okc memorial marathon

yesterday i woke up at 4:30am, after a fitful night of sleep to thunderstorms, so i could run the 12th annual oklahoma city memorial marathon.  yeah, it was a short night of sleep.  but it was worth it.  in 1995, i was sitting in my oklahoma history class when news hit that the murrah federal building in downtown okc was bombed.  it was pretty harrowing, even for a freshman in high school.  at the time, it was the most horrific terrorist attack on US soil.  and ever since i'd started running marathons, i'd wanted to run this one.  
there were a record number of 27,000 runners yesterday morning.  we were packed in like sardines.  but the 168 seconds of silence before the race start helped you to remember why you were there.  168-the number of innocent people who lost their lives 17 years ago.  the streets are lined with banners memorializing the victims.  when you are tired on mile 20, all you have to do is look up and see the names of the people who died that day to be inspired to keep going.  it was pretty cool.  
the day was dark and cloudy.  it rained on me from mile 11-18.  but it was my best race yet.  i finished in 4 hours and 15 minutes.  it was hard!!!  but amazing at the same time.  and i'm reminded of how blessed i am :)