that one time...at bird camp

I had the incredible opportunity to attend bird camp this year in Leavenworth, WA with about 100 other wonderful Oiselle teammates. There aren't enough adjectives to describe this amazing experience and what it meant to me. So, rather than try to put all my thoughts in to writing, I'll use my pictures to tell the story.

Day 1 
Woke up bright and early to catch a flight out of Boston to Seattle. Rebecca and I got through security and headed to the gate, only to find out 2 minutes too late they had changed the gate. We watched our plane take off and spent some extra time in Logan waiting for the next flight.

see ya later Boston

We made it to Seattle in just enough time to take a cab to the new Oiselle store, speed shop, grab some food, and jump on a bus for a 2+ hour ride to Leavenworth.

scoping out the track through the bus window

I call the loft!

Sleeping Lady resort is beautiful

Day 1 ended with listening to the Haute Volee racing team, talking about goals, and what makes us feel powerful. My heart was full.

Day 2 

PT with Jay Dicharry

Goal setting with Lauren Fleshman and Adrienne Langelier

Jasyoga <3 

Sitting on a rock enjoying the most beautiful scenery. Trying to soak it all in.

birds take over the woods pre 5k

THIS girl <3 thanks for being a fabulous roommate and friend

<3

I love these women

This 5k would be the first and only time I actually got to run at camp. I had a very cranky IT band that only got worse during the race. Total bummer. 

Also important to note, I had a close encounter with a black bear and her cub about half way through the race. Terrifying but also kind of cool. Welcome to the woods.

Listening to Sally, Kristin and Heather talk about the team vision
and plans for the future. I'm so grateful to be a part of something so special. 

Day 3 (probably my favorite)

If you can't run...bike!

will stop for cows

this bike ride was one of the highlights for me

don't get views like this in the city

That afternoon we had the option of shopping, SUP, kayak, or float down the Wenatchee River in a tube. I chose to float. It was perfect. Post river float we went to Der Hinterhof for happy hour and apps. 

take me back

When we got back to the resort we gathered to listen to the hilariously funny Erin Ward AKA Jungle Chicken, Kayla from Girls Gotta Run Foundation, and Kristin Kirkland from Every Mother Counts. It was a fabulous day. 

Day 4

Most of the group went off to hike to Lake Colchuck. Given the state of my IT band, I chose to stay back and relax. I packed up my suitcase, went to fitness center, enjoyed nature's ice bath, spent many hours sitting by the pool, and listened to Lauren Fleshman serenade us with her guitar and beautiful voice. Did it all have to end? 

nature's ice bath

had to go back to this spot one last time...it was my favorite

the river was freezing, but oh so nice

Lauren and Erin rocking out

Later that night we were treated to a fashion show (no pictures allowed), some giveaways, and a gear swap. Many of us headed over to the grotto bar to share stories, have drinks, and reminisce about the days prior. 

Definitely wasn't quite ready for that one.

I stayed up way too late (with too many drinks) considering my early departure, but I didn't care. I was prolonging the inevitable end to one of the best experiences of my life. 

Not a day has gone by that I haven't thought about bird camp. It feels like just yesterday yet so long ago at the same time. When asked about what makes me feel powerful, the first thing that came to mind was the Oiselle team. In a world where women are constantly tearing each other apart and trying to bring others down, these women build us all up, offer support, and never ending encouragement. I can't thank each and every one of them enough. 

Bird camp 2015, you far exceeded my expectations. 

  

breaking in the singlet

On Saturday, July 26th I ran my first race in my shiny new Oiselle singlet. It was amazing. Well, the race not so much I guess, but racing in the singlet was everything I had hoped for and more. The race was a 5k in Somerville, MA called Running on the Streets of Gold. I ran with my totally awesome teammate, braid twin, and new friend Rebecca. She picked me up around 7, after I made her wait in the parking lot while I finished gathering all of my stuff. I am a terrible packer and planner, I am great at throwing things in a bag last minute. 

at least I have an awesome new spike bag to throw it all in

We got to the race early so we would have time to do about a 15 min warm up, get our bibs, and braid some hair. Thankfully, I perfected the art of the french braid at a young age. Also thankful I was able to share this skill with Rebecca on Saturday. When we got to the race we were pretty surprised by the number of people. There couldn't have been more than 20. We weren't sure if we were in the right place until we spotted the porta potties. We were able to grab our bibs pretty quickly, along with a fresh copy of Chicken Soup for the Runner's Soul. Definitely the first time I've gotten a book at a race! After we got our stuff, we ran just under 2 miles to warm up. The sun was already warm and the humidity was already making things sticky. My singlet was soaked before the race even started. 

