168 Reasons to Run

Last Sunday I ran the Oklahoma City Memorial 5K race. It was a beautiful morning and although I did not set a PR (I blame it on being sick the week before) I had a really good time. I got a sweet medal and enjoyed watching the sun rise over my favorite city. The race celebrated its 10th anniversary and just keeps getting bigger and better! I can't wait until next year--I'm pretty sure I'll be running that half-marathon!

The Friday before the race, I took the afternoon off to pick up my race packet at the OKC Memorial Expo downtown. Then Mom, Dad, Grandma, and I explored the Oklahoma City National Memorial. We were truly blessed to experience the occasion on such a glorious afternoon. None of us had visited before and we were so impressed. The grounds are beautiful and simple and touching...a real tribute. We read through the information packet as we walked and were amazed to learn so many things we didn't know. Of course, I forgot to put new batteries in my camera (duh) and had to take a few pics with my Blackberry. But I am planning on going back very soon to take some great photos.

The thought and care that went into such a memorial blew my mind. And the fact that the memorial is maintained by the National Park Service makes me smile. This means that all funds generated are through the Museum admission fees, private fundraising campaigns, and the Memorial Marathon race. We didn't have time to visit the Museum but plan on doing so in a few months.

One of the first questions I asked my dad was the meaning of the two walls...they each stand on opposite sides of the reflecting pool. One reads "9:01" and the other "9:03." When Mom finally read aloud what it meant we both got goosebumps. Here is what the brochure says:

"These monumental twin gates frame the moment of destruction--9:02 a.m.--and mark the formal entrances to the Memorial. The East Gate represents 9:01 a.m. on April 19, and the innocence of the city before the attack. The West Gate represents 9:03 a.m., the moment we were changed forever, and the hope that came from the horror in the moments and days following the bombing."

Dad and I wandered over to the Field of Empty Chairs and I almost broke down when I realized there were tiny chairs--for the 19 children who died that day. I noticed how the chairs were placed in a particular order and Dad read that there are 9 rows of chairs that represent the 9 floors of the Murrah building. Each chair, engraved with the names of those lost, represents the area of the building where that particular person was that day. We plan to return at night when the bases of each chair light up as "beacons of hope." The field is surrounded by a perimeter of granite sidewalks--the granite was actually salvaged from the Murrah Plaza.

Another simple yet powerful symbol of the Memorial is the Survivor Tree.

It is a huge American Elm tree. The message near the tree says:

"The spirit of this city and this nation will not be defeated; our deeply rooted faith sustains us."

The inscription encircling the tree reads:

"To the courageous and caring who responded from near and far, we offer our eternal gratitude."

Again, I am getting goosebumps just typing this! I am an Okie, born and bred...to visit the Memorial as an American is heartbreaking; to visit as a native Oklahoman is overwhelming.

There are pieces of the original Murrah building all around the Memorial. You can see where the concrete has been broken, with steel rebar sticking out. It makes it all so incredibly real.

When I finished the race on Sunday morning, I had to walk back to my car parked in a lot a few blocks away. I was thinking about the race and how unhappy I was with my time, when I realized I was walking right by the Memorial. There weren't any visitors and all was quiet. I was reminded why I ran that race...168 people lost their lives 15 years ago. And even though my heart hurt, I held my head a little higher.

WE COME HERE TO REMEMBER THOSE WHO WERE KILLED, THOSE WHO SURVIVED AND THOSE CHANGED FOREVER. MAY ALL WHO LEAVE HERE KNOW THE IMPACT OF VIOLENCE. MAY THIS MEMORIAL OFFER COMFORT, STRENGTH, PEACE, HOPE, AND SERENITY.

A change in plans

The last few weeks have been quiet around here! My poor blog has been neglected and thrown on the back burner. Why you ask? Sleep, study, eat, work, run, repeat. That's where you'll find me!

