Route 66 Race!!

Yesterday was a milestone event - Kristin's first (she would insert "and only") Half-Marathon! lol  Here's our lovely pic with her fam after finishing...

And now I'll jump back to the beginning!  We parked in the first available space we found, and it happened to be less than a block from the Finish Line, which was a God-send at the end of the race!!  We had to walk a rapid uphill mile to reach the Start Line, though, so that was not entirely ideal.  Our pre-race pics make me happy.  Her with the safety pin in her mouth getting ready to pin my number on + me once we reached Corral D at the Start line + our race day shoes (Brooks & HOKAs).

Woohoo, get excited!  Two seconds into the day and my hairspray had already failed its one job.  Super windy all day - definitely should've brought a headband (and sunglasses!).

I ❤ the energy of the Start Line on race day!

❤❤❤

Signs to cheer for us + a flute serenade lol

A house very early in the race path... they went all out to let us know we had a long way to go!

Just a flag that made me happy!

We were toward the back in the final corral, starting 20 minutes after the 8am start time.  Around Mile 3, this guy told us we needed to stay with him or ahead of him to not get escorted off the course... stressful!  Those neighborhoods in the beginning had several hills and it was a rough start!  We had police vehicles behind us and U-Hauls removing cones and reopening the roads, but in the end, they left us behind and never mentioned taking us out of the race (thankfully).  They were removing the mile markers and tearing down the water stops, but we were able to catch several of them, and by Mile 7, we met back up with the Full-Marathoners and had more people surrounding us and more race path support.

I took this pic bc it reflected how we felt around Mile 3 and 4 with all the hills! lol

Cheering fans always help... and so does Gatorade, water, and food!

Huzzah for Mile #7 - fav number and a spot where I felt more confident that they wouldn't kick us out. lol  (In the end, 28 people finished the Half behind us, one over an hour later, and our walking time was 4:01:56, which I know I've done in other races - they're just getting more serious about the timeline on this one, apparently.)

We caught a few of the Marathon Mile Markers too! ;-)

A tragedy of epic proportions. lol  Seeing all these discarded donuts was making me sad and making me want a donut.  I got my wish a couple miles down the road at a stop where someone was handing them out! =)

Yay, Route 66... granted, there's lots of hills, but it's a scenic course that goes through some pretty neighborhoods and memorable spots along Riverside, so I enjoy it!

Yay, BOK Center at Christmas!

Yay, Tulsa! lol  (And being very near the finish line at this point).

It made me very happy to spot the boys and Frankie there cheering for us - they were on his shoulders, which made them easier to find in the crowd!

A few official race pics (that I'm not paying for) just before and after the Finish Line - top right = me taking the above pic as Kristin waves at the boys, then it's us crossing the Finish Line - one with Nichol and one with just me and Kristin!

Me:  "Let's run it in when we see the Mile 13 marker and get a fun victory pic!!"

Kristin:  "You can totally do that, but I don't have it in me.  I may just crawl across the finish line."

Me:  "Well, that could be a fun pic too."

Nichol:  "And I may flip them off!" lol (She was mad about the lack of directional signage and water-stop support for us)

Our fans!!  (The boys were so proud of their mom, and Frankie picked her up when they got to us, but my hands were full with Finisher tent stuff, so I missed that photo op!) ❤

The Finish Line felt even sweeter since we weren't sure we would get there in the beginning!

This random guy, all excited:  "Your FIRST HALF!!  That's amazing!  How do you feel!?

Exhausted Kristin:  "Terrible!!"

This guy:  "Noooo, you feel awesome for finishing your first Half!"

Compromising Kristin: "It's awesome that it's over!" lol

Nichol = our new friend who walked most of the race with us... we helped each other with the map and kept each other going... she is also signed up for her first Full in April, and she's going to text me some training plan ideas! =)

Hooray for pizza and fruit and sitting down after finishing!

Whitaker fam!! ❤

Medal for Half Marathon #5!!

RACES 1-4:  The 2009 Route 66 (the one that started it all - just me, inspired by Biggest Loser), 2010 Route 66 (walked it with Malori and Jordan, medal pics with LB and lots of other LG friends), 2012 OKC Half (zero pics of me in the race that year, but I got one at Packet Pickup and one of Chet and Gary in their first Full), and finally, the 2019 OKC Half with Dad!  I legit jogged the first one and finished around 2 hours and 30 minutes.  I've walked the other four and feel proud of them as well!  I know that I need to train seriously and be able to do a walk/jog combo for the Full next April!! #maximumeffort

Instead of a useful t-shirt or cute runner's jacket, they gifted us a random puffy vest at this year's packet pickup!  Kristin and I both said we're unlikely to wear it, but at least her boys are enjoying it! lol ;-)

After the race, I grabbed a Chipotle kids' meal and went back to my lovely hotel room.  I paid for a late checkout and it was worth every penny to be able to rest/edit photos/watch a movie for a couple hours then shower and get ready for Friendsgiving dinner!!  (See next post).  My legs are very sore and my feet were in pain post-race, but they felt better (genuinely) once I put on my sparkly boots. lol #healingpowers ;-)

That's all for now...

