MCM Expo

I did it! I made it across the finish line! We returned home last night after being away for 6 days. I'm wiped out! I've got a lot I want to remember so I figure I'll write about it in a few posts.





We left for the expo Friday at 9:45am. Right when I get in the car, I hear that the Marine Corps Marathon was on high alert due to a 4th shot fired on a marine/government building in the area there.  I didn't let it worry me for more than 5 minutes. I was there with a goal to execute.











The expo was so much fun! I was moved to tears the minute I walked in the door when I laid eyes on soldiers with amputated arms and legs. It took everything in me to not break out in a big sob. I was overcome with humble gratefulness. I just had to thank each marine I came in contact with for their dedicated service to our country. (The crying came later when I came home and told my man about it.)

My father in law and I

I got my number and proceeded to spend the next hour looking around at all the fun stuff.

I wanted to buy everything but I maintained total control with limited spending money. Perfect plan!  :)  I got a shirt and 2 bottles of Nuun (they were 2 for $5 dollars - could.not.be.passed.up!). 

Brooks has some of the greatest displays. I forgot what the purpose of this skeleton was.  I held it's hand and a reporter came along and took my picture.  Fun fun!

This was the highlight for my son... of course!!  :)

He took the picture of the Washington Monument as we were entering DC.

It was a windy day in the nations capital. It felt great to be "home". I miss that area from time to time. But I was glad to get out of the city. A few hours is about all I can take! This beautiful tree was just outside of the Washington Convention Center. Fall was in the air there.

marine corps marathon training begins today!  the schedule actually had me "rest" for monday.  and that was just fine with me since i was still very sore from saturday's leg weights - my calves and hamstrings especially were thankful!  :)  i'm excited but cautious about training.  having just dealt with hip pain - which is not bad now but still shows up now and then in a small way - my excitement is a little different. the big disappointment of having my goals stopped short last fall from an ITB injury still haunts me.  but, i learned a lot just from those 14 weeks last fall and am very thankful for that.

there is nothing more i want than to run this marathon and give God all the glory for the crossing the finish line. i hope and pray i can make it through the next 18 weeks of training without injury. :)  and today marked the first day of that goal.  a easy 3 mile run!  i am still being conservative with my runs this week and maybe next week as i ease back into it, monitoring how my hip does.  today's run was fine.  i alternated running 5 min and walking 1 min.  hip felt fine.  oh, and i got myself a road id.  it came saturday.  it feels great on my wrist.  as much as i run on the roads and don't always have my phone, i thought it would be wise to get one.  it's cute!