End of a Chapter, MY Birthday and the Delaware Marathon Relay!

The past 2 weeks have seriously come down to crunch time ... the 2014 lacrosse season has come to an end, Mother's Day, My birthday, and the Delaware Marathon ALL happened within the past 6 days!

So here we go:

AWESOME SWAG!

May 11th .... Mother's Day and the Delaware Marathon Festival!  My day started at 5am and thankfully Momma Way ( Jen's mom ) picked me up and I hitched a ride to the start with Jen!  Jen ran the FULL marathon and I was on the 4 person relay team!  I honestly had myself so stressed out about this distance!  I LOVE mileage and distance runs ... something in me craves 20+ milers but the thought of running FAST for shorter distance scares the crap out of me!  I was afraid of failing and letting my teammates down.  I was scheduled to go as the 4th runner and probably should have relaxed and sat down for the 3 hours prior to my leg start BUT I was so nervous I couldn't relax.  By the time I was waiting in the transition area for John I felt like I had already ran and my legs felt heavy and tired ... plus it was VERY hot by this point.  Finally,  I just told myself to run and have fun ... I did!!  3:04:?? and 2nd coed open team.  Not horrible but I definitely felt the heat and fatigue by going 4th!

Jen killed it and finished the 26.2 in 3:36:52 ... she placed 1st in her AG!  YAY!!

THE WAY Crew!!

BOSTON BOUND 2015

Jen B., Jen W., and myself are all Boston Bound for 2015!!!

After the race we enjoyed a few beverages from Frank's Wine:

Champagne Cocktails are a winner!!

I have never ran this 26.2 race because it is a double loop and in my mind that seems awful .. BUT if you are looking for a fast, it is NOT flat, small field size ( 515 full marathoners ) this is the race for you!!  The after party is a BLAST and it is sponsored by my work ... YAY!

Right after the race I had to haul it home, shower, then head to my big guys lacrosse games!!  BEST Mother's Day ever!

My mom is truly a saint and we should celebrate her year round!  I hope my boys know how blessed they are to have her!

My sweaty lacrosse player!  He makes me so proud.

Melt my heart!

I could not have asked for a better day!  We celebrated Mother's Day over a delicious meal at Cantwell's Tavern and just enjoyed each other!

MY LOVES!

Tueday May 13:

MY BIRTHDAY!!!  I decided for my birthday I want to run a 35K and luckily my girls Dawn and Angel joined me in the celebration!

While I was running my first 8.5 miles I was receiving amazing text messages the whole time!!!! BEST EVER!!

IT felt like it was the peak of summer today out on the run!!  80+ degrees and 68% humidity already!
Angel, Dawn and I ran 9 miles together ( forgot to snap a pic of us all ) ... then Angel saddled up while I finished out my miles!  21.7 miles done in 2:55.

Then I went to lunch with Nicole, Lori, and Angel!!!!!!!  There is something SO special about having amazing girlfriends! I feel so loved and luckily to have them in my life!!

Nicole knows me better than myself sometimes and her gifts made me teary!!!  ( I will post pic asap )
AND this card from Angel was perfect ... We actually throw this saying out A LOT when we are struggling on our runs!

I am in LOVE with this Coach clutch from my BFF and my godsons for Mother's Day!!

Lori made me delicious cupcakes that I think we inhaled before I could take a picture!!!!

Then the party continued ... lacrosse practice with these fabulous girls:

Even though we didn't win EVERY game they completely make my heart and soul happy!  I feel honored to be their coach!  They sang Happy Birthday to me and brought me cookies and cupcakes ... Amazing!

Yup the party kept on rolling after practice I finally had my birthday tradition of Kenny's sushi:

MMMMMMM!

My Family!!

THANK YOU to everyone for making my day/week special!

Good luck to everyone racing this weekend!

Happy Running!

Birthday, End of Lacrosse, and FEETURES! Giveaway!!!!!!!!

Well.. Monday was special because it was my girls lacrosse team's last game of the season and MY BIRTHDAY!  I have to say I am so proud of this team and the efforts they gave throughout the season...Many of the players never ever picked up a lacrosse stick before coming into the season!  I look forward to the 2014 season and what these girls can do!  Many of them have expressed interest in conditioning and training in the off season so that makes me extremely happy!  My goalie went above and beyond and made these DELICIOUS cupcakes:

HAPPY BDAY COACH BLACK!!

 What a better way to spend my birthday then with my favorite group of lax players... Too bad we did not win!  Oh well...still a blast!

 Then my amazing friend Lori sent me this text/instagram!!!  BEST EVER!!!!!!  This truly contains all of my favorite things!  Love ya Lori Jo!

FREE birthday Starbucks

 Also... enjoyed my FREE birthday Starbucks!  Then met my Mom, brother, boys and hubby for a Mexican Monday Birthday Bash!

Instagrammed @ DERUNNINGMOM

Love my family and friends!

I am currently not training for anything and I tend to get a little cray cray when I am left without a plan.  My next marathon is Marine Corp in October so the next 2 months I am thinking about focusing on speed and doing a few 5k's.  WHO AM I?!?!?!  After running the Delaware Marathon relay I realized to be the best runner I can be I have to do what scares me and makes me get out of my comfort zone.... and that is speedy short runs! 