❤❤❤

Pre-Game

Kristin and I left around 1:30 to head to Tulsa on Saturday... going straight to the Cox Business Center for the Race Expo and Packet Pickup... get excited!! ;-)

I was actually pretty happy to see these medals for this year's race... most of mine from past races are smaller and round, but these are big and glittery and kinda extra in a good way! lol

After Emily's shower, I always think about how much these balloon displays cost.  They do several of them for this event!  I'm gonna vote that they reroute that $$ toward better packets and better signs marking the path along the race path next year!!

Thankfully, Kristin snapped this photo of the enlarged course map at packet pickup.  She was sending it to Frankie to give him an idea of where to park, but we used it mannnny times along the way to figure out where to turn and/or what mile marker we were at (they'd taken down some of those signs before we got there).  

Kristin had it on a list of places she wanted to see, and I had just seen Sarah's video that morning, so we stopped by Roosevelt's just to see the Christmas decor!

It did not disappoint - very fun atmosphere!  Mom and I will have to visit it sometime soon!

We had dinner at The Brook and I sent this pic to Rach and Kyndal. lol  Different foods hit very differently post-surgery, and like 3-4 bites of this is incredibly filling.  I put the leftovers in what I thought was a fridge in our hotel room, but the mac n' cheese and my bottled water were both very frozen. lol #lamesauce

Other than that and the pillows, our stay at The Renaissance Hotel was nice...

After checking in, we grabbed dessert at the Big Dipper... I had been off sweets when the fam went there in September, so I was happy to finally try it!

Yay! ❤

We both loved it - my choices were extreme cookies n' cream, Christmas tree cake, and pony boy (sweet cream + brownies and chocolate)!

Meanwhile, Rach and the kids went with Dad to the final OSU home game that afternoon!  Fun times!!

We ended the night with the Barden Bellas, going to bed a little early to be ready for our 6am wakeup call and RACE DAY!!  (See next post.)

Happy Monday and Happy Thanksgiving Week!!

❤❤❤

Parrish Pics!

Whilst I was recovering from my 5th Half Marathon, Mom was taking a few pics of Rach and the Parrish kids on a rooftop in downtown OKC!! ❤

T-man, Cowboy Carter, Jace Michael, and Miss Kyndal Faith!

(Jace has been taking horse-riding lessons with Carter lately, so he's embracing the cowboy look here too!)

My niece and nephews have been through a lot, and they're all resilient and loved by God and have bright futures ahead of them!  Love them all!! ❤

Rach with J&K

Rach with T&C

Everyone together!

It was a crazy windy day all day, so we may try this again on a less chaotic weather day, but I think several of them turned out pretty good either way!

❤ ❤ ❤

Quotables!

Rach:  "But as far as putting the (outdoor Christmas lights) up, was it hard?"
"Like, could I do it?"
"Lol those may be 2 diff questions!"
Me:  

"TATE'S NOT HAVING A TURN!!" -Parker Elizabeth ❤, passionately reporting this critical news every time Tate did something that looked interesting/fun to her for more than 3 seconds without sharing lol

Chet (on the Minnie-backpacks):  "Well, the rose gold is more year-round!  I see red, and I think: Christmas!!"

Me:  "Yeaaah, I get that.  But I see red, and I think... year-round!!" lol

(Group text early in the trip...)

JEM:  How was today? Fav ride?

Chet:  Remove work and add Disney. lol

(When Bill shared some of his breakfast steak...)

Melissa:  "Nooo, get this off my plate - I don't want it!  I'm done."

(Finally takes a bite...)

Melissa:  "Oh, that's gooood!  Do you have any potatoes to go with it!?"

Me:  "How's the waffle?"

Karli:  "Here, you can try some!"

Chet:  "Oh, nooo!  Your fork touched that one - you need to get it from this one - and WAIT - here, use a clean fork!"

Me:  "Oh gosh, that's so extra."

Chet:  "AM I WRONG!??  (Short pause)  I'm not wrong."

