This was both the smallest and longest marathon I've run yet.  So smallest may make sense to you, but longest?  Aren't all marathons 26 miles 385 yards?  Yes, that's true.  However, I had the fun experience of getting off the course just past the halfway point.  I missed a turn and ended up on top of a hill on the wrong road.  The dirt surface and truck backing across my path that I had to stop for were both good indicators that I was off the beaten path, so to speak.  Thankfully I was able to get back on track without retracing all my errant steps, but I still added about 3/4 of a mile to an already long enough race.  So I feel ok about subtracting 5-6 minutes from my time and considering that my 'official' time!  Hey, not everyone can claim to have run a 27 mile marathon!
You may also notice that there are lots of action shots of this one, too.  I was glad to have Julie Stoltzfus as my personal support staff/photographer/encourager.  She did a great job of helping to keep me going when I really didn't want to.  She even ran several legs of the race with me!  So, though the time was slow on this one, I had a lot for which to be thankful.  I wonder if I'm getting more out of race shape or if 3 weeks was too little time between the previous one and this one.  Maybe the next one (5 weeks later) will help shed some light on that.  Until later, run on!