The 5th Annual Rochester Triathlon is a must do event for all you Minnesotans! Hosted by Final Stretch on, June 17th in Rochester, MN,  this event is one of many taking place during Rochesterfest.  Other events include shows, live music, a parade and many more outdoor activities. Hard Work = competing in the tri, then play hard = enjoy a fun-filled day!

The race benefits the Rochester Century High School Cross-Country Team. Along with prizes and giveaways, all participants get a BornFit Tech Tee.   Tri with Final Stretch and BFit!

The Baltimore 10 Miler, a race like no other, on June 16th in Baltimore, MD, is where fashion and running collide. Known for their PREMIUM race day apparel, the Baltimore 10-Miler won’t fail you this year. With a top notch BornFit 1/4 Zip Jacket, you’ll sure be running in style. If you’re not quite sure check out the premium reveal…it will inspire you to sign up (but please stay away from Neon Leon!) And if that doesn’t do it, join us for the after race festivities where music, beer and snacks are a must have.

Proceeds from the race go to two amazing organizations. Back on my Feet is dedicated to helping the homeless and other underserved populations get back on their feet by introducing them to running, where they build confidence, strength and self-esteem.

Cool Kids Campaign is an organization with a mission to provide pediatric oncology patients a better quality of life for themselves and their families while facing the challenges of cancer. By participating in the Baltimore 10 Miler you’ll support the Cool Kids Campaign Learning Center, a tutoring facility and activity center.

These two organizations inspire BornFit! What inspires you?. Whether you’ve overcome obstacles to get to the starting line or your goal is to move and inspire others, we want you to share your story. Tell us about it below and be entered to win a BornFit $50.00 gift card. Contest ends June 19th.

BornFit believes that everyone is ‘born fit’ and, we know that all women have the strength and  ability to accomplish anything they set their mind too. The YWCA of Minneapolis shares this vision by empowering women of all ages and abilities since 1891. Now – they’re challenging you to their women’s only triathlon. Taking place on August 12 at Lake Nokomis in Minneapolis, MN, the YWCA of Minneapolis Women’s Triathlon celebrates the strength of all women from a variety of diverse backgrounds. Proceeds go to the YWCA Women’s Wellness program; where strength, dignity and vitality are built.

Start your training! This race accommodates beginners and seasoned veterans. The YWCA provides an amazing support system that will help and support you every step of the way. Free training plans, swim classes, ask a coach programs, and workshops, you’re set up for success!

Completing a triathlon builds confidence and inspiration from within. This is the true essence of feeling BornFit; knowing you can achieve absolutely anything! Are there other moments in your life where you’ve been an inspiration to others or someone inspired you to be your best? BornFit and YWCA want to hear your ‘Most Inspiring Triathlete’ stories, so we can pass them along to help inspire others. Comment below, by August 12th, and be entered to win a $50.00 BornFit gift card. It’s the inspiration love chain!

 What’s better than spending quality family time together? BornFit thinks a close second is…..Training for a marathon and crossing the  finish line together! The Coda Coffee Estes Park Marathon, June 17th in Estes Park, CO, aims to be the BEST family fun run and accomplishes just that. If a marathon is out of your comfort zone, there is also a,  5K, 10K, half marathon, marathon relay and Kids Fun Run (June 16th), distance to fit your style. This race will motivate the entire family to be active and will build confidence!

It’s a race for competition, but with youth on its mind, because the proceeds benefit the Estes Valley Youth Center. The center provides an after-school and weekend recreational facility for kids, grades 6-12, creating a safe, active and friendly environment. The marathon also offers Youth Sports Team of Estes Park an opportunity to fundraise for their sport teams by participating in the event weekend. Both of these organizations strive to keep Estes Park youth active.

Being a role model for our youth is important. By participating in this race, you’re inspiring kids to stay active and focused on the future.  BornFit believes that inspiring others helps build confidence among families and throughout communities. Who inspires you? We want to hear about them! Share below and be entered to win a BornFit $50.00 gift certificate. Hurry, contest ends June 16th.

Join BornFit in this family fun marathon weekend!

