The Tobacco Road Marathon in Cary, North Carolina was exactly what I needed! When I initially decided to add a marathon to my season after my 50k, I wanted to PR-chase, but no options for that pursuit lined up (details here), which I now see as one of the biggest blessings God could have given me. I went into this race with no time goal because I wasn't sure how much the gravel would slow me down. My major goals were to enjoy it all, to be thankful, and to compete in the elite field. What I