I look half asleep because I was...
(picture stolen from Rebecca)

Once we returned from our warm up miles, there were many more people lined up to get their bids and take a trip to the porta potty. After some delayed announcements, the race finally got started close to 8:30 (it was supposed to be an 8:00 start). It was their first year doing the race, so we cut them some slack. I went in to this race not knowing what to expect. Of course, I always want to shoot for a PR, but even more importantly I want to walk away knowing I gave it all on that day. Training lately has been extremely up and down with the weather (heat and humidity is NOT my friend). I also very rudely woke up at 2:30am Saturday morning and was not able to go back to sleep. I finally rolled out of bed around 5:45 and hoped some extra caffeine would give me some wings. I knew very early on this would not be the case. Rebecca is a super speedy bird. I knew she would be running much faster than me, even on my best of days. My thought was I would just try to keep her in sight as long as possible. It didn't take long after a couple turns, and some hills before I could no longer see her. I was flying solo and feeling pretty beat up. 

I had two options. I could give in to the pain, slow way down, and just use the race as a training run. Or I could embrace the pain and push on knowing I 'only' had a couple more miles to go. I chose the latter. I knew if I completely gave up I would be really upset when I finished. So, I chose to push forward and give the most that my body could at that moment. Near the finish, the course did a weird little out and back and I was able to see Rebecca in the distance still running strong. It gave me a little boost I needed to finish strong as well. 

I crossed the finish line at 23:47. Not even close to a PR, but not my slowest 5K either. It was however a fun day with a great teammate. I'm starting to understand that just because every race doesn't result in a PR, it doesn't mean every race that doesn't result in a PR is a bad race. Racing is fun because it's a challenge. You can't predict how your body will perform on any given day. You can only keep challenging it and hoping for great results. All I can ask of myself is to give my best in that moment. I want to walk away from each racing knowing I gave my best. Thankfully, I can say I gave my best effort at that time, during that race on Saturday. 

after we run...we drink coffee!
(again stolen from Rebecca)

 

surprising myself

Earlier this year I ran my very first 5k on the 4th of July.  I didn't have any real expectations because I hadn't ran one before and I had no idea what to expect.  I was told they were brutal.  I knew I would be running hard for 3.1 miles, but beyond that I was pretty clueless.  I ran hard right from the start and crashed at the end.  I finished just under 24:00.  I actually enjoyed the race though and new I wanted to give it another shot.

I ran my second 5k in August and finished almost a minute faster at 23:01.  At the end of September I finished my third 5k in 22:19.  Obviously I was really excited to have finished each 5k faster than the last.  I never really thought I would enjoy running 5k's.  For some reason I had the mentality that if I was going to sign up for a race it should be a longer one.  Thankfully I decided to give the 5k thing a shot.  I think it's becoming one of my favorite distances to race (not just because of the improved times…although I'm sure that has a lot to do with it).

Thanksgiving day I ran my 4th 5k of the year.  I was super excited for this race because it was going to be my first Turkey Trot and I was planning to meet up with Stephanie before the race.  I met Stephanie at her dad's crossfit gym where they were staying warm before the start of the race.  It was around 25 degrees that day and super windy.  We weren't exactly excited about that, but we hoped it would help us run faster.  

The race started at 9, so about 15 minutes before the start we jogged over to stadium to line up.  I warmed up a little on the jog over, but was pretty cold again by the time the race started.  Stephanie and I talked about what I goals were.  I was hoping to PR, but I knew I wouldn't be too upset if I didn't given the conditions.  

My legs felt cold for the first mile to mile and a half.  I kept looking down at my watch and seeing numbers around 7:20-7:25.  I felt like I could run faster, but my cold legs had other plans.  Finally I started to warm up and settle in to a good pace.  I could feel myself getting faster as the race went on and started to believe maybe I could PR again.  When I saw the stadium I gave it my all to the finish.  We finished inside the stadium and ran the last .1 around the warning track in the outfield.  My feel felt like they were sliding all over the place and I felt like I instantly slowed down once I got in to the stadium.  I tried to keep running as fast as I could and crossed the finish line knowing it would be close. 

free race pictures?! hell yeah!

I crossed the finish at 22:04.  A new PR.  I was super excited.  I was even more excited when I looked at my splits and saw that my last, and fastest mile, was 6:58.  I couldn't believe it.  Never in a million years would I have thought I'd be able to run a mile under 7min.  It's been so much fun this year seeing all of my hard work paying off.  I'm usually pretty good at doubting my abilities.  So, it's been a surprise to me to see how much my 5k times have improved this year.  I really think I have more to give too, thanks to my amazing coach.  

