Sunday Runday: The Fit Foodie 5k

So a fun little story for you guys.

A couple days after the Grape Day 5k, I was on my daily run when I hit a crumbly piece of road and went down.  I didn't even need to look or stand up to know that I had sprained my ankle.  I've been there before. I called Thatboy and told him it was time to come home ,while I used adrenaline to limp home, where I finally took a look as I gingerly unlaced my shoes.  It was a sprain all right.  My ankle was the size of a softball, which distracted me enough to not notice my other knee was torn up and dripping blood onto the couch. 

My fall running season ended before it had even truly began.

I'm not going to lie, it's been really hard on me being injured.  Running has always been a bit of a mental health release for me, not to mention it helps keep the disordered behavior at bay.  I've finally gotten to a good place where I control the running, it doesn't control me, and being thrown into a sedentary lifestyle has been very depressing.  The house became a mess, as I gave myself permission to sit with my foot up instead of daily maintenance, which both has fueled and been fueled by this depression.   Sitting around with my foot up has also left me feeling not at my most attractive- not aided by the fact that I can no longer stand to shave, and can only do so if I take a bath, and I haven't wanted to do extra standing to actually do my hair so it's been in a rough ponytail for weeks.   I'm working my way out of it slowly but surely, I got the house back in order (although Halloween week has wrecked more havoc to be addressed) and last week I even blew dry my hair! 

Of course just 1 week after the sprain was the Fit Foodie 5k.  Perfect timing right?  I knew there was no way I was going to be running this race, but I couldn't miss it.  And since I was walking it anyway, what the the harm in pushing a stroller?  I brought some company with me - Thatbaby!

I wrapped my ankle, threw on my aircast, and we got down early enough to snag some close parking.  Then we took advantage of all the race has to offer.

Like a fun photo booth.

Thatbaby has met me at the finish line for this race before, and the first year I ran it, he was just a teeny little thing inside me - we hadn't even announced my pregnancy at the time I ran - but this was the first year he was going to take part that he'd remember.  I promised him lots of good snacks and swag, and the race did not disappoint. 

The bonus of having a stroller, is that we could load up on all the goodies before the race instead of after!  We lined up at the back of the pack and ended up being in the 8th wave to start the race. 

The beginning of the race is narrow and bottle-necky, so to be honest, walking it wasn't that big a deal.  Although to continue with my honestly, I am not a good race walker.  I was itching to go faster - and I'm not an especially fast runner to begin with!  It felt like forever before we go to the first mile!

One of the great things about the Fit Foodie Race is that each mile has a little foodie treat!  Mile 1 was mini-doughnuts!

Mile 2 was the hardest and easiest to walk.  I know, that makes a lot of sense.  But the second mile is all about that bridge.  And while it was easy to walk up the bridge, it took all my restraint not to run down it! 

Our Mile 2 treat was gummy vitamins. 

The last mile was nice and flat and wide.  It would have been so perfect to run.  I didn't.  But being so far back always has its disadvantages.  By the time we got to the Mile 3 marker, they were all out of their special treat - which was brownies.  We saw the last one getting taken!

But that 3 mile marker means that the race is almost over anyway, and with so many other goodies awaiting just on the other side of the finish line it's hard to be mad about missing out on that last one!

The problem with running with a 3 year old is that after the race they're not willing to take a cute photo of you with your matching medals.  Or even a cute photo with their medal.

Luckily I found a friend who is ALWAYS willing to take a cute medal photo with me. 

The final swag haul:

My ankle was fairly angry with me later that day.  Because, in keeping with my honesty theme, I definitely pushed it too much.  But it's a race you just don't want to miss!  Hopefully you'll join me next year in my redemption run - I'll be there!

Sunday Runday: Fit Foodie 5k 2017

There were a lot of differences in this year's Fit Foodie 5k. New date, new location, new running partner...

We got there early, having missed registration the day before, and there were loads of people already there.  Both runners and vendors.

I got a bunch of friends to run the race this year, so before it started we took the time to take some commerorative pictures.

And then we started running.  This was a new race course for me.  I had run a race at NTC Park back in 2011 when I was pregnant with Thatkid, but it was just running around the park itself.  This one had lovely views of the bay.

They've also done a lot to the area in the past 7 years.  Like I do not remember the bridges! The race promised bites at each mile, so I was curious as to what was going to be meeting us at mile 1.  It was a prune.

Shortly after mile 1 we turned around, and the rest of the course was downhill or flat.

At mile 2 there was no promised "bite," but we did meet up with my friend and her daughter, which turned into a mad dash to the finish for the last mile as the two of them competed to cross first.

He barely stopped at mile 3 for a sip of protein drink which he passed off to me so he could get that last .1 mile done.

We caught up with him after the race, where we learned those pineapple medals? Not really pineapple.

And then Thatkid and I went around collecting goodies.  We ate, drank, got sunglasses, chapsticks, and a ton of other stuff.  Thatkid wasn't thrilled with standing in line, but he loved all the stuff he got.

The haul: (my bag, Thatkid had his very own bag)

All my new runners had a great time at the race this year, including this guy.  I really do love sharing these moments with him, in fact, we're doing another race together today!

Sunday Runday: Fit Foodie 2017 and Discount!

YOU GUYS YOU GUYS YOU GUYS!

I'M GOING TO BE A FIT FOODIE AMBASSADOR AGAIN!

Whew.  Now that I got that out of my system, let's talk.

