Onward toward the finish line for a time of 3:39.
By the time I reached the top of the hill at 24, colors seemed faded, things around me seemed to be in some kind of slow motion and my ears were rang with the shock pulse of every stride. I decided to sit down for just a minute after I passed the aid station. I'm not sure when I noticed that someone was talking to me, but when I looked to my left, there (seemingly out of nowhere) was an Air Force Doctor. It only took him a second to recognize what I should have known. I was really dehydrated. But good fortune was was just a few feet away. There was a medical tent set up right there at the 24 mile marker. There were doctors, medics, support staff and saline! As soon as I hit the cot, they started an IV. Two liters and about 60 minutes later, I felt like a new person. Then, after a few questions to confirm my recovery and a promise to take it easy the rest of the way, they let me finish.
It was my first serious "crash and burn" in a marathon and the cause of my worst marathon time ever. But the terrific attention I received is high on my list of priceless human experiences. It will always reinforce my belief that good things really can happen to you when you need them most.
