The Marathon That Didn't Happen

So, the reason for the delayed post on the marathon is this...
Last Saturday, I was doing my last long run before the big race day. Around 4 miles in to the run, I started having awful knee pain. I kept pushing through it but by the time I finished the rest of the run, I knew I shouldn't have. I tried to self diagnose the pain via the internet and figured it was an IT band issue since the pain was on the outside of my knee cap. The rest of the week I avoided running and the stairs, and religiously rolled, iced and stretched that leg. I even went for a sports massage!
I was hoping and praying that it would be better after a week of rest and recuperation, so I met my friends to run the marathon on Saturday. I was so incredibly nervous and excited! This was it. I had been working for this marathon for months. (I can't even remember the last time I slept in on a Saturday!)

Not the best pre-race pic! The lighting was hard to work with! Haha. 

The first mile and a half were good, but then the pain started to creep back into my knee. Over the course of the next few miles it just got worse and worse. By the time I got to North Parkway at about mile 6, I couldn't keep up with my friends anymore. I had to start walking a lot longer than I had planned since the pain just wouldn't work itself out.
At mile 7, I texted Will and said I didn't think I could make it through the race. I knew he was going to be waiting in Overton Park so I plodded on just a little longer. I debated with myself the whole time about pushing through to the half marathon finish, but I just couldn't do it. The whole reason that I run and do races is because it makes me happy. The whole time I was on North Parkway I was not having fun... in fact, I was trying really hard to hold back tears.
Once I finally saw Will, I veered off the course and broke down. I was so disappointed. I had come so far and been soooo close. It just wasn't meant to be.
Let me tell you, having to take a "did not finish" (DNF) for a race was the worst thing that could happen on race day.  The only way you get to celebrate is hiding at home on the couch with an ice pack and Advil. I'm really hoping that I may make a quicker recovery since I stopped though. Fingers crossed!
It's been hard the last few days explaining that the race didn't end well to all my friends and colleagues. Luckily, Will's Dad and Dolly have been in town the last few days, so they have kept us busy - a much needed distraction!  I was also happy that my Star Runners friends all did so well! For now, I'm just looking for the lesson God is trying to teach me in all of this. Plus, I'll have more time to try out some other non-running activities like yoga!