CJO, very awesome race report. I enjoyed reading that and hearing your insight and thoughts during the race. I am very impressed of your training schedule and balancing time between your cute kiddos and Britt, work and your awful commute. Truly impressive. 3:30am long runs is up there with the "crazy" crowd.
I'm sorry I was on the back half of the run course where you thought you could walk, haha. We strategically chose that spot so we could stand out from the masses around the market street area. You looked strong and were in good spirits each time, which is more than I can say for 50% of the people out there.
For those who haven't done an IM yet or are signed up for one soon, reading a race report like this should spur you to sign up for one or get even more excited. There are many highs and lows in each portion of the race. Doing a split faster than you thought is awesome, while going slower is a bit deflating. But the high crossing that finish line after a 6 month or longer journey is something you'll remember for the rest of your life.
And damn, CJO, you ate a LOT of food in the 24 hours following your race.