Oh, and the best part?  Stephanie got herself a brand new PR too!  It was so much fun meeting her and I am looking forward to running again when she's back in NH for Christmas.  

picture stolen from Steph after the race

told to "do something crazy" and this is what you get. fail. 

Up next?  Jingle Bell Half Marathon on December 14th.  Fingers crossed it's not as cold and windy as it was on Thanksgiving!

hashtag I love fall

In case you haven't seen this...you should.

Happy October!  It seems like people either love or hate fall.  I am definitely one of the lovers.  It is absolutely my favorite season, and October is by far my favorite month.

This past weekend was a great confidence building weekend for me.  I am now less than two weeks away from running 26.2 miles around Newport, RI.  I feel like I'm at a great point in my training and am really starting to feel (almost) ready for this race. Don't get me wrong, I'm still scared as hell, but in a kind of a crazy excited way.

Here's how the weekend went...

Saturday: 5k in Brookline, NH.  The race is called Jordan's Walk for Wishes Dash for Dreams.  From the website: "Jordan's Walk is an annual FAST 5K run and walk in memory of Jordan Coffey, a 14-year-old former student at the Richard Maghakian Memorial School, who lost his battle with brain cancer in September 2005. All proceeds from Jordan's Walk benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation of NH."  I had been looking for another shorter race before the marathon, and this sounded like a great one to do.  This was my 3rd 5k this year, as well as my 3rd ever.  My goal was a new PR and to finish under 23min.  I was ready to push hard, feel the 5k pain, and give it all I had.  

Pre 5k Oiselle photo shoot...ready to race!

gotta love the outtakes

Honestly, the race itself is a bit of a blur.  It was a small race, with people of all ages, including many small kids lined up at the front.  I found a spot near the front of the pack and waited for the green light.  Everyone took off pretty quickly.  I found myself near the head of the pack and tried my hardest throughout the race to hold on.  It didn't take long for the group to thin out.  I found myself behind a man in a bright yellow shirt, who I followed (probably a little too closely) for the remainder of the race.  I really don't remember much else.  A couple hills, lots of heavy breathing, the finish line, and the clock.

Ready to run

Where's waldo?

my yellow-shirted friend and I looking for the finish

Official time: 22:19.  I was pretty damn happy with that.  I was the 10th person to cross the line, 3rd female overall, and 1st in my age group.  I realize placement doesn't mean a whole lot, especially in small races.  But I was and AM very happy with my accomplishments.  I worked hard for that one. 

Sunday: 18 miles.  I had no idea what to expect from this long run.  I have to admit, my legs felt tired from the 5k when I woke up Sunday morning.  I was also doing this run alone, so the motivation had to come from myself.  I mapped out a new route, put on some compression socks, and was out the door by 8. 

I was an absolutely beautiful day for a run.  The temp was near 50 when I started, and got up in to the low 60's when I finished.  The sky seemed extra blue.  It was pretty much the definition of a perfect fall day in New England.  I felt much better than I expected throughout most of the run.  The only exception was around mile 10-12 when I wasn't sure if I was going to need to get a little too friendly with the woods.  Thankfully, things settled and I was able to leave nature's bathroom for the animals.

Less than 2 weeks, 11 days, two 12hr work days, 3 weekend days, 1 week of vacation, 9 or 10 runs, and 2 or 3 rest days separate me from running my second marathon.  But really, who's counting?!       
   

two seconds

Motivation can come from many different places.  It can come from internal motivation, or it can come from external motivation like a race goal, a personal PR, teammates, a team you hope to be a part of, motivational words from the always incredible Lauren Fleshman, or watching speedster Kate Grace achieve PR's.   What motivates a person one day, could be very different from the next.

After running my second 5k last week, I was motivated by two seconds.

23:01

That is the time I finished the 5k in on Thursday night.  It was almost a minute faster than my previous 5k PR.  It is 2 seconds away from being under 23 minutes.

Going in to the race on Thursday my goal was to run faster than my previous time of 23:58. Based on how I felt after that race, and the way my training was going, I new I was capable of that.  I didn't have any other time goal, except to run faster than 23:58.

I washed this shirt just so I could wear it for the race
Race day attire is very important.

Ready to run!

