I’ve shared with you all a little bit of my running journey before. It started in February and to be perfectly honest it was pretty ugly. Elderly men wearing silver swishy pants and Walkmans were passing me by on the track. I wish I were making that up. The good news is that since February I have completed two 5k races! I’m not normally a very proud person but I am totally proud of myself for sticking with my training and reaping the benefits. I have truly found a sport I love and **BONUS** it allows me to eat more cookies.

I am not surprised that my previous running update included an over-the-top recipe for rainbow chocolate chip cookies. It only makes sense for this post to be colorful as well, but these Tie Dyed Rice Krispie Treats are colorful for a purpose. (I’ll tell you more about how to make them in a later post. I promise!) My most recent 5k was The Color Run in Cleveland, Ohio. Runners start the race dressed in white and are blasted with a different color at each kilometer. The end is a big color festival; it is the happiest 5k on the planet!!

Of course I found a race where I can come out looking like a rainbow. Did you expect any less of me? Running is fun. Running is my time. Running is where I’ve found a wonderful, accepting community. In fact not too long ago a group of food bloggers started joking around about how we look like a hot mess after our runs. We soon dubbed ourselves the Red Faced Runners {with the mantra Eat, Run, Eat!} and we started to keep each other accountable. We have everyone from a fearless leader who is Super Marathon Woman, to ladies like myself who are happy to still be upright after running 3 miles, and everything in between. In fact we think we are pretty WONDERFUL, don’t you?

The Red Faced Runners!

Are you still with me? I hope you are because here’s the FUN part! We all live in different parts of the country but we will be running together over Labor Day weekend. We want to challenge YOU to join us!  Here’s what I want you to do- find a 5k race to run/walk/jog in your hometown on the weekend of September 8th so that we are all running together virtually. I would be so honored if you decide to do this with us.

Maybe you used to run but life has gotten too busy.

Maybe you have some 5k races completed and are looking for your next challenge.

Maybe you have always wanted to complete a 5k (that’s just over 3 miles) but have never been motivated enough to get started.

Maybe you’re scared or even unsure how to tackle such a thing as training for a race.

I can assure you that I literally went from “couch to 5k” in under 12 weeks. It wasn’t pretty and it wasn’t easy. I can’t even say that every run was fun (some of them were though!). I can tell you that I loved crossing that finish line. YOU CAN TOO!!!

Do you want more? Head over to Cookin’ Canuck for a 5k training program from our coach, Cindy. Her words will motivate the seat right off of you! She is a certified running coach with the Road Runner’s Club of America. Here are some of her bullet points- head over to Cookin’ Canuck for her full running post.

1. Believe in the run.
2. Believe in the rest.
3. Respect must rule all.
4. Your body is your temple.
5. Your kitchen is your place of worship.
6. Equip yourself.
7. You run.  You don’t jog.
8. Get after it.
9. Spread the love.
10. Have the time of your life!

You’re also going to want to stop by these wonderful blogs today and read the stories of all the Red Faced Runners. Be prepared to be inspired!

Once Upon a Loaf    
She Wears Many Hats
Dine & Dish
Bake at 350
Recipe Girl
In Katrina’s Kitchen {You’re Here!}
Add a Pinch
All Day I Dream About Food
Budget Gourmet Mom
I Wash…You Dry
Cookin’ Canuck

Please leave me a note in the comments section if you are thinking about joining us!! I would also love to hear from you along this journey, so be in touch. Feel free to email me at inkatrinaskitchen [at] yahoo [dot] com. My hope is to feature some of your stories (with your permission) in a wrap up post after our race in September.

Gather your friends to join you. Getting your Red Face on is WAY more fun when you have others to share your ups and downs with. If you are on Twitter follow along and tweet with us using the hashtag #RFR5K