Me:  "Yeah, you're not wrong." lol

"How far apart are they!?"  -Town Tavern waitress, asking about the kids' ages

"Mmm, not far enough!"  -Karli, as they were seated next to each other arguing over the magnetic checkers lol

Safari Tour Guide, Animal Kingdom:  "They're actually the second most social animals on earth.  Do you know the most social animals!?  I'll give you a hint: There are several of them on this bus... that's right - humans!

Me, kinda under my breath:  "Nooooot animals."

Chet, feigning anger:  "Made in the image of God!!"

Parker E:  "Winsey, I need this and this!" (pointing at my necklace and sparkly headband)

I ignored that as we were on a short bus ride at NASA, and I wasn't sure I'd get them back easily... so she spoke up a bit and touched them for dramatic effect.

Parker:  "I need your necklace and your HAIR CROWN!!"

Me:  (while giving them to her) "Ohmygosh, I LOVE it - I am calling headbands that from now on!" lol

Me:  "My watch said it was over 10.5 miles and 27,000 steps."

Chet:  "Of course, 3 miles of that was Lindsey walking around the lake in the wrong direction!"

Me:  "100% accurate!" lol

*My free coffee from Joffrey's when I finally stopped for directions after seeing the Epcot ball and knowing that wasn't right. lol  Really nice of them, but sadly, I'm still not a coffee fan!

"I could see y'all were getting close - THANK YOU to Karli for sharing her location since Chet adamantly refuses!!" -Me

"Honestly, I didn't even realize what was happening there. I just thought you were sharing yours." -Chet Lee

"Well, I did that too - I just thought it would be helpful through this trip, and I'm glad Karli agreed!  The first time, I figured you just hadn't seen it, but the second time, I thought: Okay, he is hard-ignoring this." -Me

"Oh - I just didn't understand what it was." -Chet

"But if he had understood, he would've hard-ignored it!" -Karli lol

"Mmhmmm." -Me

"Yeah... I don't share my location!" -Chettles

Judge: "Well, in the State of Oklahoma --"

Sov. Citizen Defendant:  "Hold on - how can someone live in the state of Oklahoma?  See, I can only live in a state of MIND!"

(Completely serious and a bit arrogant, and it was hard for me not to laugh through that whole convo!)

Frodo: "I wish none of this had happened."
Gandalf: "So do all who live to see such times, but that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us." ❤

Thankful Thursday #215!

"I will praise God's name in song
and glorify Him with thanksgiving!"

~Psalm 69:30

Today, I am grateful to God for...

1.  A fun night with Kristin at the Thunder game last night!  Because we ❤ sports. lol  (Dad was given Club-level tickets and kindly gifted them to us - thankful for that!!) 

(Bought a new hoodie just for this game + changed to my clear purse at the last minute, so I'm repping OKC and OSU... and Chet with a couple fans in there!)

2.  Our weekly family dinners... where Jace showed me that he can do pull-ups now - yay, working out and training with Neal! 

3.  Tucker's cheeseburgers... not the prettiest photo, but yum. lol  I've embraced the grilled onions (lite) + lettuce and tomato, and the 2/3rds of it I was able to eat was really good!

4.  All the bright red/orange fall trees - they make me happy!  Also thankful for this nice view outside my office window at work!

5.  Cute and cozy PJs from Sunshine Sisters (in my Art of Animation hotel room with Prince Eric here)!

6.  The Big Boo live show... watched it on Youtube while packing up at Disney World.  Love Melanie and Sophie and Beth and Retha and Ree (Pioneer Woman).  Love their families and their friendships and their entertaining podcast and Christmas gift guide!!

7.  A fun night having dinner at Pei Wei + seeing Mrs. Doubtfire at the Tulsa PAC with the Wilsons and Teresa!!  I somehow wasn't expecting a musical, but the songs were really well done (posting my favorite below - poignant lyrics about kids processing a divorce while keeping it somewhat upbeat and in tune with the show).  

Okay, that's all I have for now.
Happy Thursday - only one week away from Thanksgiving!
❤ ❤ ❤

Reading Rainbow

1.  Renovation of the Heart: Putting on the Character of Christ by Dallas Willard

Long recommended by John Eldredge, I was happy to finally read a full book by Dallas Willard (the textbook for my Spiritual Formation class).  *This one is  actually a free download on Audible - highly recommend it for anyone seeking to grow in their walk with God!

QUOTE:  “Truly becoming one who wills above all to act with the kingdom of God and to have His kind of goodness… is not as far away as many would suppose... The renovation of the heart, putting on the character of Christ, is the unfailing key.  It will provide for human life all the blessing that money, talent, education, and good fortune in this world cannot begin to supply."

