Chicago Marathon...

Tired legs today. Cranky. Sick of WXRT playing old Pretenders songs.
Other than that, I'm doing great! Finished the Chicago Marathon in 3:08:17 (which qualifies me for Boston), and all five of the FCC MarathOn a Mission runners finished the race. Well done! More information forthcoming on how much was raised.
The race itself was fine: perfect weather (though many thought it was a bit on the warm side); a fun course through many Chicago neighborhoods; an unbelievable number of spectators lining the course. I felt very good about 2/3 of my race. I went out well (though navigating the masses over the first five miles was a bit harrowing), and was clicking off sub-7 miles steadily through mile 15. Then the wheels pretty much came off. I was miserable the rest of the way, with only the prospect of a) seeing Julie and the kids at mile 23, and b) finishing keeping me on track. I thought for a while that I could give sub-3 hours a scare, but knew by mile 17 that that was not going to happen. I fell apart so fast...my splits had slowed down by 30 seconds and my heart-rate was suddenly going through the roof. I was laboring intensely. It was not pleasant at all. The last three miles was a very unpleasant out-of-body experience where I simply had no control of my body, the only connection being the pain I felt (thankfully, no nausea, but just general misery). Ah, the joys of marathoning!
But, it all ended, I got my medal, and now get to rest the legs for a week. Next? Not sure, but it will be interesting, I'm sure.