Hi guys! I have an early morning flight back home to Orlando, but I wanted to share two things with you: information about the Team in Training Bake Sale and two running success stories!
As you all know, I am training for the Disney Marathon in honor of my friend Megan, who is currently fighting her second bout of leukemia and is in the hospital receiving chemotherapy as you read this.

At the Healthy Living Summit, attendees will be able to bid on the following delicious treats. All money raised will go to my Team in Training fund and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Give these bakers a HUGE pat of the back for helping!
- Kath – Kath Eats Real Food ~ Matt’s Bread
- Lauren – Food For Living ~ Homemade Larabar-Inspired Fruit & Nut Bars (Banana, Coconut, & Cinnamon flavors)
- Angela – Oh She Glows ~ Glo Bars
- Meghan ~ Help Meghan Run ~ Chocolate Spice Cookies
- Marissa ~ Banana Nut Dark Chocolate Chip Muffins
- Anna ~ Blue Plate Special ~ Peanut Butter Cup Brownies
- Anna ~ Blue Plate Special ~ Almond Butter Date Cookies
- Heather ~ Run Lean Green ~ Whole Wheat Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bread
- Amanda ~ Triple Chip Blondies
- Whitney ~ Whit’s Getting Fit ~ Chocolate Zucchini Cupcakes
- Shannon ~ Tri to Cook ~ Cardamom Coffee Zucchini Bread
- Gretchen ~ Clean Green Cuisine ~ Oatmeal Chocolate Chunk Pecans Cookies
- Amie ~ The Healthy Apple ~ Agave Brownies
- Kristen ~ Simply Savior ~ Amazing No Cook Chocolate Hazelnut Bites
- Haya ~ Training to Live ~ Homemade Jams and Preserves
- Nina ~ Health Sweet Health ~ Chocolate Chip Macadamia Nut Cookies
- Betsy ~ Joe & Betsy ~ Black Bottom Coconut Bars
- Megan ~ The Runner’s Kitchen ~ Marathon Runner’s Apple Cake
- Heather ~ Hangry Pants ~ Chocolate Crinkle Cookies and
- Lime White Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Jessica ~ Fit Chick In The City ~ Vegan Banana Chocolate Chip Bread
- Amie ~ The Healthy Lawyer ~ Trader Joe Goodies
- Mary Kate ~ Kitchen Belle ~ Kitchen Sink Cookies
- Allie ~ Live Laugh Eat ~ Aprican (Apricots + Pecans) Almond Butter Bites
- Amelia ~ Highways To Health ~ Cherry Chocolate Almond Biscotti & Apricot Almond Biscotti
- Jenna ~ Eat, Live, Run ~ Chocolate Chip Biscotti
Raya’s First 5K!
Raya from Raya Runs sent me this awesome story of her first 5K:
Raya said, "The only goal I had in my head was to run the whole thing and not walk at all, but at the 2 mile mark I walked for about a minute. I also walked again around the 2.5 mile mark. I wasn’t being lazy, I just didn’t feel well. My legs were heavy and I don’t know if it was the super duper humidity or what, but I was feeling that dizzy/I might pass out feeling. Hate that!
I am proud that I finished, and I did finish strong! When I saw the 3 mile marker and I knew I was almost there, I took every last ounce of energy I could find and pushed. I actually passed several people at that point.
How do I know I pushed myself to the max? Because as I was nearing the finish line, I had that “I reeeeally might throw up” feeling. (I know, it’s so gross, but clearly I was workin’ it!)
My mom and my sister had gotten up early to come cheer me on, so they were waiting for me at the finish. It was nice to see familiar faces!"
Catherine Races with Her Mom!
Catherine wants to brag to you all about her wonderful and athletic mom!
Catherine said, "My mom used to run track & cross country in high school but stopped afterwards to have my older brother & me. She kind of got into it again in her 30s but had hip issues so she stopped. Last May she decided to get back into it because a friend wanted her to join her on her 3 mile runs. I remember when my mom called me after her first run complaining that she could barely run 15 minutes without stopping. I encouraged her to keep running by telling her that it’ll get easier. She decided to do this 5 mile race with her friend & had me create a schedule for her. She diligently followed the schedule & ran 44:xx for her first race!
Well, this only fueled her desire. She began to run longer & faster but got a small injury. It was nothing major but she took 2 weeks off. I think this happened back in November & since then she’s done wonderfully. We competed in the Cherry Blossom 10 miler in D.C. in April, & she finished in 1:31 @9:10 pace. Then in early June we ran a Women’s Distance Festival 5k in my town in Maryland where we won the Mother Daughter Team award.
Next up is the Freedom’s Run Half Marathon near Harpers Ferry, WV on Oct. 3. I convinced her that if she could run 10 miles then she can run 13 so this time I’ll actually be running with her. The course is very hilly so her goal is to just finish. Anyway, I just wanted to brag about my mom. My mom went from barely being able to run 15 minutes straight to running 10 miles without stopping!









Looking forward to the HLS! Love your idea of holding this bake sale to benefit TNT. Can't wait to check out the goods.
Love the mother/daughter story!
My mom and I started running together when I was 16 and she was 50. We were so proud of ourselves after our first 5K…. now 14 years later we have both completed 11 marathons, numerous other shorter distance races and won our age groups many times. It is so much fun when we run a race and both win our age groups…. kinda why for running I use 2 last names, maiden & married.
What wonderful stories! I, too, completed my first 5k this past weekend. I'll just say I'm addicted to races now. I shared my story about it over on my blog on Saturday's post
Awww congrats girls!! I hope to have a mother daughter story some day–my mom walks half marathons, so we are halfway there?! Have a great day!
Both the runners did awesome! I started running last June and could also not run for more than 5 minutes at a time without stopping. I ran my first 5k, without stopping, that July and then was sidelined for 2 months with a health issue. I jumped back on the horse by the end of September and in June I completed my first marathon at the Seattle Rock N Roll Marathon.
Very inspiring stories! It's amazing how having a goal in mind can motivate you!
I wanted to leave this "upset tummy" suggestion: Yogi Tea – Stomach Ease. I had a weird bout of something a few months back and couldn't eat anything without being sick after. I started drinking this before/with/after meals as well as munching on some Ginger (mine was candied, not the best option, but it worked) and it helped out a ton.
Those stories are so warming! I did my first 5k in May and i was just so high on life, now i'm training for a half! ah can you believe it! And how rewarding to get all those bakers for the Summit, i know the donations are going to be huge! yay!
what great stories!
and that list of baked goods sounds awesome – I hope the bake sale goes well
Can't wait to hear all about the Healthy Living Summit! Everyone who's going is going to have a BLAST, I'm sure.
Thanks for sharing those stories too!!
I hope the bake sale goes really well!
I love the running success stories. Running your first 5k is definitely an accomplishment- and the mother daughter story is awesome too
Thanks for the shoutout! Can't wait for the HLS and bake sale!!!
Loving all the success stories. Every one is such an inspiration.
i am sooo going to bid one of those delicious items!
Yum, the list looks amazing! I'm going to have to put a budget together to make sure I don't put us in the poorhouse from this bakesale!
I love the inspirational stories you put on your blog. It makes me feel like someday I will be able to run more than 2 miles without stopping! haha!