Let's Get This Party Started!

Hello, hello! Come on in! I'm so glad you could join me in celebrating the launch of We Are Girls Who Love to Run.

Make yourself at home, meet some fellow runners/readers/walkers/life lovers, have a snack, enjoy! Like any good party, we'll start low-key and by the end of the week it will be in FULL gear. It's okay to be fashionably late for your own party, right? Thanks for being understanding as I navigate this unusually full week - from here on out, you can expect to meet some great folks each day this week.

So, to kick-off the party, be sure to try these great (and I do mean GREAT, we've tried them and my kids give them their FULL approval!) healthy cookies sent by Cecilia (as a Reflexologist, she knows ALL about helping people take care of their bodies . . . and the feet that carry them on their journey to many a finish line!):

I'm sending a recipe that is sure to please all the health-conscious Moms (and anyone) who is looking for a quick, yummy snack treat. Enjoy!

Healthy Banana Cookies: No eggs, flour or dairy
3 ripe bananas, mashed
2 cups oatmeal (I use course cut)
1 cup raisins
1/3 cup oil (vegetable oil or try extra virgin coconut oil, melted)
1 teaspoon vanilla.

Mix all ingredients. Let set 15 minutes. Drop by rounded teaspoon on parchment lined or ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 for 15 to 18 minutes. Cool on rack. Recipe makes about 3 dozen. Since they freeze great and make a super quick breakfast on the road, I always make a double batch!
Some suggestions: use any dried fruit you like or a combination (raisins & cranberries, gogi berries). Be sure bananas are ripe and that they are medium to large. If you have small bananas, use 4. Chopped nuts can be added. Reduce the dried fruit by the amount of nuts used. The finished cookies are not brown on top, so check the bottoms for doneness.

Yum, yum, yum! Dig IN!

*bloop* (that's the Virtual door bell - couldn't you tell?)

The guests must be sensing that I've put out some snacks, because they're starting to arrive!

I'm honored to introduce you to two inspirational runners: Suzy and Lisa (you bloggers may know Suzy from her blog "The Runs" and Lisa better by her blog name Java-Mom - can you believe she even got her kids to call her that on her birthday for a little bit of monetary incentive!)

Suzy reports that she would have sent a photo along with her story, but she's been running for so long that her husband and kids don't turn out at races to take pictures. Don't feel bad for her, though, because the time her husband spends watching the kids so she can run is FAR more precious to her than any photo! And now . . . Suzy's inspirational story:

"I have a husband who is recovering from knee surgery, three very active children (one of which has a broken arm), 2 dogs (one of which is in heat and is wearing diapers) who follow me around the house under my feet, 2 cats that holler for food and litter changing, and a bearded dragon lizard who demands his greens and crickets. I'm needed by all at every given moment of the day, getting the energy squeezed and sucked out of me until tears come and go. It is so rewarding, and so exhausting."

My week is already starting to feel tame . . . I wouldn't even know where to begin with a bearded dragon lizard! I think we're starting to see why you need to run, Suzy . . . tell us more:

*photo credit: Wikipedia*

"I need to refuel properly, and I do that several ways. One of them, and one of the most important ways for me to do that is by running. It is so liberating for me to run out the door and 'away from home.' I work out all the kinks, frustrations, anger and stress by literally pounding them out of my body through my feet into the pavement with each step. Sometimes it takes seconds for me to feel liberated from all of that, and sometimes it takes the entire run. I run away from home, and when I feel like I have ran out all the negativity, I turn around and run back home!

I can honestly say that I don't primarily run for the physical health benefits of weight control and cardio health. Those things are bonuses for me. For me, I actually tend to lose a bit of weight when I stop running, and gain it back when I start. (Muscle gain mixed with increased appetite maybe) I run for my mental health and also to bring myself closer to God who is my primary stronghold. This, combined with the stress-relieving physiological benefits of exercise is why I run, and I will do it for as long as I am able."

I wish you MANY happy years of running, Suzy. Thanks for stopping by the party to celebrate with me!

While Suzy helps herself to some snacks and fills out the slip for the Virtal Book Launch Party Drawing to possibly WIN a copy of We Are Girls Who Love to Run (read about how YOU can join today's guests and win a copy here), we'll chat with Lisa for a few:

Lisa sent along not one, but TWO fabulous running celebration photos. I think you'll agree that she definitely has a grasp on the JOY of running. Just "meeting" her will make you want to get out and RUN (I'll give you three guesses as to which runner is Lisa, and the first two don't count!)!

"This picture captures what running means to me...it is pure joy. It is a celebration of my new fitness and health." You can read about Lisa's personal fitness journey (she's taking life to a whole new level by doing triathlons now!) at her blog.

What else, Lis?

"I love running because of all of the wonderful friendships I have made. Who knew that you could start a simple running blog and then end up at a dinner (PFChang's pre-race dinner) with all of these blogger friends?!?"

Hey, Lisa, is that Marcy sitting beside you? Hi, Marcy! Happy running to ALL of you!

Be sure to stop by the party for more yummy treats and to meet some other great folks who love to run/walk/swim/bike/smile. I might even be able to convince my husband to drop by . . . you just never can tell what the week will bring!