Would you like to see yourself on the JumboTron? Here’s your chance! Join BornFit at the Stadium Stampede on June 24th at Sports Authority Field in Denver, CO. There’s multiple distances to choose from, and a course that starts in the stadium and winds through the city via the Platte River Pathway. After the race, there will be food, live music, great prizes, plenty to entertain the kids and a great fitness expo with all the latest gadgets and gizmos!

Hosted by the Saint Joseph’s Hospital Foundation, the Stadium Stampede proceeds provide Saint Joseph’s Hospital with essential financial support. Supporting medical care, community health programs, medical and nursing education, and equipment needs, the hospital is able to honor its mission of fostering healing and health for the people they serve.

Now…here’s your chance to win! The Stadium Stampede Award: St. Joseph’s Hospital seeks to help others; how do you or someone you know assist others in need? Volunteering your time? Catering to the sick? Share your story and you’ll be entered to win a $50.00 BornFit gift card. Hurry – comment below – the contest ends June 24th.

Mother’s Day is a day to celebrate our wonderful mothers! It’s a day to honor them and to show our love and appreciation for all they do! Plan a day, big or small, to appreciate everything that your special mom stands for.

Make it a day of activity that the whole family can enjoy. Sign up for the 3^rd annual Mother’s Day 5K on May 13^th in Denver, CO at City Park. Maybe the family likes a little competition or maybe a leisurely walk is a time for the family to catch up, but either way you’re family will be together.

There’s snacks, refreshments, fun prizes. And BONUS! Everyone who participates gets a FREE admission to the Denver Zoo.

Make the day about MOM,  and celebrate family and being BornFit!

Join BornFit in becoming a part of a life-changing event by signing up for Set the Pace for Prostate Cancer 5K on June 16^th in Denver, CO.

Hosted by the Prostate Conditions Education Council, a non-profit organization, whose mission is to save lives through raising awareness for prostate cancer. The PCEC educates men and their families, as well as the medical community, about the disease and other men’s health issues and is a leading resource of information.

Set the Pace 5K offers a variety of ways to take part in the race; sign up as an individual, a team or for the Set The Snooze mode (a way to participate if you can’t make it to the race.)

You get to Set the Pace and take part in supporting life-saving research. Set the Pace and BFit!

By Kacey Narracci

Nothing is more motivating than a destination race. It feels like a big deal. You set a goal and you are going somewhere to accomplish it. Not to mention the extra money it costs to get to the aforementioned somewhere. That’s a motivator in itself. I have run two marathons and both were outside of my home state. It’s fun. You get to research an area, see another part of the country, and achieve a goal. It’s a win-win-win.

My most recent destination race was the Women’s Half Marathon in St. Petersburg, Florida. For me this race wasn’t only motivational, it was inspirational. It was my first destination race since having children, and they were going to be there. In fact, since my entire family lives in Florida, most of them would be there as well. No one had come to any of my races in my adult life, except for my husband, so that was pretty special, too.

As I came around the bend and saw my children, only 3 ½ and almost 2, at the time, I waved my arms and started yelling; I was so excited (it almost ruined me for the rest of the race, using that much energy)! In my head, I imagined winning my age group at 80, with my children watching. I wanted them to be inspired by me, as well. I hope they are. Since then, my son has run a 5K and my daughter a fun run, so I guess we’re on the right track.

With gas prices soaring higher than a jet airliner, it is nice to be able to have some options when it comes to a destination race.  If you are itching to set sail on some new scenery, there are an endless amount of races that could fit your fancy whether you would like to travel a few hours or pack your bags and head across the country.

With a group of people around the office at work training for the Tough Mudder Event on June 9^th and 10^th at Beaver Creek Resort in Avon, Colorado, I have become very intrigued by all of the happenings as they prepare for the big weekend.  The Tough Mudder website describes the event as a “hardcore 10-12 mile obstacle course of hills, mud, water, ropes, walls, electric shocks, and fire.”  Designed as a team event, the spirit of the challenge includes teams decked out in all sorts of creative and outlandish costumes, which we have been discussing with great fervor in our spare time (there are prizes for best and worst costume as well as fastest times, so there are some things at stake here).

Based upon the workout regimens I have been hearing about the past few weeks, preparation is key to successfully completing the course without every single part of your body feeling like Mohamed Ali’s punching bag.  However, the website contains suggested training workouts to do before the event to help guide your team to successful completion.  Although your fitness level will definitely be tested, once you and your team complete the course, you are greeted at the finish line with a beer and some live music that is a unique way to celebrate having fun while being fit!