An announcement: I will not be running the OKC Memorial Half Marathon as originally planned. I didn't technically start my training early enough and honestly I just wasn't feeling it. A few weeks ago (Good Friday to be exact) I made the tough decision to push back my 1/2 marathon goal. It really was a tough decision...the 2 weeks before I started to get so nervous, doubting myself during every run. I found that I wasn't enjoying it anymore and was merely training. On some training runs I would hit 4 miles and think "There is no way I can finish 13.1 miles in a month." A lot of self-doubt and self-sabotage talk going on inside this head of mine. But once I made the decision to wait a few more months, I began to ENJOY my running again!! It was like a weight had lifted off of my shoulders. I guess part of me thought I would be letting everyone down or that some might say "Well, I didn't even think you COULD run 13.1 anyway..." (not that anyone in my life would say that to me). I made a decision for myself and it was a smart one. I immediately signed up for a 1/2 in September and notified the OKC Memorial staff that I would be running the 5K instead of the 1/2 on 4/25. So, I'm not giving up on my 1/2 marathon goal...just giving it a few more months!

Whew! I feel better now...I have been running purely for hobby and fun lately and I love it. I'm excited about running the 5K on Sunday because it's such a great cause. This past Monday marked the 15th anniversary of the OKC bombing...on Sunday, I'll be running for those who cannot.

Brrr

I won't be running outside today...but it's on the schedule for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday!! I may have to drag the old, beat-up treadmill out of the garage and into the house!!

An Oklahoma Landmark

Friday night we had dinner at Cattleman's Steakhouse. It has become an Oklahoma landmark of sorts. Located in the old stockyards (now called Stockyards City), the restaurant doesn't look to have changed much (and it's not a place for vegetarians). It's pretty old (1910) and doesn't look like the inside has changed much since then. BUT we had an awesome time! The food was great and the atmosphere was warm and comforting. Mom and Grandma shared the filet mignon, Dad had a ribeye, and I had the shrimp (I haven't had a steak in probably 10 years--although I had a taste!). It was really neat to get out of Edmond and try something new. We all had a great evening. The whole street was full of the charm of the old country. I'd like to go back again--and maybe even get a steak!!

Why Travel To Other Cities? Oklahoma Has Them All
Cleveland, Oklahoma
Orlando, Oklahoma
Miami, Oklahoma (“my-a-ma”)
Pittsburg, Oklahoma
Santa Fe, Oklahoma
St. Louis, Oklahoma
Chattanooga, Oklahoma
Peoria, Oklahoma
Burbank, Oklahoma
Fargo, Oklahoma

Don't Forget The Wildlife
Wolfe, Oklahoma
Eagle, Oklahoma
Buffalo, Oklahoma
Fox, Oklahoma
Bison, Oklahoma
Deer Creek, Oklahoma
Elk City, Oklahoma

We Have A Town Named After A Number...
Forty-One, Oklahoma

And A Town Who's Letters Don't Spell Anything...
IXL, Oklahoma

And For The Sportsman Who Wants To Get Away From It All...
Fisherman's Paradise, Oklahoma

We Even Have A City Named After Earth's Only Satellite…
Moon, Oklahoma

And A City Named After Our State…
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Feeling A Bit Chilly?
Snow, Oklahoma
Slick, Oklahoma
Cold Springs, Oklahoma

Oklahoma Is Full Of Love…
Lovedale, Oklahoma
Loveland, Oklahoma
Lovell, Oklahoma
Bigheart, Oklahoma
Loyal, Oklahoma

Like To Read About The Presidents?
Adams, Oklahoma
Taylor, Oklahoma
Fillmore, Oklahoma
Grant, Oklahoma
Taft, Oklahoma
Johnson, Oklahoma
Lincoln, Oklahoma
Jefferson, Oklahoma
Reagan, Oklahoma
Wilson, Oklahoma
Roosevelt, Oklahoma
Carter, Oklahoma
Clinton, Oklahoma
Washington, Oklahoma

Other City Names In Oklahoma To Make You Smile...
Frogville, Oklahoma
Loco, Oklahoma
Bushyhead, Oklahoma
Bug Tussle, Oklahoma
Hooker, Oklahoma
Slaughterville, Oklahoma
Bowlegs, Oklahoma
Slapout, Oklahoma

And Regardless What Side Of The Fence You're On...
Gay, Oklahoma
Straight, Oklahoma

Here Are Some Little Known But Very Interesting Facts About Oklahoma:

