When you finally cross the finish line, you go through a massive range of emotions. Elation, joy, relief, reflection, and...pain. You receive your finisher medal, and are given a space blanket to maintain your body's heat.

As loud, raucous and wild as the entire course was with noise, this was the exact opposite. People were reflecting on their race, sharing their stories with others, and making their way to the exit as a tribe. The quiet was interuppted here and then by the sound of an ambulance, and people pushing the runners aside, to make room for the emergency vehicle. This was a reminder that all runners weren't as fortunate with their finish.

The walk from the finish line to the actual exit of the course takes about an hour. It's packed with thousands of runners, and you need to pick up the bag that you've checked at your appropriate UPS truck.

My phone was checked with my bag, so once this was retrieved, I could begin to call family and inform them of my finish. And then the text messages, tweets and Facebook updates. It was pretty cool to turn a phone on to a mailbox full of goodwill. :)