I feel like I just got back from a magical weekend at Disneyland...
...except I actually was in Pennsylvania in a small town called Bethlehem, the home to Runner's World magazine.
Word cannot do justice to the amazing weekend that I just had at the Runner's World Festival.
I have a TON to tell you about the weekend, but I am just going to start with a quick top 5 moments recap:
1) I became BFFs with Shalane Flanagan, Bart Yasso, and Dean Karnazes.
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| We had a 30 minute private Q&A session with Shalane! She's incredibly sweet and shared some great tips with us :) |
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| Shalane and I are talking about how we're both going to run the Boston Marathon for the 1st time in April. [Thanks for the photo Harold] |
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| Out for a run with the legendary Bart Yasso. [Thanks for the photo Harold] |
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| Bart Yasso and Dean Karnazes post 5K (and pre 10K) with the Runner's World blogger gals! |
2) I won 2nd place in my age group in the 5K.
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| More details on how I survived the Runner's World "Hat Trick" in my next post :) |
3) This was better than Christmas in terms of all the fabulous goodies that I got to try out.
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| It was better than a birthday! This is just a small portion of all the amazing gifts that we received. More details in another post. |
4) I met some amazing fellow #Fitfluential blogger ladies...many of whom are inspirations to me.
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| Michele (who rocked the 10K 4 weeks post baby), Kristin (who placed 2nd in the hat trick), and me after the 10K. |
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| Amanda, Jess, me, Liz, and Amanda out at dinner. |
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| most of the Runner's World blogger gals out to dinner |
5) The editors at Runner's World, Altra, and ICON Fitness treated us like royalty and were beyond kind, generous, and welcoming. The legendary runner (and Runner's World editor-at-large) Amby Burfoot came and sat next to me during a private dinner with the editors on Thursday night. Runner's World deputy editor John Atwood came up and sat two seats away from me during the Editor's dinner on Saturday night. They were so friendly and seemed genuinely interested in what us bloggers had to say.
HUGE thanks to all of you for hospitality and your incredible generosity (especially David Tratner)! Fitfluential, thanks for getting us paired up with these wonderful folks.
A couple more posts to come with a 5K/10K/half-marathon race recap plus I can't wait to tell you about all the wonderful goodies that we were lucky enough to get to try.
A couple more posts to come with a 5K/10K/half-marathon race recap plus I can't wait to tell you about all the wonderful goodies that we were lucky enough to get to try.
Ok, pinch me, back to reality now....
Katherine! It was SOOOO great to finally meet you this weekend! You totally ROCKED all of your races - I am so impressed that you were able to run that fast repeatedly over the weekend =)
ReplyDeleteAnd I feel just like you - it feels strange to be home again after the whirlwind of a weekend!
I'm loving reading all the posts from the Runner's World weekend!
ReplyDeleteI bet it was incredible; I adore Shalane and love the Runner's World staff (at least through their writing)!
Can't wait to read more!
Looks and sounds like an amazing weekend! Congrats on your 2nd place too!! Woohoo!
ReplyDeleteSo cool Katherine!!! I am glad that you had so much fun. I would probably feel like I was at Disneyland too!
ReplyDeleteWhat a fantastic opportunity and place to be! aw!
ReplyDeleteThat looks like so much fun! I am so jealous, what a great weekend to get to have. All the great people, running, prizes and meal. Glad you got to have such a great time.
ReplyDeleteAh! What an amazing runner's weekend! I loved all the Instagram pics :) Glad you had a great time! XO
ReplyDeleteThis is all so amazing! I'm so thrilled for you guys. I really wanted to go-- hopefully next year! Sounds like the staff at RW made it a fantastic weekend. Can't wait to hear more! And congrats on your 5k age group placing!
ReplyDeleteThat looks like an awesome time! Meeting all those running celebrities would have been awesome.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on getting 2nd in your age group in the 5K!
You have some really great pics. You know, I am just startimg to run and want to support some causes but now I'm wondering if all the after parties and goodies are the reason. ;-)
ReplyDeleteCongrats!
Ah, Shalene!! Looks like so much fun, and congrats on the age group placing!
ReplyDeleteso happy for you! it looks like it was a wonderful weekend!
ReplyDeleteAwesome!!! I hope they are planning the same event next year!!
ReplyDeleteHey what's this blogger gals stuff ;-) I was in the photo too hehehehe It was a great time and wonderful meeting you and everyone else :-). I still can't believe how great it was.
ReplyDeleteHarold, best comment ever.
DeleteJust put a huge smile on my face.
I LOVED this weekend, I wish we could do it all over again!
You are just the cutest thing ever. I'm so glad to have met you. I can't thank you enough for everything you did for me. Congrats again on your 2nd place win! You ROCK friend!
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