Mother's Day Challenge & Giveaway

This week we celebrate Mother Runners! You are the person your children look up to... and want to be when they grow up. You are their ROLE MODEL. By living a healthy life and keeping your children active, you are making a huge impact on how they will live the rest of their lives. Congratulations on a job well done!!

I will be featuring mother runners from all over the country this week with a daily photo collage (Mon-Fri). If you have a photo you'd like to submit, email it to runwithjess@comcast.net. If your photo is selected for one of the daily collages, you'll receive a bonus entry into the giveaway contest below. Like my Facebook page {here} as that is where the daily collages will appear. Feel free to share and tag yourselves.

I'n honor of Mother's Day Week, I invite you to participate in a

This special challenge is two-fold...
1. GET ACTIVE
Take time this week (May 6-12) to plan one special fitness activity with your child(ren). It can be as simple as setting up an obstacle course in the backyard, creating your own "race" for your family, going for a bike ride, spending an evening at the park... anything to get the young ones active while spending quality time with Mom (Dads too!).

2. EAT HEALTHY
Get the kids in the kitchen with you. Give them a job in helping to prepare a healthy snack or meal together. It may take more time than normal to make dinner, but the important part is doing it together and teaching them good foods. There are a ton of fun ideas online for making healthy food fun for kids. Don't forget Pinterest for some fun ideas!

Commit - Plan - Do It!

Be A Mother Runner!

You could win this Prize Pack...

Train Like A Mother, the book by Dimity McDowell and Sarah Bowen Shea
Badass Mother Runner, a Sweaty Bands headband
2 packs of Chocolate Raspberry GU Energy Gel
Brooks 'Women Run' candle

Here's how it works...

• COMMIT to participate now. Enter the giveaway's first four options. (Rafflecopter below)
• PLAN your activities and food. Grocery shop if necessary and tell your kids you've got something special planned this week for the family.
• DO IT. Have fun with your children. Savor your motherhood. Take pictures.
• REPORT back AFTER you complete the challenges by then entering the giveaway's final three options.  If you have a blog, write about it this week for Mother's Day and leave a comment below with the link so everyone can check it out (+3).

This is a FUN contest and free to participate.  

There are no "rules" except... Mother Runners don't cheat.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Shopping for MOM

Children make the best cheerleaders!  Sometimes I think
they are more excited for my races than me.

Big Girl reminded me this morning that Mother's Day is only "six sleeps" away.  She asks, "So Mom, what are you hoping to get for Mother's Day this year?"

I tell her, "I've got everything I need right here."

She laughs.  "No really Mom, I want to buy you something."

So in fear of getting more cupcake and cookie pans, I indulged her with a splattering of ideas for this runner mommy.  Feel free to share this list with your husband if you think he needs a little direction...


RUNNER JEWELRY is always a nice gift for the runner mom.  Even while we're building PB&J sandwiches or coloring with crayons, our next run is in the back of our minds.  One finger-touch to a runner girl necklace is a quick reminder that our time on the road is never far away.

Find these necklace charms at Lift Your Sole.

"Run like a Mother" necklace found at The Silver Maple.

INSPIRATION DECOR reminds us why we run, how much we love it, and what a better person it makes us.  Just one look at a motivational sign can make us tie up the sneakers and sneak out...

Find this oval wooden sign and many other designs at Gone For A Run.

NEW READING MATERIAL is like food for a momma's "sole".  There are so many good running books out right now for women... or how about a new magazine subscription?  Reading before bed makes it one step easier to get up for that early morning run.

A GOOD MASSAGE doesn't have to cost a fortune.  These days, I'd even take one of those "Good for one Massage" coupons.  You know the kind you exchanged with your husband back in the newlywed days.  From our back down to our feet, runner moms could really use a massage this time of year as we finish our spring races.  Of course, this needs to come with one of those "Free Babysitting" coupons too...

SPORTY GEAR is always on a momma runner's wish list.  While you can go the easy route and just pick up a gift card at the local running store, it's a much more personal touch when the new gear is mommy-featured and wrapped up in a pretty bow.

This shirt and others like it can be found at Another Mother Runner's store.

"Marathon Mommy: 26.2 Miles of peace & quiet" shirt found at cafepress.com

HEADBANDS combine fitness and fashion perfectly for the mom who still wants to look like a diva on the run.  Bondi Band has a special "Mom Sale" happening now... check it out for only $5 each!  At that price, every kid can pick one out for mom!

When it comes to a runner mom, the words "I have no idea what to get you"

should never come out of Daddy's mouth... 

Happy early Mother's Day to all you mother runners!