The race was really big, by my standards.  There were around 5500 people running or walking the course.  My friends and I worked out way through the crowd to find our way to where the runners were lining up.  There were still a bunch of people in front of us.  When the gun went off, it took almost 2 min to get to the starting line.  When I crossed over the timing mat, I took off and began weaving my way around as many people as I could.  It was tough to get around everyone.  I found myself up on the sidewalk many times, and running from one side of the street to another. Apparently some people missed the memo that walkers should line up in the back.  The street was filled with sweaty runners all working towards the same goal of getting to the finish line as quickly as possible.

With the added challenge of dodging thousands of runners, I was pleasantly surprised when I saw my pace after the first mile.

Mile 1: 7:23

I was determined not to slow down.  I've become very good at starting out too quickly and crashing at the end.  I was looking for a different result during this race.  

Mile 2: 7:21

When I saw the split after the second mile I started to do some quick math in head figuring out what my finish time could potentially be.  I was pleasantly surprise when I realized I could finish the race right around 23min if I could hold my pace.

The last mile was tough.  My chest felt like it was on fire, but my legs still felt strong.  I still had to dodge runners left and right, which made it much more difficult.  I kept pushing.  We made a left hand turn, and climbed a steep hill to the finish.  I felt strong on the hill, and worked my way around a few men who were slowing down.  I think my aggressive passing skills could use some work.  I gave it all I had when I saw the finish.

Mile 3: 7:30
Official Time: 23:01

I am very excited that I ran almost a minute faster than my previous 5k time.  I achieved my goal for the race and set a new PR.  I am certainly not going to take anything away from that accomplishment.  I can honestly say I never thought I'd be running an average pace of 7:25.  But I did.  I can also honestly say I never thought I'd be affected by a couple of seconds on my finish time.  But I am.

Those two seconds lit a another fire inside of me.  Those two seconds made me want to run another 5k.  Those two seconds are my motivation to keep working hard to achieve my goals.      

take me to the races

**First of all, I really want to sincerely thank everyone for their support and encouragement following my last post.  It really means so much to me and has given me extra motivation to keep training and believing.  Thank you from the bottom of my heart.**

As I've said in a couple of my previous posts, my love for racing has grown tremendously this year.  I'm not sure what took me so long to catch the bug, but I'm glad I finally caught it.  I've been a competitive person my whole life.  I competed for 13 years in gymnastics, played softball throughout middle school and high school, played soccer, and even swam for a couple of summers.  I am a competitive person by nature wether it be in a sporting event, or a yard game while enjoying some cold beverages.  For some reason though, when I began running a few years ago, I never fully embraced the competitive aspect.  I enjoyed running a marathon, and a few half marathons, but that was about it.  I never ran races to prove anything.  I ran them just to run them.

Enter 2013.  I caught the bug.  Completely and totally 100%.  I love running races.  So far this year I have completed 4: the Merrimack Sparkler 5K , the Nashua Soup Kitchen 10K, Boston's Run to Remember Half Marathon, and the Jamestown Half Marathon.  I learned so much about what I am capable of (and not) from each one.  There were many ups and downs, but I left each one wanting more.  As of right now I have 4 more on the schedule for this year, but I have a feeling more will be added.

Thursday, August 8th, I am running my second 5K in Manchester, NH.  I'm not sure yet how I feel about the 5K.  I think I like it, but that opinion is based on only one 5K.  I finished the one I ran this year thinking I could run faster than 23:58.  On Thursday, my goal is a new PR.

August 18th I am going to test out my trail legs.  I am running my first trail race in Nashua, NH.  It's a 10 mile race on a trail I have casually run on a few times.  I am super excited to give this one a try.  My goal for this race is to make it to the finish without falling on my face, or in the water, multiple times.  Pretty high expectations, I think. 

September 8th I am running another half marathon in North Hampton, NH.  This will be my third half marathon of the year to bring the grand total to 8.  My most recent half last month was a bit of a disaster.  My goal is to not go out too fast, so I don't crash and burn at the end.

On October 13th I am running my second marathon in Newport, RI.  I am both nervous and extremely excited about this.  For a while I said I probably wouldn't run another full marathon.  When I ran the first one it was shortly after I began running and it was brutal.  It took a long time to forget the pain, and I happily settled on running half marathons.  I always said the half distance was enough to be a challenge, but not enough to kill you.  Well, I am now ready for the killer challenge again.  Ultimately my big goal is to BQ.  However, I think that might be a little ambitious for this year, which means I will be running more marathons in the future.  My goal for this marathon is to break 4 hrs.  Based on my training so far, I believe I can do it.    

So, that's what my race calendar looks like as of now for the rest of the year.  I'm looking forward to running each race, and seeing what happens!   

What races are on your schedule?