This will be my fourth year running the Fit Foodie 5k and my fourth year as an ambassador.  It remains one of my all time favorite races, so I couldn't be more thrilled to be a part of it.

New to the blog/San Diego/or just have a terrible memory?

The Fit Foodie 5k bills itself as "The Most Delicious 5k" which is exceptionally true.  A partnership between Cooking Light and Health Magazine, the race features the 5k paired with a "Finishers Village" filled with cooking demonstrations, samples, and vendors from some of the yummiest brands out there.  Of course, there are also fitness demonstrations and mini-classes, as well as health and wellness brands.  It's got everything!

New this year they are also promising "bites at each mile."  I'm not sure what that means, but I'm sure looking forward to finding out!

Also new this year?  The location.  I'll admit, I'm a little sad about not running along the Embarcadaro, because I love it so much, but I've got another run there later this year, so I'll be okay.  Plus, I haven't run a race at Liberty Station since I was pregnant with Thatkid!

Speaking of Thatkid, also new this year is my mini-ambassador.  Not officially of course, but this year Thatkid is running the 5k with me.  He's been watching on the sidelines for years and last year, after greeting me at the finish, he announced he wanted to run it with me.  It will not be the first 5k we've run together, but I really want it to be a good one, and not one where he complains the whole way (although the bites every mile will help with that), so I've decided we're going to get in some training runs.  So stay tuned for updates on those.


And now the fun part - the part where you come run with us.  Trust me, you want to come run with us, eat with us, drink with us!  Use the code KAYTORADEFF for $10 off.  Until September 4, the price is $35.  Which means for $25 you can get race entry, festival entry, and the chance to meet some awesome fitness celebrities.  The goodie bag you get at the finish line is worth $25 in itself*(*estimation based on the amount of goodies in it).

The details:
October 7, 2017
6:30am
Liberty Station NTC Park
Register at http://www.fitfoodierun.com/san-diego-california.html

I hope to see you there!

Sunday Runday: Fit Foodie 5k

Pull up a seat kids, this is going to be a long one!  With lots of pictures.  I don't know if that makes it better or worse.


As part of my Ambassadorship I was given entry to every event of the Fit Foodie Weekend.  Let's start with Friday Night, The Fit Foodie Weekend Party for a Purpose.  L&O agreed to come with me and be my drinking buddy date.

 I'm not kidding about  the drinking though.  Barefoot Wines and Stella Artois were both sponsors of the race weekend.  They kept our glasses full all evening.

 As I've mentioned before, the race was thrown by Cooking Light and Health Magazine.  So on every table there were copies of the magazine for us to look at, and take home.

 There was live music to listen to.

 And because it was the Fit Foodie Weekend, there was food!  Honey from Nature Nate's,

And delicious food from Seasons 52.

We also got the chance to meet with some running legends, "Boston Bill" Rogers, who has won the Boston Marathon 4 times and competed in the Olympics, and Meb Keflezighi, 4 time Olympian who took home the silver in 2004.

We had a great time drinking, eating, hob-nobbing with the great, and catching up with each other.  And luckily both of us were happy to call it an early night.


Because Saturday morning was the Fit Foodie 5k!  Before the race started I met up with a bunch of other San Diego Bloggers, including Jen13.1 who won her entry through my giveway!

Eventually we all made it over to the start line.

Where we had time before the race start for a quick group selfie before the waves started.

And then we were off!  As I have often stated, one of the best parts of the race for me is the beautiful course along the water.

I love the trees that grow along the Embarcadro, which seem very Seussian to me.

After about half a mile, the course split between the 5k and this years new 10k course.

I headed left and enjoyed the beautiful day.

The course is out and back, so if you missed a nice view on the way out, you got a second chance to catch it in the second half.  And eventually you end up right where you started.

Cooking Light had food stations set up, along with magazines, information, and other vendors.

Lots and lots of vendors.  Each with samples to try and/or take with you.

Meb and Bill Rogers were also present to take pictures with the runners.  Both ran the race with the rest of us plebians.  Only faster.

I met up with my friends and ventured into the beer garden.  Once again Barefoot Wines and Stella were present, along with Truly Spiked and Sparkling beverages.

And after our drinks, we all parted and went our separate ways.  When I got back to the hotel, I emptied my bags, evidencing the other major benefit of this race.

In fact, knowing how much stuff I usually take home, I had the hotel send up a complimentary mini fridge when we first checked in.  Which I filled with drinks and yogurt.

The last event of the weekend was the Sweat Session on Sunday morning.

I wrangled Jurisslave into attending with me.  Because no one should have to suffer alone.

And suffer is a good description!  The first half of the sweat session was led by SealFit. 

They broke us into groups and we rotated between 5 stations.  Kokoro yoga, which combined yoga and martial arts, a bodyweight workout, which consisted of lunges, squats, pushups, and burpees,

Sandbags.

Core exercises, and jump rope.

The second half of the sweat session, yoga,  was unexpectedly moved inside the breakfast tent when it began to rain.  Because yoga in the rain can be slippery!

And after we worked on our fitness, we turned back to the foodie part of the Fit Foodie.  They had set up a great buffet for all of us to feast on.

There was more stuff to take home here, like lots of cactus water from Steaz! 

Overall the weekend was everything I have come to know and love about the Fit Foodie Race series.  The beautiful course, the amazing gifts, and a combination of physical activity and great food that is unlike any event I know of.  I can't wait to see what they have in store for next year!