I need to give a huge thanks to
@Keels and another disboard member whose name I didn’t know. (So sorry for that, part of my anxiety is that I don’t retain information in social situations very well). I was having a very rough time after mile 8, including several 20+ minute miles. By WWOS I was worried about health issues and had decided to quit. First, my unnamed angel stopped and asked how I was doing. I know that I was very abrupt and could barely speak; it was still a boost for me. Despite that I stopped at the medical station in mile 19 and was waiting to quit.
@Keels was nice enough to stop and encourage me and just being so nice was enough to get me off my butt. I owed it to myself and everyone here to leave it all on the table. Fortunately, I was able to finish.
My nose was stuffed for the entire race, I was still working on low sleep and heavily medicated, but my primary problem was my lack of training. I don’t know how long it took me, but I know it was a PW (a PW that I had thought was impossible). Somewhere in the range of 7:40. Still, I can’t thank the board and my family enough for the encouragement to finish. I know I’d feel worse if I had given in and quit. My legs and feet aren’t thanking me for it, but I’ll live.