Will Run for Food

A participant’s highlights from the Fit Foodie 5K Race Weekend.

By Lucy Froemmling

Web Exclusive

It felt as though spring would carry on through summer, every morning a torrential downpour masking the sunshine I was promised Texas would have. So it came as quite a surprise when there wasn’t a cloud in the sky the Saturday morning of the Cooking Light and Health’s Fit Foodie 5K Race Weekend. It was 7 a.m. There was still plenty of time for the clouds to roll in, but the sunshine felt like lingering.

I parked my car in a nearby neighborhood and realized I had never been to Mueller Lake Park before, and hoped I’d be able to spot someone else in spandex and follow suit. Once I shut my door, I could hear a voice over a loud speaker somewhere nearby encouraging people to join in on the group stretch. I followed the voice over a large grass hill and saw vendor tents everywhere.

I’ve run 5Ks before, but never once has one been like this, with rows of booths stacking up samples and giveaways, all promoting healthy living. Quest booth already had protein smoothies out and I thought, “What a perfect way to start a run.” The music blasted from the central stage as a very awake man led the final stretching session, which appeared more like a choreographed dance party to me. I drank my little Solo Cup smoothie and watched couples and families laugh at each other trying to keep up.

Moments later, the music died down and everyone gathered at the starting line, looking around at all the different booths, wondering what was in store for us upon the cross of the finish line. The countdown began and we were off. The run was beautiful, trekking around Mueller Lake, through the surrounding neighborhood, into the park and along dirt trails lined with trees.

I’ve been a part of races where the majority of people attending walked the course. Not that I mind this; it is something you come to expect with 5Ks. Well, on this sunny Saturday, I learned that Austin foodies like to run. I am usually passing people the majority of the race, but not this time. I was among the masses. During one uphill stretch, a woman pushing a stroller with two children inside passed us. All the runners around me clapped as she passed, smiling through the sweat running down her face. It made me think, “If I’m ever a mom, that’s the kind of mom I want to be.” Once she was out of sight, my thoughts returned to trying to breathe out of my nose instead of my mouth.

Within 28 minutes of starting, I crossed the finish line out of breath and red in the face, and was immediately met with a bottle of water from Evamor and a swag bag. I peered inside and saw an assortment of samples, excited to see what was next. People weaved in and out of booths, collecting their samples. Within 15 minutes, I had consumed samples from Smoothie King, Luna Bar, Sartori, My Fit Foods and Way Better Snacks. There was a cooking demonstration going on atop the stage and a Tom’s Toothpaste photo booth a couple of paces away. The longest line snaked in between other booths, people lined up to receive fruit-infused water inside their free infuser bottles, compliments of Rove. There was something in every direction: popcorn, beet salad, espresso-rubbed steak, chicken salad, and scrambled eggs. After I had made the rounds, I found myself in a nice large tent with couches and baskets full of Aveeno samples. Pure Barre was next on the stage, conducting a free barre class. I watched as I sipped cucumber water and munched on a Wasa cracker topped with Brie cheese and honey.

They say nothing brings people together like food and as I looked around at the groups of people laughing and nibbling on snacks, it confirmed that notion. The sun was still shining as I sat in my sweaty spandex, no post-run brunch needed in my future, feeling too full to eat another bite.

The Fit Foodie 5K is a weekend of celebrity chef tastings, culinary and fitness demonstrations, yoga sessions and a fitness boot camp, all led by celebrity trainers and fitness experts. The Austin 2015 Fit Foodie 5K Race Weekend was held at Mueller Lake June 12 through 14. Make a vacation out of it with Chicago’s Fit Foodie 5K from Sept. 11 through 13 and San Diego’s Nov. 6 through 8.

Author and Art Director of Austin Woman magazine pictured at Tom's photobooth.

Pictures courtsey of Fit Foodie 5k Weekend.