug for a few weeks.  Your body will thank you.