More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit which has been given to us. Romans 5.3-5

Yesterday I ran my first marathon.

More than anything, the 31^st Marine Corps Marathon was a group event. More than 32,000 runners, walkers, wheelchair pilots, stroller pushers, and utilizers of various other modes of movement took part. But many of us wouldn’t have finished if it weren’t for the thousands of encouraging spectators along the way.

It was a beautiful day. The route was picturesque in the extreme. We were very well served by the support staff. There was water, Powerade, snacks, marching bands, Vaseline, beer (yes, beer), candy, pretzels, energy gel, and all sorts of other good things to take one’s mind off of the running itself.

Mile 1: Wow this is slow! I better slow down so I don’t die at the end…

Mile 2: First water stop. What a hazard! Runners slow to a walk in order to drink, the pavement becomes slick with water and Powerade, and cups litter the street.

Mile 4: Spout Run Parkway; the name was humorously appropriate as dozens of runners dove off the course to quickly relieve themselves in the bushes…

Mile 10: Running under the Kennedy Center alongside the Potomac. I still feel pretty good. My legs are starting to fatigue but the crowds are noisy and motivating.

Mile 11: Running past the Washington Monument. Beautiful…

Mile 13.2: Running past the Smithsonian Castle. The difficult part of the course is starting to set in…

Mile 17: We’re running through East Potomac Park. The wind is whipping off of the river. The spectators thin out and the race gets a lot harder! My legs are starting to cramp, but as long as I stay up and keep them swinging…

Mile 19.3: I’m finished! I have to start walking. From this point on, I walk about as much as I run…

Mile 20: We cross the bridge back into Virginia. Only 10K to go. My legs are killing me!

Mile 23: Thank you Target for the tent with the motivating music…

Mile 24: We’re back to the Pentagon (near the start) but my legs aren’t much good now…

Mile 25: The Comm School water point. I get a lot of encouraging shouts and the Major hands me a cup of Powerade. About 200 meters later I notice a woman about my mother’s age keeping pace with me. Wow!

Mile 26: I now know that I will beat Oprah. We finish with a long hill leading up to the Iwo Jima memorial. Baby steps up the hill…

Mile 26.2: Finish. Relief. Fatigue. A Marine hands me a foil blanket and I doze by a chain link fence. Several support staff ask me if I am OK. Absolutely! I just finished my first marathon…