So this past week workouts so far:
Monday:  Quick 3 birthday miles in 23:00...I also did BodyPump and made Angel join me!  Love this class and total body workout.
Tuesday:   The plan was to do Amy's spin class but she was not teaching today so Angel and I totally bailed and did our own cross training...sort of...I ran 3.1 miles in 22 mins then did 10 mins on the rowing machine ( no more pathetic back muscles over here ), then I did my regular back exercises.  Angel suggested we go run a lap (2.6 miles ) outside at the park so we did!
Today:  I did 8.65 miles in 67 mins and had to cut it short due to a dentist appt... was hoping for 10!

Ok enough of that now for the good stuff: 

It is not secret I am in LOVE with FEETURES! socks and have been training in them for over 4 years now!  I am so proud to be an ambassador for such a high quality, customer focused company.... SOOOOOO  the AMAZING people of FEETURES want to spread the love and offer one of my readers some socks and a super comfy T-Shirt!!!   


 

To enter the giveaway just click on link and comment here on this post and tell me which FEETURES socks you would pick? ( 1 entry )

Also tweet about giveaway and comment that you did ( 1 entry )

Also share giveaway on Facebook and comment that you did for a 3rd entry ( 1 entry )

Hope you win!!!  Winner will be picked May 23!

Happy Running!

Delaware Marathon Relay

Ok so the thought of doing this race terrified me!!  I was worried... what if I let my team down, what if I am too slow, what if I suck???  I actually said I would rather run another 26.2 then 6.55 miles fast!  See... I have become very comfortable with the long slow distance and the shorter faster paces scare me to death!  Hmmmmmm.. maybe I need to work on that and what a better time of year and racing season to do it in then summertime!! 

I have never ran the Delaware Marathon, Half, or Relay....I totally have been missing out!  I did work the water stop last year with my running club which was AWESOME!!!  This event was a blast after I got over my fears...There is a 4 person and 8 person relay team event which is a great way to get out, be active and have fun!  Our team was Team Landon aka Goofy Runners and organized by Dave Landon ( wow truly took care of everything including GU, beverages and a tailgating tent! ).  The guys on my team were beyond fantastic and totally made me feel confident in myself.  I also got to hangout with all the Y runners, MAC runners, and my friends Christie and Jen!

 

 For the 4 person relay the first runner starts @ 7:05am and wears a ankle band...there is a transition area where runner 2 meets runner 1 and switches the band then runs their leg of the race and same with runners 3 & 4....Thank God I didn't have to worry about dropping the baton!!!  I was runner #3 so I had a little time to take care of business and socialize before my turn!

Well mile 1 was fun then miles 2-4 I thought I was going to puke!  Then my motor kicked in and I realized "oh ok I am almost done" ... I really think that I need to do a few more shorter faster runs and get use to the pace.  Thank you Dave, Michael and John for such a great Mother's Day morning! 

Yay US!!

I also got to see Jen totally kick asphalt, PR and BQ!!!  She literally just decided she was going to run a marathon right after Boston this year and boy she was determined to BQ!  Talk about a quick training plan...less than a month! 

Jen hauling rear to the finish

Look at that medal!!! 

I knew she would rock this race!!  This is a tough course and the marathon is a double loop ( not sure  if I would love or hate this ) with some pretty good hills/inclines!  Watch out Beantown...Delaware Blondes are coming your way!

Pink Fairy

Also got to see this guy...Pink Fairy..I have seen him in many marathons and this was his 10th Delaware Marathon! 

ANNNDDDD... HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY to all the amazing moms out there!!  I couldn't think of a better way to spend my day! 

The MOST FABULOUS MOM IN THE WORLD!  Mom..I love you more than words can explain!!  You always go above and beyond for everyone!  LOVE YOU!

Anyone else run Delaware today??

Happy Running!

OISELLE LOVE!!!

The last 3 weeks have been a little crazy and full of fun...2 full marathons, tons of lacrosse ( practices and games ), my real job and of course mommy time with my 2 favorite little boys!  It has been very challenging to juggle it all but I wouldn't change a thing except for a little more sleep!  I really haven't talked much about the New Jersey Marathon but I promise to recap it next post but for right now I want to share my mail today:

Oiselle!!!!!!

 This melts my heart!  I am so honored and blessed to be a part of such an amazing group of women!!!  The outpour of love and support leading up to and immediately following Boston is something I can never truly express how grateful I am!

In Boston I had the chance to meet and run with a few of my awesome teammate:

YAY!!

In Wellesley the cheers and amazing signs made by teammates were incredible!!

Then in New Jersey I ran into Robin, Mary, Danielle ( still smiling and hearing your cheers...BEST EVER)  and Meggie!!! 

Meeting all these fellow birdies really sparked my excitement and got me thinking of all the fun we are going to have in the future!!!  Then to have such a package arrive today made me cry with joy!! 

I want to send a HUGE THANK YOU and big hugs and kisses to my Oiselle Family!  I will wear this shirt with such great pride and honor! 

I cannot wait to rock my Oiselle singlet this Sunday ( Mother's Day ) here in Delaware for the 4 person relay marathon!! 

Anyone else running the Delaware Marathon?  Relay, Half or Full ?

Hope to see some fellow Oiselle out there!

Happy Running!