What is my take on the whole thing?  To me, the mention of completing a few of the obstacles under water makes me want to strap some floaties on my arms and pray for a miracle because it is more likely that I would have won the recent Mega Millions jackpot than conquer my fear of underwater activities that last longer than a quick cannonball into the pool.  Other than that, the challenge of climbing walls and splashing through some mud sounds like a great way to spend a weekend!

The great thing about this event is that it is all across the country, so finding a destination that suites you is just a click away.  If you already missed the event in your destination of choice this year, they already have the 2013 schedule posted on their website.  So, throw on that active wear and go sport your fitness all over the globe!

The HERA Women’s Cancer Foundation proudly celebrates 10 years of women’s health and empowerment in 2012!  Whether you rock climb, hike, run, or do triathlons, HERA offers lots of ways to challenge yourself to be healthy and active while helping a great cause.  We have a full calendar of events this year and there’s something for everyone.

HERA’s signature Climb4 Life^SM Series is up and running.  These events are truly unique – providing rock climbing, hiking, yoga, and much more – in beautiful settings with professional athletes and guides, as well as others like you who support ovarian cancer research and awareness initiatives.

The series kicks off with our first-ever Climb 4Life^SM Boston, April 28-29 at MetroRock; registration is $35 per person:  www.herafoundation.org/c4l-boston-2012. To launch the Boston event, pro climber, Sasha DiGiulian, will offer a free climbing clinic the week before on Friday, April 20.  Only a few spots are left!  Once you’ve registered for the Boston climb, e-mail c4lma@herafoundation.org to sign up for Sasha’s clinic.

Next up is Climb4Life^SM Colorado, held in the stunning setting of Boulder, CO on June 22-23.  Early registration is $65 per person through May 21; $75 thereafter.  To register:  www.herafoundation.org/c4l-colorado-2012/.  Registration will open soon for the Washington, DC Climb4Life^SM, July 14-15, at Carderock, MD and Great Falls, VA; registration is $50 per person.  The series wraps up with the HERA’s longest running event, Climb4Life^SM Utah, September 14-16; registration is $60 per person before August 17; $75 thereafter:  www.herafoundation.org/c4l-utah-2012/.  All Climb4Life^SM participants receive a goodie bag, a cool event shirt, and the chance to win some great prizes donated by our very generous sponsors.

How about running a Ragnar Relay with 12 of your closest friends?  These 200-mile running events are held all over the country.  To find one near you, check out:  www.herafoundation.org/events/ragnar-relay/.  If 200 miles is a bit much, how about a Run Like a Girl 5K or 8K:  www.herafoundation.org/events/run-like-a-girl/.  Are you into triathlons?  Don’t miss the “family-friendly” Fit to Fight Ovarian Cancer Triathlon Festival, featuring women’s events, men’s events, and kids’ events: http://fittofightoc.com/REGISTERandFAQs.html

Whether you are a newcomer or an experienced pro, join HERA as we bring together men and women of all ages to climb, hike, run, and raise funds to help fight ovarian cancer.  Established in 2002, the HERA Women’s Cancer Foundation is a nationally-recognized 501(c)(3) non-profit organization whose mission is to stop the loss of women from ovarian cancer by promoting Health, Empowerment, Research and Awareness.  Via its signature Climb4Life^SM and auxiliary fundraising events, coupled with funding from multiple other sources, HERA remains committed to investing at least 85% of the monies raised each year in programs that continue to provide research, awareness, education and community support.   HERA’s scientific research grants provide funding for cutting-edge research to scientists at respected medical institutions. In doing so, HERA promotes cross-disciplinary science and seeks to attract young researchers to expand the scientific understanding of ovarian cancer while improving the lives of those battling this disease.  HERA also embraces projects related to raising awareness about ovarian cancer and its symptoms in different communities around the country. By stressing the concept of “community,” HERA supports and empowers those undergoing treatment for ovarian cancer, as well as women who are healthy.  For more information, visit:  www.herafoundation.org.

Sign up for one or more events to help HERA in 2012.  You’ll be glad you did.