2.  How to Age Disgracefully, a novel by Clare Pooley

A fascinating group of strangers gradually become friends and band together to save their community center.  Another book with rich, multi-generational friendships and quirky plot twists and people who move from victim mentality to standing up for themselves as they develop healthy friendships... yes, please!  Love Clare Pooley and all three of her books thus far!!

QUOTE:  “I prefer my friends to have experience, wisdom, and a few guilty secrets.” ~Daphne

3.  Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis by J.D. Vance

An enthralling memoir about our Vice President-Elect's difficult childhood and inspiring early adult life (*language warning, for the record).  From being raised in a very dysfunctional family system to joining the Marine Corps (my favorite section - very transformational) to meeting his wife at Yale, a number of factors would indicate that God was preparing him for a leadership role.  His background gives him a well-rounded, calm confidence and a unique ability to relate to people from many walks of life, so I'm praying he can offer discreet wisdom to our more egocentric leaders and be a voice of unity in a divided country.  He is my age, which seems especially crazy, and he has overcome a great deal to be where he is today.  His political trajectory has been rapid, and I hope/pray he continues to grow and learn and move forward with dignity!

QUOTE:  “Though he was a Captain, eight pay grades higher than I was, because of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, there was no ready replacement when he got the ax.  For the next nine months, until my service ended, I would be the Media Relations Officer for one of the largest military bases on the East Coast... We discussed how to build relationships with the press, how to stay on message, how to manage my time.  I got better, and the experience taught me a valuable lesson: that I could do it.  I could speak clearly and confidently with TV cameras shoved in my face.  I could stand in a room with Majors, Colonels, and Generals and hold my own.  I could do a Captain's job, even when I feared I couldn't.  For all of my grandma's efforts, the message had only partially set in before I enlisted.  Surrounding me was another message - that I and the people like me weren't good enough.  That the reason Middletown produced zero Ivy League graduates was some genetic or character defect.  I couldn't possibly see how destructive that mentality was until I escaped it.  The Marine Corps replaced it with something else, something that loathes excuses...  In the Marines, giving it your all was a way of life.  I'm not saying ability doesn't matter.  It certainly helps.  But there is something powerful about realizing that you've undersold yourself - that somehow, your mind confused lack of effort for nobility.  This is why whenever people ask me what I'd most like to change about the white working class, I say: 'The feeling that our choices don't matter.'  The Marine Corps excised that feeling like a surgeon does a tumor." ❤

4.  Good Energy: The Surprising Connection Between Metabolism and Limitless Health by Casey Means, M.D.

Amy from CCU recommended this one.  The author's mother died of pancreatic cancer, and she is writing about the value of healthy lifestyle choices to prevent and reverse medical problems.  Her theology is off, but her health advice is solid and has a lot of heart behind it.  Among other things, this book inspired me to learn about my lab numbers and to purchase and wear a CGM (continual glucose monitor) for a couple of months to learn how specific food choices, stress levels, and sleep schedule affect my blood sugar and how much small changes (like a 5-10 minute post-meal walk) make a positive impact!

Quote:  “I deeply respect doctors, but I want to be very clear on something: at every hospital in the United States, many doctors are doing the wrong things, pushing pills and interventions when an ultra-aggressive stance on diet and behavior would do far more for the patient in front of them.”

5.  How to Grow Your Small Business: A 6-Step Plan to Help Your Business Take Off by Donald Miller

Not super applicable right now, but one that I will definitely come back to if ever I choose to branch out and start my own practice.  I wholeheartedly trust Don's business advice and appreciate that he sets out very clear steps to follow!

QUOTE:  “Until you professionalize your operation, its potential is limited.  The amount of money you make and your ability to have a positive impact on the world will be limited."

6.  Master the Marathon: The Ultimate Training Guide for Women by Ali Nolan

A book by an Olympic female runner for all female runners, beginners and experts alike.  She covers training plans, the importance of nutrition and strength training, avoiding injuries, choosing the best marathon for you, recovering well, and building up your mental resilience.  It was motivating and practical, and it made me feel determined to *finish* this goal I set way back in 2012!

Quote:  “Women shouldn't follow the exact same training regimen as men. We need programs tailored to our bodies - to our unique strengths and weaknesses... My hope is that this book will guide you through the entire marathon process... Give yourself time. This is a process that will affect your whole life and will result in positive change, if you let it."

Thankful for each of these books and what I've learned from them.  And very thankful for Audible making it possible for me to read over 30 books so far this year!!

❤ ❤ ❤