Climbing over the barricades into the starting chute like a deranged monkey.

Seeing an angry/terrified feral dog loose on the course around mile 2. Normal Me thought, "poor thing!" and then Lawyer Me thought, "I wonder if that's a liability?"

Waving to Nate and W at mile 3.

Watching several people pretty blatantly cut the course around mile 5.

"Hey this is actual rain and I'm soaked."

Seriously loud rap music and droves of people dancing at "Miracle Mile" in Avondale.

Realizing I was done with ten miles and still basically euphoric and carefree.

Bumping into my co-pacer and Track Club buddy around mile 12...and then running silently next to him until about mile 16.

Seeing Nate again at mile 16.5 and trying to smile and wave in a way that would reassure him of my sanity and sound judgment.

The resulting photo.

Getting onto the strugglebus near mile 18, the second repeat of the hilly section.

Seeing some seriously weird stuff on the GPS, like an impossible 15:30 average pace. Artifact? Problems with the tunnels? My own sanity slipping away? THE WORLD WILL NEVER KNOW!

Bargaining with myself after that..."I'll run until mile 21, then walk a bit, then see what happens." "Okay I'll run until mile 20." "Or maybe just 19 if I run up this hill." "Maybe I'll just run until my average pace is back under 8:50, then walk for a bit." Not productive!

Walking through the mile 19 water stop, chugging sports drink, and feeling immediately better.

"The dog probably isn't a liability, because participants in an event like an urban marathon assume the risk of stray dogs and other obstacles on the course."

"OMG shut up, Lawyer Me."

Shocking myself by getting to mile 22 without hitting a wall or wanting to give up.

Feeling like portions of my legs were being amputated on the second time down Avondale Hill.

Being caught by the 4:00 pacers at mile 24 and screaming profanity. Sorry to everyone within earshot.

Running with the 4:00 pacers for almost a mile and finally, actually feeling the wheels come off.

"So this is what people mean when they talk about The Marathon Endgame."

"I'm actually handling this pretty well."

"Okay maybe not."

"I've been THREE blocks REALLY??! Am I caught in some sort of space-time glitch?"

Seeing a man puking his guts out around mile 25. That was...sobering.

Turning onto the last .6-mile stretch and being amazed that I still felt like running.

Not really noticing anything about the chute or the finish line except the fleeting thought that the timing pad was wet and slippery. You know, the important things.

Babbling incoherently to the other runners who finished around me, including my frenemies the 4:00 pacers.

Trying to come to terms with the fact that I finished in 4:00:45. It hurts so good.

I'm still working on a mega recap for my first marathon experience, the Mercedes-Benz Marathon this past Sunday. For now, here is a list of all the moments that stood out for me, in order from the start to the finish: