Race Season is  Here 

Double  Bling  Weekend !!

This was Paul's double bling weekend & my First-Half Marathon back after injury so it's Saturday 5:30 am & were up getting prepared for our weekend away! Paul is about to do his first Fight For Air Climb 512 steps/25 floors of the Bank of America Center in full firefighting gear,  So we arrive & we head off to the Fire Dept check in area! Paul is starting to get ready  putting on his  gear as  I am giving him a big   hug before the event.

 Within in minutes our PRC family arrives to cheer Paul on, he has the largest cheering squad we were laughing having fun while the climbers were limbering up !!
Paul & the rest of the firefighters were ready heading into the lobby with Rafael in full charge of the camera doing an amazing job might I add :)
some how he ended up in press photography positions getting great shots.

Our  PRC cheering squad waiting  in the lobby for Paul to emerge out  of the  elevator !!  then he comes out  with his bling  on   Awesome  his now   doing John Travolta  poses   !!

Paul  & team OCFD did  awesome !!cannot wait to go see it again next time.

 Here is a final picture with Paul with his first bling of the weekend & our PRC family thank you so much for getting up early & coming out to cheer Paul !! April Rafael Carter Lisa Kevin Yolanda CJ Kat baby Jack & JR then it was off to Panera for breakfast :)

Part   2  double bling weekend  !!

Paul & I arrived at our hotel checked in!  then packet pick up here we come !! Small a really nice race shirt! It had started to rain so we darted into the White Lion for a spot of lunch on St George St & a cider or 2 ;) then it was back to our hotel to hang out Sara Johnathan Michele & Eric came over we had beers cider pretzels gummy bears pre race carb loading done different !! However, it was great we all  got to hang out Love Race season get to see everyone :)

Race morning came around too soon oh yep its starting to rain slightly 76 degrees & 97 humidity Gulp !! We all met up at the garage parking lot then found Mary & Mark Lou Rob Evin Tara where we took a group picture !!

 met up with Amber another Half Fanatic April J Rob Myself was off to the star line soon as we got there the gun went off! No stretching before, not pleasant, so we are all keeping pace the roads were so sloped my poor bad foot was not going to like this OH yeah a big bridge is coming up Rob is shouting we eat bridges for breakfast & we keep on pace running!! OH yep turn right round & do it again LOL
this was my first race back & it was starting to get to me the humidity :( anyway we keep going having fun all the way Rob & I finished I slowed him right down not a great race but got it done!! Not 5 minutes after the finish my foot went, here is Lou & I poor Lou's IT flared up & my foot, but I still had after race beer ;)

Time for  a group  picture  we all did  great    Carter  came  3rd in his  age group so  proud of him ... all our finishers   smiling through some pain  !!

Back to shower  & off to Ruby Tuesdays  for  Lunch  &   after race beers  ;)  Paul is  wearing his double  bling   for his   2  day races !! I'm sporting one  of my many  shirts  from Milestone Jewelry  & Apparel   April  ran in her  Team  shirt   https://www.milestonessportsjewelry.com/

Below is  the  final picture  before  it  was    time to eat   have  lunch  & all go  home   :( I have to say the  race  was not great for me  & my  foot!  but the time spent  with good friends  priceless,    cant wait to do ti  again !!   limping or not   next race up is  Space Coast   Paul's  first half marathon  so excited  if he says  yes  i will  get to  pace my husband for his first half  marathon  :) 

Thank you for  taking the time to read my blog  & all who know  my British  accent!!  & Della  speak  x

COMING BACK FROM INJURY!!

I got  back from Disneyland  &   did  a  5K   that same week in  Snaford   nice small race but BAM that  same  night  my left foot  started to swell up & for the  next few, days could barley walk on it  can you believe  it?  I had  almost 1 year injury  free !!  I was   at  my happy place  with  running   my Husband was also a  runner   & life was great !! Well let's  just  say  I hit the pool   5  days  a week  I biked  at the gym. I   did weights   for  6 weeks!! I tried  my  first  bike  ride  & got hooked  now looking for a   bike,   I see Triathlons in my future  OMG  did  I say that  I hate the open water swim, but yep I'm  going to  have to concour  that   here are  a couple of  pictures of my first Bike  ride with kevin & Lisa  & thanks to Kim for  the loan of her  bike.

  My foot  is still not  at its best,  but I started  back my first  run at Celebration right  by the hospital, I  put  my   gear  in my locker  at the  gym  & off, I went,  I was so excited  about   4 mins in,  I  went crash bang  wallop flying  hitting  my head !! Here are a  couple of pictures from my fall !!  My head hurt but when I stood up  as  all runners  do I  did what  !!!   yep you guessed it; I paused my Garmin, when I got home I felt out of it still  woosey  :(  looked  at my Garmin I had been on the floor   10 mins almost   could not remember much  I had an appointment with my foot Dr on the Monday so   carried on    through the  fog  feeling  sore the  Dr that sent me  straight off to  ER  for a  CT of the head   well let's just say the hospital said  it was  all normal people who know me  errr yea  I know  they got it wrong  LOL  so now Im out    another  week no  running no nothing :( 

OK the nerves  are kicking in its that time for my first run, I   suck it  up  & off,  I go  it's   4pm  hot  as hell,   but I do   3 miles  let me  tell you   I know  they say bike swim   you will not loose cardio OMG  Im huffing  & puffing out there   !! 

Next up was a  run with April YoLanda everyone is running late    so I start off 3 miles    still huffing  & puffing,  but it's done  & I'm glad to be back out  with my buddies :)  thank you  for  keeping me sane  & encouraging  me  & for YoLanda  helping with my routine at the  gym &  an AB sighting  LOL  

Dumbo Double Dare Cali trip

Dumbo Double Dare Cali Trip

Where did the  last  eight  weeks  go!! OK so  this  is catch up time  :) 

Paul  & I flew  to  California  for the  DDD  weekend.  Back  late August this was  a whirlwind  trip,  but  it was packed  full of  a  lot of  firsts,   we flew  stand  by  from Orlando to  NY to  LAX  don't ask the   long way around,  but  we made it  woo hooo    Car  rental!!    yep I put my    running magnets on my rental car  !!

 We were there  our first trip to   Los Angeles the drive  from LAX  to  Disneyland,  I was shocked  the  road's  highways full of litter :(  but as  we approached  Disneyland    pristine  road's we were staying at  Anabella  Thur Fri Sat,  so we settled  in  then off to meet Merle  from Sweaty Bands  best  headbands  ever  for  a  spot of   dinner  & wine,   we had to be  up early  for Expo,  we arrived  just before  9:00 am    OMG  madness never seen  lines like it  crazy !!  well  2 hours later we were into the  Expo  where  the  madness continued people    just  grabbing  anything on the  shelves   DDD  ... WOW    everything sold out fast,  but I got  my jacket  & shirt,  we had a  walk through  the resort  area  then drinks  by the pool   this was my hubby's  first  10K race from  a non  runner     photographer  to  a  runner  in   3  short months    I was so excited for him :) early night well after  a couple of  wines  & some rum  for Paul   hehehe up early   his ready here is Paul  about to leave   to take   group pictures  for everyone   before  the    5K 

I head  up to meet  Paul the start of the   10K  I'm  so proud  to run his  first   10K with him were in B coral  

first picture  is with Tim Jillian  & Mike,  they had the  best    running outfits  :) then  quick pic  of  Paul & I   we are just before  the  start   its almost go time!!

We're off    Paul went out to fast,  but  that's fine  we settled into a  nice grove    took   every picture stop with all characters  as  I don't think we will be   going  all that way to run  Disneyland  again   my highlight was running into my    idol Jeff Galloway,   here is   2  pictures on the course  one with me running    with Jeff  :) 

The race was  awesome I got to  run with my Husband for his first  10K  did  some running with Jeff  Galloway what  more  could I ask  for !!  then it was  back to the hotel to change  & off to  sight  see in laguna  Beach   for the  afternoon   WOW.  I loved  it   the coast line  is  so awesome nothing  like the  rest of LA  

we got  back late   needed  to rest  had to be up  early to run the  Disneyland  half  marathon & earn my  DDD & C2C  bling  took a  ton  of  pictures  with characters    but the rest of the course outside the  parks is  boring  & some gravel running  at one point  OH did I mention they were having a heat wave  it was like running in  FL  in the  summer  :(  a few  pictures  from the half 

& here I am with all my hard earned  bling   10K Half   DDD  & C2C 

Just enough  time to get back to the hotel showers     pack up  &  head over to see Merle  for a spot of  lunch before  Paul & I   took the next few days to explore the  coast  &   LA,  here is a  picture with Merle  at lunch. 

I could  show   a  ton of pictures of  our  awesome trip over the next few days  we traveled  from laguna  to Santa Barbara  what an amazing time then back  to LA  where   we had  a  fantastic time  we ate on Rodeo Drive,  we did  all the tourist stuff .. but the best  part of the  trip was getting to run  Paul's  first  real race with him very proud his  a runner   & my husband   woo hooo xxx

,

Shoe Shopping !

Shoe Shopping !! 

A Girl can never have enough  shoes! running shoes that is!

For many months  I have been  looking to try  a  pair  of  Hoka One One shoes our good friend  Jeff Chaney who is an avid Hoka  runner has been saying  I should try them out  they may help me  with some  re occurring running injuries.   my hubby Paul has started  walking/running   & Jeff suggested that Paul also try the Hoka one One  shes  to help with his knee pain!

Today is the   day  we  find   Paul's  size  & mine   at  Fitniche in Lakeland   they said  they would hold our sizes   for us to try them out.  So we drive the hour to Lakeland  &  there they are waiting for us   Hoka one one  Bondi  & Bondi speed  for me

 

Paul was up first to try  the Hoka shoes   he tries them out on the tread Mill !  Paul was like they are like super  cushioned !!  I try on  a pair  they have a  4mm  drop so for me the drop was noticeable  felt like I was  walking  on the moon !  I  take  them for a test run outside :)  well I have to say  they felt like I was running on clouds,  when I looked  down they  make my feet  look   huge like clown feet  but the ride well lets  say....   Rolls  Royce comes  to mind !!  yep  you guessed  it we both brought a  pair  now I'm  super excited to try them out :)  Saturday  I go for  a  4 mile run   to test    them  I did  put my heel lifts in them  because of the drop  & my   Achilles  issues, until I get  totally used to them , the  4 mile  run  lets  say the first  2 miles   I have  calf  pain  this is  due to the drop  & my  tight Achilles  but   after  the run is finished  I  have no limping   Achilles swelling!  now I'm  curious  how will I do running  back to back  I have to run the following day group run at  Disney  8 miles !! 

Sunday  I'm running late for a  group run at Disney big  surprise  Jeff  was ruining with us :)   so it was Kirsten Brandi Jeff,  &  I met Michelle  & Bruce for the first time this was a great time  as  you can see in the  picture outside  of  Hollywood studios

Apart from  this run being   Hot Hot Sweaty Mess !!  My new hoka  One One  Bondi Speed  with speed laces  Love the laces by the way :)   the  box says get ready to fly !  Well we start  running   my first time doing a back to back run since  my injury :(   at the end  of this  run   we all went to panera  for breakfast   & I have to   say  I  felt great like  I really had not ran  8 miles ! this  was the answer   I am  now  a  Hoka one One  runner!!  Big Thank you  to Jeff  you were right  this  could keep me running for many years  more  :) 

 

Girls Trip To Canada !

Girls Trip To Canada  !!

May 31st here we go on the way to Canada for our girl's weekend to run Niagara Falls !! Paul drops April & I off at the airport early morning we are all ready to head to the airport thinking what have I forgot ;)

OK so were on our way here we come Canada! First stop Buffalo NY, I'm not a great flier but April was awesome kept me calm as we take off with my fingers crossed NO for real! They are always crossed on the way up & on the way down for 10 minutes !! Great landing off to get the car we are running crazy I even came prepared with my magnets for our rental car !! So now we have our car with our magnets on Canada next stop.

The trip from Buffalo to Canada not very exciting border patrol I am armed with my passport & Green card! I cannot forget that or they won't let me back in the US ;) border patrol smooth off to find our hotel Wyndham Gardens Falls View! Not using directions anymore it cannot be hard to find Falls View! Well, that does not mean a falls view LOL but now all checked into our hotel turns out NO view but a really nice hotel easy to walk to everything, staff super friendly gave us a late check out too !! Unpacked & off we go to packet pick up, we set off on our walk to the falls spectacular views.

