Get Fit, Get Fed + Give Back This September #Giveaway

It is hard for me to believe that Labor Day is almost here. Thank goodness I have some great September events to look forward to! Plus, I have some great news.  If you are in Chicago (or want to visit) you can join me.


runeatdrinkI love to run and I love to eat, so when I was offered the opportunity to be a Cooking Light and Health Fit Foodie 5K Ambassador, I jumped at the chance! The concept of the Fit Foodie was born out of the idea that a healthy lifestyle and delicious culinary experiences don’t have to be separate. The theme is “calories burned, calories earned.” This is a theme that really resonates with me! More like a mantra, right?

Screen Shot 2015-08-30 at 8.05.47 AM

The Fit Foodie 5K Weekend is “jam-packed” with celebrity chef tastings, culinary and fitness demonstrations, yoga sessions and a fitness bootcamp, led by celebrity trainers and fitness experts. The Fit Foodie is in 4 cities this year. The events in Austin, TX and Fairfax, VA took place in June and the Chicago events will be the weekend of September 11 – 13 and in San Diego, CA on November 6 – 8. In addition to fun, food and fitness, Fit Foodie gives back to the community through their partnership with the American Diabetes Association.

The focus and message of the Fit Foodie is not a trend, it is a lifestyle. They hope that you will join in on this journey to health, happiness and most importantly giving back through the American Diabetes Association.

Want to join me at the Fit Foodie 5K on Saturday, September 12th? I have TEN free entries. Yes, TEN! After those go, I have a 50% off code that you can use. The code is ERICAFINDS. If you want a free entry, send me an email at erica @ ericafinds.com with the subject FREE Fit Foodie 5K Entry and I will send you a code if one is available.

Get all of the info and up to date news from the Fit Foodie 5K on Twitter.


xIc7m-Nv_400x400I am joining Susie in Bright Pink’s FitFest on September 20th. Fitfest is a 6 hour fitness marathon. It will be six hours of fitness classes, cycling, yoga, basketball and more from some of Chicago’s best fitness studios. If you are a fitness freak like me or new to the scene, FitFest is for you. Why? FitFest is about saving women’s lives from breast and ovarian cancer. That’s something we can all get behind.

This is the 6th FitFest. What is great about FitFest? Every dollar raised goes to life-saving breast and ovarian cancer prevention programs for young women and the medical community who care for them. Exercise is proven to reduce the risk of breast and ovarian cancer. FitFest’s day of classes kicks healthy habits into action. Also, 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer and 1 in 67 will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Women have the power to be proactive to reduce their risk for these cancers or detect them at early, non life-threatening stages. Bright Pink’s mission is to show them how.

FitFest is for women and men at all levels of fitness. You choose how hard you go. Women and men of all fitness levels will find a wide range of classes to tailor their day around. Some top picks: Spin classes, Treadmill workouts, Yoga, Cardio Dance, Fit Kick (Kickboxing), Hip Hop Dance workout, FFC Chisel & Modern Mat classes, Barre classes and more to come! During the day you can cool down with educational and relaxing activities including Q&A with Genetic Counselors and OBGYN’s, Brighten Up: A 20-Minute educational workshop teaching the basics of breast and ovarian health, Paul Mitchell Braid Booth, Massage, Photo Booth, Nutrition Consultations, Psychic Readings, Argo Tea tea tasting, food and more to come.

Want to join in? Susie and I are looking for teammates! The fundraising minimum is $500 per person across a team. You can join team Suz and Her Girls here. Can’t make it, you can support our team here.

FitFest Swag Bag

I went to an info session for FitFest and got an some great swag. In a fun “The girl with this bag has not been retouched” tote from Aerie, there is a Zon workout tube, running socks, sweat bands, Paul Mitchell hair products, Mineral Fusion and Nars make up and more! Since, I am participating this year, I am going to giveaway the swag to a lucky reader. The giveaway runs through September 7th. A winner will be selected and notified on September 8th. Please use the Rafflecopter below to enter. Winner must be a US resident or have a US postal intermediary, be 18 years of age or older and the offer is void where prohibited.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Can you join me in September? If not, check for great ways to get fit and pay it forward in your town and tell me about them in the comments!

Please note: This giveaway is not sponsored by Bright Pink. I was given these items at no cost in exchange for sharing information about the event. Entries for the Fit Foodie 5K are sponsored by the Fit Foodie 5K. All opinions are my own.