• The bread twist tie was invented in Maysville, OK
• The shopping cart was invented in Ardmore, OK in 1936
• The nation's first parking meter was installed in Oklahoma City in 1935
• The first Girl Scout Cookie was sold in Muskogee in 1917
• Cimarron County , located in the Oklahoma Panhandle, is the only county in the U.S. bordered by 4 separate states...Texas , New Mexico , Colorado & Kansas
• The Oklahoma State Capital is the only capital in the U.S. with working oil wells on its grounds
• Boise City , Oklahoma was the only city in the United States to be bombed during World War II. On Monday night, July 5, 1943, at 12:30 a.m., a B-17 Bomber based at Dalhart Army Air Base, Texas , dropped six practice bombs on the sleeping town, mistaking the city lights as target lights
• WKY Radio in Oklahoma City was the first radio station transmitting west of the Mississippi River
• The nation's first 'Tornado Warning' was issued on March 25, 1948 in Oklahoma City minutes before a devastating tornado. Because of the warning, no lives were lost
• Oklahoma has the largest Native American population of any state in the U.S.
• The name comes from two Choctaw words: okla meaning 'people' and humma meaning 'red'. So the name means, 'Red People.' The name was approved in 1890
• Oklahoma produced more astronauts than any other state
• Oklahoma has more man-made lakes than any other state
• The nation's first traffic 'Yield' sign was erected in Tulsa on a trial basis
• Pensacola Dam is the longest multi-arched dam in the world at 6,565 feet
• The Port of Catoosa (just north of Tulsa) is the largest inland port in America
• The aerosol can was invented in Bartlesville, OK (my birth city!)
• Per square mile, Oklahoma has more tornadoes than any other place in the world
• The highest wind speed ever recorded on earth was in Moore, Oklahoma on May 3rd, 1999 during the Oklahoma City F-5 tornado. Wind speed was clocked at 318 mph
• The Will Rogers World Airport and the Wiley Post Airport are both named after two famous Okies....both killed in an airplane crash!!!
  

The Indian Taco

Every year since moving back to Oklahoma in 2006 I have eaten my annual indian taco at the Edmond Arts Festival. The indian taco is a Navajo tradition and recipe. It's a lot like a taco salad but the bottom is Navajo Fry Bread -- and it's sooooooo good! The texture reminds me of a doughnut but it's not sweet. I like to add the taco sauce to mine. The EAF begins on a Friday and a few of us at the office always walk over to peruse the array of goodies: indian tacos, fried corn on the cob, funnel cakes, giant corn dogs, chocolate covered cheesecake (on a stick), brats & kraut, fried green tomatoes, gyros, shoestring onion rings, frito pie, homemade root beer, etc...I could go on and on. I also picked up some cotton candy--yummy! And there is a lot of fun music, art and jewelry/crafts. Mom and I pitched in last year to get Dad this really neat golf picture--it looks great hanging in his office. Edmond never fails to bring the best and there is always a fun time had by all!!!

April 22, 1889

Oklahoma Land Rush of 1889

The land run started at high noon on April 22, 1889, with an estimated 50,000 people lined up for their piece of the available two million acres.

A number of the individuals who participated in the run entered early and hid out until the legal time of entry to lay quick claim to some of the most choice homesteads. These people came to be identified as "sooners."

By the end of April 22, both Oklahoma City and Guthrie had established cities of around 10,000 people in literally half a day. As Harper's Weekly put it:

"Unlike Rome, the city of Guthrie was built in a day. To be strictly accurate in the matter, it might be said that it was built in an afternoon. At twelve o'clock on Monday, April 22d [sic], the resident population of Guthrie was nothing; before sundown it was at least ten thousand. In that time streets had been laid out, town lots staked off, and steps taken toward the formation of a municipal government."

Helluva Saturday

I am feeling much better and it was a gorgeous day in the land of Oklahoma!

I started my new volunteer gig today helping out at the Edmond Historic Schoolhouse [...Oklahoma's First Territorial Schoolhouse was completed in August of 1889. Now over a hundred years later the Edmond Historic Preservation Trust has restored the school to its original state. Open to the public the first two Saturdays of each month from 1-4 and by appoinement...]. I am officially a volunteer with the Edmond Historical Society and Museum. I was supposed to volunteer with the regular docent but she was out of town. So it turns out I met up with the President of EHSM!! His name is Cameron and he is so cool...I learned a lot about the museum, the society, the Schoolhouse and Edmond in general. It was a sunny day in Edmond so we had a lot of visitors. I plan to get even more involved as they need the help. There may even be a spot on the Board for yours truly! How cool is that?? Getting involved in volunteering was one of the best things I have done this year (or ever). I met some amazing people (including Cameron's daughter and wife).

