My First 5k at 52. Come Join Me!

“Opposition is a natural part of life. Just as we develop our physical muscles through overcoming opposition – such as lifting weights – we develop our character muscles by overcoming challenges and adversity.” ~Stephen R. Covey, best-selling author and speaker.

Would you like to feel better? How about fantastic? Well you can! It is really possible to go from feeling horrible to the best you have ever felt in your life. How do I know this? Because it happened to me.

Many life changes have taken place in the last 11 years for me. It started with me feeling better because of the changes in my diet by adding cultured foods. This in itself was quite miraculous. I actually didn’t think I could feel any better until last year when I decided to add more physical exercise to my life. I had been exercising often. I walked several times a week but hadn’t done any real intense exercise in years.

That all changed in May when my daughter Maci convinced me to join her fitness class called “Lift Above.” It was essentially a boot camp and the first time I went, I couldn’t walk right for three days afterwards. I had done so many lunges and exercises that I was not used to. I was a mess. I told my husband I would never go back. He looked at me and said, “I didn’t know you were a quitter!” and then walked out of the kitchen leaving me alone with my own thoughts. I did go back and it changed my life in a dramatic way.

I already felt great but when I added exercise to my healthy lifestyle, I felt like I had dropped twenty years in age. At first it was a challenge and I only went once a week, but still walked several miles everyday. My body just loved what I was doing and let me know it. The next thing I knew, I was going three times a week and then started personal training with a trainer. I became addicted to how I felt and looked. Now I do this five days a week.

I cannot tell you how important it is to get your body to help you live your life. I needed extra time and energy in my day and adding exercise gave me that and more. I dropped weight and my body re-sculpted and it amazed me. When you exercise and drop body fat, everything starts working right and you feel light years younger.

I talk a lot about eating right and especially cultured foods everyday, but I encourage you to do one more thing: start to incorporate exercise, no matter how small into your life.

I have a plan to help you. A challenge. My trainer didn’t ask me but told me I was going to do my first 5k this year.

I basically had no choice. I have no idea why I agreed to this but somehow I am in training for it. People are coming from all over do to this 5k run and it is going to be a really special event. You can walk and not run if you like. Just come and join in and get some kefir soda and cultured treats when you’re done.

They are calling this The Strip Run. It is the first of its kind. It’s a 5K fun run for all ages (don’t worry, there won’t be any nudity). Come bundled up the day of the race with all your unwanted or unused clothing. Stop at our Strip Stations during the race and shed your donations for charity. Stay after the race and unwind at our after party on Green Street. I am bringing kefir sodas and cultured treats to have after the run.

Every runner gets an official “Strip Run” custom soccer (footbol) scarf made in the U.K. and a sweet pair of stunner “Strip Run” shades!

All items of clothing with be donated to The Big Brother Big Sister Foundation of Greater Kansas City where they will be put to good use. Makes you feel good, doesn’t it!? Visit http://TheStripRun.com/ for more info.

You can be on my team and we can do it together. Here is the plan: If you think you can’t run the whole thing, you can walk. It will just be fun to do it together.

If you sign up and join, email me at donna@culturedfoodlife.com. We will be on a team together and after the race there will be a party. I am bringing bottles of kefir soda and other cultured goodies for you to enjoy!

To my trainers at Lift Above. Thank you for changing my life and teaching me how fun it is to exercise. I can’t think of anybody else I would rather spend my mornings with. It’s the spirit with which you helped me. You really did lift me above what I thought I could be. So thankful you are in my life.