I have a marathon on Feb. 21st. I have my plan all mapped out.
Now here is the question...(w/ a bit of background info)
I have friends doing the ING Miami marathon. That is 3 weekends before mine. These friends are coming down from Wisconsin. I RARELY get to see them. They want us to meet me and my SO to meet them. We live on the west coast of FL (St. Pete). So we would have to make a weekend of it.

I would be doing a 22 mile long run that day.

So I COULD sign up for the marathon and only run 22 miles. Just think of it as a supported long run...and w/ lots of people. But that leaves me 4 miles short. Do I have someone pick me up at mile 22? Then I would have a recored DNF. I don't know if mentally I can see that DNF posted!
I think walking 4 miles after running 22 would not be good either.

So should I just skip the chance to see them?
Run 22 and get picked up and ignore the DNF?
Run 22 and then walk?? 1 hour?? 3 weeks prior to my marathon?

What would you do/suggest?

This is my FIRST marathon. So I don't want to mess things up!

K