I am a bad influence on him and, so, he did many things he just shouldn't have done before his first marathon (see my previous post) like drinking and walking miles around town, etc., etc., but...Dan is nothing if not a calm kind of guy. He doesn't rattle easy...he is not easily discouraged and he is (sometimes to my utter annoyance) an eternal optimist.

Case in point. The night before the marathon it poured. We woke up to drizzle that soon turned to steady rain. And, it was about 47 degrees.

I put on tights, a long-sleeve t-shirt, a vest, a hat and gloves.

He puts on shorts, a running shirt and his sunglasses.

"Sunglasses? Seriously?" I said.

"Yeah, it will keep the rain out of my eyes," he said. "And, besides, it could get really nice."

I scoffed. "Whatever, man. Sunglasses in the rain...OK"

It was still raining steadily when we waited at the start line. Everyone's wearing garbage bags and holding umbrellas. My husband's standing there with sunglasses on.

Through the first 1/2 of the race, the rain gradually slowed to a mild rain, then a drizzle. It was still spitting rain when it came time for me to turn off and follow the 1/2 marathon course to the finish. I held back to wait for Dan...wish him luck and ask him if he wanted me to take his sunglasses back to the hotel.

"No...it might get nice."

I snorted, "OK...whatever.... Good luck. I'll see you at about 25 miles."

I finished the 1/2 and went back to the hotel to shower. It was still raining.

I got out of the shower and, damn, if the rain hadn't cleared out and the sun was coming out bright and beautiful.

Leave it to my husband to always expect the best.

It's amazing to me how often what you expect is exactly what you get.

Here we are before the race...

And at the finish line -- where I'm squinting...really could've used some sunglasses, eh?