Throw Back...A Year

A year ago this weekend I headed to AZ to run in the Scottsdale Women's Half Marathon! My friend Shauna and I had concocted a plan when we saw the race advertised and I was giddy that it was running from my old stomping grounds (Old Town to Tempe) !She and I would head out to AZ for the weekend, sans kiddos and spend the glorious weekend at the Nonie Bed & Breakfast (best stay and company ever!), shop, eat, sleep, oh ya and RUN! I have talked up my hometown so often that being the good friend she is she couldn't wait to visit and see what all the fuss was about. I couldn't wait to show her so much of what makes up who I am and hang out with family and I was so excited to run a race in AZ with the dry climate not to mention November is one of my favorite times of the year there - perfect weather. We were leaving on a Thursday evening to fly in and get settled so we would have Friday to fit in a short run and of course shop! 

Wednesday night had been Halloween and I woke up excited to spend the day as mommy and then head off on a new adventure with a best friend that evening. So I called her mid morning after school drop offs as I was finishing packing and her husband answers the phone...I knew right away! Dale home answering phone during the day = sick Shauna.  I quickly said, what are you doing home? begging that it was something else. Nope, sure enough she was so sick she couldn't even talk or get out of bed. So for the next couple of hours he and I talked back and forth and worked with the airlines about getting her out the next day if she miraculously was better because there was no way she was flying out with me that evening. I was bummed and felt awful for her and I knew how much we were both looking forward to this trip. It also dawned on me that for the first time I would be running 13.1 miles by myself. Before this, the four half's we had done had always been together, talking and yapping and praying our way through each mile! 

So I hopped on a flight and said goodbye to my sweet kiddos and hubby and headed off to AZ. My sweet mom picked me up at the airport and we headed to Aunt Betsy's to pick up a car to borrow and she had made a delish homemade meal - one that was definitely stashed in my have to make pile! And at this point I was still hoping that Shauna would bounce back and be able to fly out the next day, not just for me but for her too! 

Friday morning I woke up to beautiful, beautiful clear blue skies! Threw on my jogging shoes and went for a quick jog to just get acclimated and loved every foot pounding motion. There is something about jogging there...I truly appreciate the weather and landscape, something I definitely didn't realize when living there! And then the next best thing happened...I found myself sitting on my mom's gorgeous flower filled patio drinking coffee (by myself - I actually finished a whole cup!) and not rushing anywhere! My mom had planned on working so Shauna and I could have some time to hang out and shop but wished she had the day off when it became just me. We realized though that this would be the first time ever since having kids that we were alone finishing conversations and catching up. I ended up spending the morning shopping (best time) and set lunch plans with my friend Amanda and her mom -  my mom joining us on her lunch break too! While shopping I ran into my mom's oldest friend's Denise and invited her to come along so we ended up having the best girls lunch that wasn't even planned. That's what I realized as much as I was sad and disappointed that Shauna wasn't with me, things ended up being planned that would have never happened and it was so fun to catch up with friends that I hadn't even imagined I would be able to see. I touched base with Shauna and it became clear that she was still so so sick and in no shape to come out. Poor thing BUT that's when the plan started. I remember Shawna had "taken" Topher on a trip back when she was with her friends. They took a picture of him and glued it on a stick and he was photographed everywhere they went. She was about to be on this adventure and didn't even have a clue!

More shopping after lunch where my mom met me up after work! And what evening would be complete in AZ without a quick trip to In & Out! 

Saturday morning I was able to surprise my dad for his birthday - he had no clue I was coming in town and I wanted to meet him for breakfast to give him a birthday hug in person! So much fun catching up with him and celebrating his special day!

While at breakfast my mom ran to pick up our Flat Shauna picture so she could finally start her adventure. She was behind and had missed a lot (of shopping especially). We then headed to the running expo to pick up my timing chip, race bib and check out the running gear. Loved my mom helping me pick out some new headbands and running stuff - it was so fun to have her with me. And then she insisted we drive to where we would park the next morning at the starting line so we wouldn't be lost and wasting time the next morning - one less thing to worry about!

We grabbed some yummy salads for lunch and took them to Nana's care facility and met a ton of our family there! Something else that before that morning hadn't even been planned so what a blessing that was to see this sweet lady and some of the rest of my fam and of course "introduce" them to Shauna!

It was fun hanging out with Aubrey and made me miss my own kiddos and wish they were here to celebrate!

All the girls at lunch! Shauna meet the girls - girls meet Shauna

More shopping between meals and visits and this time Shauna came
everywhere I said we were going to SHOP! Starbucks run too! My mom and I had such a blast with this and laughed so hard - and thought it was amusing when people stared at us taking pictures with a picture on a stick!

Dinner at our favorite AZ restaurant - Oregano's with two special people!

And one super special mom!

And this was one part I had so much fun watching!!! Couldn't stop laughing at my cute mom. She sat on this computer and mapped our whole running route and figured out everyplace she was going to be able to stop, park her car and find me to cheer me on. She kept asking how fast I go so she wouldn't miss cheering. It was the sweetest, kindest gifts she could have ever given me. Both of my parents have an unending ability to be so supportive and amazing cheerleaders and this is yet again another example!

Race morning bright and early and perfect running weather - see Shauna told you it would be beautiful!

Starting line - On your mark...

After the race! 13.1 miles completed and incredible race! Go Shauna

I ended up running my first half by myself with a PR of 2:02. AZ running weather definitely makes you run a little faster!! And my cute mom found me THREE different times and I had more fun watching her and she would cheer her little heart out.

It turned out to be a very special weekend in so many ways and one that I look back on a year later and am so thankful for the memories and the blessings of it all!

Poor Shauna was sick the rest of the weekend and had no clue she had been so many "places" with me after all. So I quickly made her a Snapfish small flip picture book of her adventures in AZ and she LOVED it. We skipped out this year but are already seeing if 2014 works out in any way!

Happy November!