By now, we have been walking for about 3 miles I ask for directions to packet pick up for the race! No one even knows there is a race here, bus driver says oh that is just up to the road !! hehe apparently a Canadian up to the road is a long way... another 3 miles walking !! Now I'm turning my Garmin on; I might as well log these miles!! However, we finally come upon some tents Both April & I look at each other & sigh !! If this is anything to go by not good.

.   

How mistaken first impressions can be so incorrect this turned out to be the best packet pick up & swag a race has ever given, first off. The swag well not only did Niagara Falls women's 21.1 race gave the finest bag! bottle of wine !! We also had the pleasure to meet with Kathrine Switzer ... one of my running idols, in fact, if it was not for Kathrine, who challenged the all-male Boston marathon!! women's  running would not be the same !  We spend a long time talking to Katerine & taking pictures.

As we were leaving the expo with our swag, we ran into Jillian, who is spending this weekend of fun with us thankfully Jillian had a car & took us all to the hotel I don't think April & I could have walked back another 7 odd miles back at the hotel Jillian checks in to the hotel  while we go  off to check out our swag below picture.

Off we  go exploring the first night  then the rain came  & boy did it rain   now on the search for  food!  We  find  a  spaceship restaurant  yep for real  it was  a space ship   had a great night of food drink  & laughter Jillian's beer was almost as big  as her upper-body LOL  we  got back to the hotel   late after  exploring the casino  !! OH yeah!  I won  ....well I came back out with what I put in  :) 

Up early after  only  a few hours sleep to  explore!  we have our  passes  that include the   we go bus!  First stop  Maid Of  The Mist this is  a must do!   We had a lot of  fun  & did not get too wet !!   We took  a  gangster shot before the boat trip in our  blue rain coats! 

The ride out to the horse shore of the falls took about  10 minutes   the  sound of the falls is deafening spectacular  views of the falls.  

We continue the day   sight seeing  walking   the fall's  rapids  spectacular  we saw a woodchuck !! I think we took   a dozen pictures. We  did  the typical  tourist  attractions  shopping  goofing off   taking pictures, all in all, having a great day together  below are some of the pictures :) 

  

We discovered the first day a place called Tim Hortons!! Let me tell you they sell the best donuts TimBits !! Yep they were awesome I'm hooked Jillian's husband Tim was on his way to meet us; it was their wedding anniversary weekend, we head to tourist town area to get a beer & April had to have some more Poutine you asked !!! It's Poutine is a common Canadian dish, made with French fries, topped with brown gravy and cheese curds !! I did not partake in this Canadian food !! April was hooked!

So here we are partaking in some beer & poutine! Canada is not cheap!! That pitcher was $19.00 Canadian, we all got into the hotel in time to change & set off for dinner at Carpaccios where we met Aprils Friends Sherrie & her husband what great company & conversation! We all headed back to the falls to watch fireworks that did not happen the heavens opened up & rain Oh My! Rainstorm everyone was soaked & the race was in the morning due to be the same weather :( 

So  were up early ready to head to the start of the  Niagara Falls  Women's  half marathon  !  tired  but thankfully no rain  some one  was  looking over us .... thanks  Dean !

We finally met up with the Brandi & Michelle they were staying in NY so never got to see them until race morning! We took a group picture then I headed to the porta potty, or as I like to call them porta-loos! Now these were some awesome loos! with flowers inside scented lavender, a big plus!

 The race started!! We all set off with each other running the initial miles from the start that says Wine Start! 4 miles looping Niagara Falls with each other, we passed a harpist & just enjoyed the race together :) after you finished the first 4 miles you head off into a suburb alongside water & nice homes to look at.

We ran into Tia  from Tampa,  there were  a few Florida  girls  here  took a  picture   had a  hug  & off, she went,  she a speedy runner  :) 

 

The race was over. We all got our bling & headed to the hotel to shower & change before heading back to the airport, but I have to a lot of races could learn a lot form this race awesome swag! Great race! We even got to Hi Five Katherine Switzer on the course well we stopped for pics & hugs with her ... as she was saying keep running :)


We managed to get through the border smoothly!! They let us back in! & of to the airport to have buffalo wings & beer with Brandi, we also ran as the Fit2Run-Orlando Ambassadors wearing our shirt's medals all the way home!

We had a long flight home with many delays 2:30 flight turned into an eight-hour flight home but laughing all the way best flights ever & great girl's weekend 11 times to plan another :)