Click for the full recap of Monday’s Boston Marathon experience. Excerpts:

“Most of my waking hours since about 11am on Monday have been spent trying to figure out what happened during the first half of the marathon.

“…guy next to me says, “Hang in there buddy. Got some shade coming up.” I remember all I could say was, “it’s so hot.” 

“…This race, more than any other, means the world to me. And I pride myself on never quitting, never letting up, always embracing the challenge of every run. So for both of those things to come crashing down at the same time… just tough.

“…When I made it back to the hotel, she was there to give a big hug - I could see through a few tears that she was hiding a sign in the corner of the lobby she’d made for the race. I went upstairs to clean up - when I made it back down, the crumpled sign was gone and in its place, she handed me a newly-bought card with the sweetest, most wonderful note inside. So even though I was disappointed, ashamed, and full of regret, I’d also never felt more full of love. And in that sense, the 2012 Boston Marathon was far better than anything I could have imagined.”