Runner's World Half and Festival 2015--Big News

Yes, I have news. Pretty big news in fact. And, no, I never write blog posts like this. However, I felt like this was something I needed to write about. An announcement post if you will.

 If you don't know, Emir and I have run the Hat Trick (5k, 10K & half marathon) at the Runner's World Festival in Bethlehem, PA every year since it started in 2012. And we love this event. It's a whole weekend devoted to running. We get to not only run 3 races in one weekend, but attend talks, movies and other activities all about running with tons of other runners who are just as geeky about this stuff as us. And the best part is that it's hosted by Bart Yasso and all the other enthusiastic people at Runner's World. Not to mention, it's also sponsored by Altra (who we happen to be ambassadors for) who also provides tons of great running content. Last year we even had the kids come Friday for the kids' race. It's just the best and we look forward to it every year.

Kids had a blast at the festival!

The steelstacks add a nice background for the whole weekend

This year things got even better. Emir and I have said the last couple years that we wish there was some trail component to the weekend especially because after attending we realized there was a great trail nearby. Well someone heard our wishes and not long ago it was announced that there will be a 3.8 mile trail race on Friday afternoon. Why 3.8? Well if you add the 3.1 and 6.2 from Saturday's races with the 13.1 of Sundays race and the 3.8 you get 26.2 for the weekend. Sounds perfect to me! It was a no brainer for us to sign up for all 4 races even though I will be running my first 100 miler the weekend before. This event just means so much to us at this point. We have done every race at every Runner's World Festival so far, so how could I not continue that??

So you get it, Emir and I are excited about going back to Runner's World for the 4th year in a row and that now there's a 4th race for us to do. But so what? What's the big deal? Well a couple weeks ago, while I was away in Bosnia and Croatia, I received an email from Runner's World inviting me to be a special part of the Festival weekend. I was so surprised, so excited, but totally shocked. The last couple years, I had seen online runner bloggers that were invited to the festival and got to participate in special extra events and were hosted by Runner's World. I have always wanted to be one of those people, not because they got stuff but just because I LOVE this event. We have run every race they offered at the Festival every year and attended many of the lectures and movies offered. I just felt like I had such a connection with this event and that I am a blogger and would do such a great job of promoting and writing about this event that I always wanted to be one of these people and wondered "Why can't I be one of these people?" So you can imagine how excited and honored I was to receive this email inviting me especially since it's not like I had asked if this was possible or applied for it somehow. Which all just makes it all the more special that I was invited.

Aside from the great weekend of races and running talks that Runner's World has planned for everyone, I get to attend a bunch of extra, special events. I will be touring the Runner's World offices with Bart Yasso, having a BBQ with the editors, attending special private sessions with the founders of Altra and a private meet and greet with Deena Kastor! Needless to say, I'm really looking forward to all of this!

My first time meeting Bart at the Blue Ridge Marathon in April 2013

When Niko met Bart

Closest I've ever gotten to Deena

So that's it, that's my news. Now a little something for all of you! I have a discount code to share with everyone :  

blogrunningmarathonmom

Here's what you will get with my code: $3.50 off the 5K; $4 off the 10K; $7.50 off the Five and Dime; $9.50 off the Half; $17 off the Hat trick.

I hope to see you all there!!! For those interested in reading more about my experiences at the past Festivals, here are my and Emir's blog posts and my Bibrave reviews:

2012, 2013, 2014 Bibrave Reviews
Amy's 2013 blog post
Emir's 2013 blog post
Amy's 2014 blog post
Emir's 2014 blog post