I almost didn't finish the Boston Marathon

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In the last 2 miles I was beginning to get muscle cramps.  I tried to slow down a little to ease the pain but after rounding the last turn, with the finish in sight, my right calf totally locked up on me.  I couldn't run.  I couldn't even walk.  I hobbled to the side of the road in agony and stretched and rubbed it till it felt like I could walk again.  Then it immediately locked up again.  I looked towards the finish and for a brief moment I really didn't think I could make it.

The crowd was awesome the entire course but even more so at the finish.  They had seen this drama play out countless times before, many times that same day.  They knew I could make it even if I didn't.  There were people standing there at the side of the road with me giving me encouragement and telling me just what to do.  "Just stretch it out."  "Give it a minute."  and "You can do this."   They were awesome and they were right. Eventually I was able to continue again towards the finish.  A cheer erupted in that small area of the crowd and I knew it was for me specifically.  Wow.

Just as I got a good walking stride going and started feeling better again I heard a weird thing from the crowd.  A cheer like no other I had heard all day -- "I love you!!!!".  I looked over and it was my wife Shelly!  She stood there just a few feet away.  That was all it took.  My walk became a jog and then I ran across the finish.