A weekend full of "M's"...

Becky, me and Mom before I left to go get on a shuttle. They are both such blessings in my life!!!


My Relay Team 4:13 after Tamara finished the last leg. Tara, me, Tamara, Kayln and Kristi.

I started this post first thing Monday morning, but am just now getting around to posting about my weekend in Oklahoma City, OK.

Mom and I drove in after work Friday evening and met Lyndi for dinner at BJ's. It was yummy! Afterwards, we ran to Target before meeting Becky at her apartment. Mom and I have both had this allergy/congestion/sinus mess so I wanted to take care of my body prior to our run Sunday morning.

Saturday we got up and around and went to Ulta and then the mall first thing for manicures and pedicures. I am pretty sure I had not had a pedicure since the end of September. (I'm a little insecure about my ugly toenails that I lost after my half marathon. They've grown back, but they are less than attractive!) Afterwards, we headed downtown to meet up with my relay team at the race expo. I got a sweet new running outfit by Brooks (I got the full top, not just the sports bra. Maybe some day be comfortable in running in just a sports bra, but probably not!) and some Forze bars that I absolutely love! (I like the Cranberry Nut best.)

We went our separate ways after the expo and Mom, Becky and I went ate lunch at In the Raw and then walked through the Arts Festival downtown. If you've never been and live in the area, it's really neat. We watched some quality belly dancing. Those women are quite inspiring! *See the video of them at the bottom of this post!!!* We heard some wonderful jazz music and were able to see some one of a kind pieces that were truly spectacular! I think we got just about every item on our "to do" list for the weekend checked off. We all met back up for dinner at the tasty Macaroni Grill after a trip to Samuel Gordon's to get my rings cleaned and ogle some beautiful jewelry and having blown through the mall.

Although, we made it in early for the night, I COULD NOT SLEEP. I wasn't nervous or uncomfortable or anything else, I just could not for the life of me fall asleep! But, when our alarm went off at 4:30 a.m. I was up. I had some hot tea and a little granola with some Greek yogurt and we headed downtown. I owe Becky a HUGE thank you! She was phenomenal this weekend and we couldn't have gotten by without her. She chauffeured us around the entire time and got us exactly where we needed to be when we needed to be there! We picked up my relay team at their hotel and she drove us as close to the start as we could get. If you've never experienced a race like some of the larger marathons, you should really look into it. They have distances from 5k to the full 26.2 miles and people walking, pushing strollers to an actual wheelchair marathon. The race began at the OKC Memorial Museum before daylight of course. I always get so emotional just due to the atmosphere of these races. There are people with pictures pinned on their backs "In Memory", people who run with prosthetics, like one lady who had a prosthetic leg who pushed a girl in a wheelchair while running the entire marathon. When you witness those moments, it's hard to not break down. It reminds you of how truly grateful you should be for your life, your health and those around you.

Another Day by Natalie Grant pretty sums up every thing I felt/feel when running.

Been driving through the night I pull up and see the lights This is the place that I call home I watch you as you sleep Think of all you mean to me

Touch your face Kiss you softly Before I go to sleep pray under the stars Search my soul and check my heart And thank God for

Another day Another chance to love the ones I love To find my way To laugh, to dance Watch the sun come up Another day I get to live As if Every breath could be the last I take I get another day

I've got a hand that I can hold Someone who knows my soul A safe place to lay my head at night So why do I forget How much I've been blessed in life Forget what means the most to me As I'm waking up I feel my beating heart So grateful that I've come this far And thank God for[Chorus] To make somebody smile Go the extra mile Take a wrong and make it right And try to touch somebody's life

I get another day.....