Mom, Dad and Grandma picked me up after we closed the Schoolhouse at 4:00 and we went to dinner! I felt like I hadn't seen them in a long time...it was nice to catch up. After they dropped me off I hit the office to get a few things done (I KNEW there would be a pile of stuff on my desk). Then I got some groceries (including a trashy magazine for fun) and came home to get some studying done (Business Law exam next week). I also whipped up some of these for dinner tomorrow and during the week.

All in all it was a helluva Saturday! :)

Tending to the Family Tree...

Since moving to Oklahoma in 2006, I have more than ever started to embrace my roots. The more history I can learn about Oklahoma the better. For my birthday this year, mom and dad bought me 3 books on the history of Oklahoma. I am reading one now about Oklahoma place names and it's really neat stuff. I've also been researching our family tree. With a lot of help from my extended Okie family, old photo albums and the internet, I have compiled names, events and even physical records of genealogy. It's very exciting! My ultimate goal of this search is to determine whether I have proof of Cherokee heritage. My paternal side of the family is positive that my great-great grandmother was of Cherokee decent (we do not know for sure if she was full-blooded Cherokee).

I am very proud of my roots and where I come from in this world!

More as it develops...

If you fry it, they will come...

The Oklahoma State Fair was a blast this weekend...we walked around until our feet hurt. We saw the exotic petting zoo, the barnyard, a dog stunt show, every kind of booth/vendor you can possibly imagine and...FRIED FOOD! I've heard they will fry anything if you bring it to them, but who knows. Mom and Dad had corn dogs and I tried my first Polish dog (I'm not a huge meat eater). I also made myself sick on cotton candy. Ah, and we discovered a virtual candy land...you grab a basket and weave through a maze of candy...it was my fantasy! They had candy from my childhood, my parent's childhood, and a bunch of new weird stuff. I loaded up on banana laffy taffy, candy orange slices, swizzle sticks, salt water taffy, runts...just to name a few. I packed in $10 worth of candy! I have a dentist appointment tomorrow and I am certain he won't be happy!

All in all, the fair is a great experience. Plenty to see, eat and drink. Parking wasn't a problem at all and of course, since it's Oklahoma, everyone was super friendly. I love this place!

See ya next year,

And the winner is...

Oklahoma City Thunder!!

Yup, our new (transferred?) NBA team is officially official. Here is what one article had to say on the name matter:

Thunder is a fitting moniker for the Oklahoma City franchise, not only as a reference to powerful storms in the area known as Tornado Alley. The Oklahoma City-based 45th Infantry Division carries Thunderbirds as its nickname, and that’s a reference to the state’s American Indian heritage. Even one of Oklahoma native Garth Brooks’ biggest hits was “The Thunder Rolls.” “There’s just all kinds of good thunder images and thoughts, and the in-game experience of Thunder,” Bennett said. “Just here was a good sense of how that evokes emotion. It’s very powerful.”

This is Home.

City of Edmond, Oklahoma

Population: 75,466
Median Age: 34.8
Largest Age Group: 35-54
Est Average Household Income: $84,302
Cost of Living Index: 90.0
Average Price of Single-Family Home: $234,047
Per Capita Income: $66,476
Unemployment Rate: 2.3%
Crime Rate (crimes per 1000 ratio): 25.08

Named as one of America's Top-Rated Smaller Cities in 2006-2007 by Universal Publications in New York and as one of the “Top 100 Places to Live in 2007” by Relocate-America, Edmond is filled with as much culture, entertainment and art as it is business, education and industry. With a cost of living that is more than nine percent below the national average, Edmond is home to the famous Oak Tree Golf Club, the site of the 67th Senior PGA Championship. There are more than 10 golf courses in the area, but golf is only part of Edmond's recreational activities. Arcadia Lake offers fishing, skiing, camping and 17 miles of hiking trails. Historic Downtown Edmond features diverse shopping, and the Fine Arts Institute sponsors and host art shows. Edmond is home to two major colleges, the University of Central Oklahoma and Oklahoma Christian University. Nearby Oklahoma City Zoo is one of the country's largest and best zoos, while Remington Park offers exciting thoroughbred horseracing.

Edmond, Oklahoma...A Great Place to Grow!