#36thMCM - the recovery post!

Wow...what a weekend. What a fast paced, emotional, rewarding weekend. I knew going into it that it would be a whirlwind but I had no idea what we really had in store and looking back on it, I don't know how I survived!

I could write a novel about the weekend and bore you to tears so instead I'll share the highs (and a couple lows) that kept the weekend exciting.

Best sign by a race fan: "Why are you guys running? It's not zombies, is it?"

Biggest smile of the weekend: The one on my face right after hearing Nate's mom say "It's really so great to have you girls as part of the family." to me and Nate's brother's girlfriend...along with the hugs and smiles between Nate's niece and I. Although I suppose the smile when I first got to see Nate was probably pretty big too! ;-)

Most surprising moment of the weekend: Spending Friday night in the emergency room....still praying and hoping that my baby sister will be better fast! (she rolled her ankle..it's not broken but she's on crutches and in lots of pain... probably because she kept standing on it and performing after she rolled it. No idea where she learned to be such a stubborn little thing!)

Coolest technology: The social media set up. Getting encouragement in responses to my auto tweets and posts about our progress was cool and it was awesome that so many of you got to see that and track us real time! My mom even actually tweeted a few times! I got to meet the guy in charge of that on my flight home and he was excited to hear how much response I got!

Least surprising moment of the weekend: I still hate miles 17 and 18. There aren't enough Twizzler bites, Jelly Belly Sport Beans, water bottles, Gatorade cups, or funny signs to convince me otherwise. *grumpy pout*

I'm now most anxious for: our race photos!! Nate's a stud so we got called out by a couple of the photogs before the race to take a couple together and I cannot wait for the post-medal pic in front of the Memorial. They need to hurry up with those again.(wow...just checked and they're posted already!!)

Best humor moment during the race: At mile 24/25ish Nate said to me "If you ask me to do this again next year, I will find a way to get deployed and have to be in Afghanistan next October."

Best humor moment after the race: Going through security, I put my medal in the bin as it went through the x-ray. The TSA officer reached in the bin after the scan to see what it was and when he asked if that meant I won I told him "No - I got that just for finishing." His response? "So ... was it hard?". The look on his face after I responded with just "I ran 26.2 miles. It wasn't easy." was priceless.

Most anticipated moment (besides the finish line and time with Nate) that exceeded every expectation: Meeting the rest of Nate's family and his brother's girlfriend. She was kind enough to let me stay with her and I have a feeling she and I will get along great! :-)


Best moment on the course (before the finish): At mile 22 (ish...I lost track) we met, for the umpteenth time during the race, a man carrying the flag all 26.2 miles he said hi and told Nate and I that he thought it was very cool that we were doing the race - every step of it - side by side. Nate thanked him for carrying the flag and his response was "I'm glad to do it...but at this point, I think it's carrying me." Wow.

Our most often spoken phrase on the course: "We've got this...you and me to this finish...whatever it takes. I'll get you there." Nate and I both said these words to each other...several times.


Most reflective moment of the weekend: Sharing with Nate all of the well wishing and congratulating texts, tweets, and posts that so many of you sent to me for us as we laid on the grass under the perfect blue sky, medals around our necks next to the Iwo Jima memorial. The Marines along the course had all been so encouraging and welcoming all day, completing the race and getting through the emotional roller coaster together that had been the previous nine hours (I sent my alarm wrong so the emotions started early for me Sunday), there next to the memorial that speaks volumes about the Marine Corps...I don't think I have ever felt so connected to Nate or myself. I'm glad we got that moment in that place to take it all in.

Finisher's medal...by far my favorite race medal!