Tasty Run.

How often do you get to be a part of a "First Annual" anything? This year I got to run AND eat in the first annual Tasty Run. I am, by no means, an avid runner. To be honest, I am no runner at all. I partake in the Race for the Cure annually because it's Susan G. Komen...and it's for a good cause. And you get a crap load of freebies at the end of the race. But mainly because it's for a good cause.

When I heard about the Tasty Run, a 5K with tasting stations along the course, I was sold. I did not care what the cause was. For all I was concerned, the cause was my hyperactive thyroid and insatiable desire to eat. The fact that I could get a workout while eating, it was a total win-win situation for me. I have never been so excited to run before.

Shortly after the start of the race was the first station. No one was ready for it, including myself. La Madeline had a spread of chocolate croissants and their strawberry romanoffs, which I swear are laced with crack. By the time I realized I had approached the first of five food stations, my momentum only allowed me to grab one croissant and the largest strawberry I could see. I was so excited, I didn't know what to do - eat the strawberry? Eat the croissant? Keep running? Turn around and grab another strawberry?

Before I could establish a plan of action, I began to smell the next station. Genghis Grill had Teriyaki Chicken and Rice. Oooh-wee it smelled good! They had the food in a jello-shot cup so the only appropriate way to eat the food sample was to shoot it. You know, just like when you're downtown and it's your friend's 21st birthday.  It was no unlimited bowl, but it hit the spot. And if not careful, it hit the wrong spot. One of the keys to running, and exercising in general, is rhythmic and controlled breathing. Inhaling a mouthful of chicken and rice can throw that breathing off. Just a tad.

Raising Canes blessed the runners with some fresh-squeezed lemonade. While I could have done without the ice chunks in my lemonade, it was quite refreshing. Just before the 2-mile marker, Tiff's Treats had a table full of cookies, whole cookies. They were amazing. I ate the entire cookie. I didn't really have choice seeing as how there were no trash cans in site after passing the table. It's okay though - by this time, I had already decided this event was no longer a running event, but rather an eating event.

The last tasting station was hosted by On The Border. What better way to represent a mexican food station than with mini burritos and sopapillas! I knew it was the last stop before the finish line, so I made the most of it by taking pictures with the sopapilla girls, while enjoying a mouthful of fried pastry.

I finished the race in a record, slow time of 47:43 and continued onto the Dos Equis afterparty where we were greeted with whole cans of Dos Equis. While some may not think chugging a beer is the best way to hydrate after a run, I was surrounded by runners that would disagree.