I survived my first race of the year, and it went better than expected.
In an attempt to rectify my love affair with running I signed up for this half marathon back in January. After skipping one too many long runs and staying on the shitty diet train for too long I decided 13.1 just wasn’t in the cards for me.
I decided to run the 10k instead which has always been my favorite race distance. It’s a happy medium for me that requires no training and somehow always sparks a fire in my soul for the sport. Something about being around other runners reminds me why I run.
Normally when I sign up for a race it’s 100% based on location, course, and finishers medals. This time I was able to find one that satisfied all of that, PLUS benefited a good cause. It was a win win win win.
The morning of the race I was a moody Mary and didn’t want to go. I didn’t sleep well, didn’t feel well, and dreaded the idea of running. Skipping the race wasn’t an option, and once I arrived my mood immediately changed.
From moody Mary to glowing Glenda with two snaps and a twirl.
It’s hard to be grumpy when 100% of the proceeds from a race go towards families and people with developmental disabilities. My sister has autism, so this cause was close to my heart. The crowd of people that participated were full of energy and inspiration.
The course wasn’t as flat as I’d expected, but it was amazing. We ran through the city of Portland over bridges, along the water, and between skyscrapers. I found myself smiling more than expected.
Obviously not my photo, but was taken the day of the race.
I’m not exaggerating when I say my running has been awful lately. When I’m not running consistently, anything over 3 miles becomes difficult. I went into this race with no expectations, and told myself to just enjoy the miles as they came.
Around mile 4 the sun started to hit me. I felt my brain pounding between my temples and decided to take a couple walk breaks for about 30 seconds each. Despite these stops I still finished with a time I’m proud of, and only 2 minutes slower than my PR.
The finishers medal is a handmade slab of wood with the logo stamped on it, I adore the rustic look. I also got a fun swag bag that I stuffed full of post run snacks.
Will run for carbs.
Fast forward two hours: A trip to Blue Star Donuts and somehow two vegan donuts made it into my hands. A blueberry cake donut, and orange olive oil.
I regret nothing.
I balanced all these carbs with a hefty salad for dinner. I’d give away my bag of mini Clif bars (I hoard free race goodies) for that salad every night.
So there you have it. Just like that, I feel inspired to run again. I often say running is 90% mental and it’s true. After turning around my attitude I was able to enjoy this experience and finish strong. Thoughts of donuts helped too.
Q: What’s your favorite donut flavor? I’m a sucker for a good apple fritter, but that orange olive oil was so unique is swept me off my feet.
Blissfulbritt 
88 thoughts on “Race for the Roses 10k”
B
I’m glad you decided to do the race! And I love how they make their medals. What a cute and fun way to do it!
Brittany
It’s one of my favorite medals!
Amy @ A Desert Girl
Go you!! Way to persevere. And those donuts. I’ll take two of each, please. Actually I’m more of a plain Jane when it comes to donuts.
Brittany
This was me going plain Jane with the donuts, and they DID NOT disappoint.
fionajarrett
Whoop, whoop 😀 ! Well done on your run & glad to hear you enjoyed it. Love your funky medal and donuts in equal measure 🙌
Brittany
I wanna do it all over again! 👊🏻
Andrea Weidel
Maple dip is my absolute favorite donut!
Brittany
I haven’t had a good maple donut in far too long!!
David Lazar
BB – your recent posts have been so moving, way to go, and congrats on your finish.
I’m feeling challenged as well this year, I will write about it soon.
My current donut faves are the chocolate sandcastle, from TPD, and blueberry cake, also TPD. Sunrise in Redmond used to have a glazed cake dipped in chopped peanuts that was amazing!
Keep up the great work, you’re killin’ it!
Brittany
This comment, means more to me than words can say. Thank you! In sorry you’re feeling challenged lately, perhaps there’s something in the air right now!? Just know you’re not alone. 😝 Please share your post when you decide to write it!
Rebecca
Love the medal – but I also love the donuts!
Brittany
They were soooo good.
Angie
Congrats on the run. I like apple fritters too, but if there’s blueberry, that’s usually my first choice. I also like chocolate glazed donuts and maple bars. These are all my tops.
Brittany
Now I want all of these.
Angie
Me too. 😉
Mom, Miles, and Mishaps
I’m not a big lover of donuts but if there is an Apple Fritter…there is an internal struggle to stay away!!!
Brittany
Right!? They are in a class of their own!
liz
You’ve become my new spiritual guide to baked goods. Those donuts! Congrats on the race. I really love the 10K distance, too. I wish they would become more popular!
Brittany
We just gotta keep preaching about them, and bringing donuts haha.
chris
Great job! Looks like a really good run—and those donuts look so delish. 🙂
Brittany
Thank you! So delicious.
Jessica
That is the craziest donut flavor I have ever heard of! Congrats on the run – you are amazing.
Brittany
My thoughts too! It was amazing!
Bound to Be Me
What a great run and I love the pictures!! Your salad looks amazing!! Would you mind sharing the recipe?
Brittany
It had romaine, kale, spinach, artichokes, crispy roasted chickpeas, kalamata olives (too salty), cucumber, asparagus, and black beans with a red wine vinegar. No recipe really, just a mash up!
Bound to Be Me
wow, sounds amazing!! Thanks for sharing 🙂
katalysthealth
I seriously need to find a gluten free donut shop in my neck of the woods cause Ive been craving donuts like mad! I know I can make them at home, but baking them isnt the same as deep frying 😉 Congrats on the run!
Brittany
Oh man, there’s a shop in Seattle that makes all vegan/GF treats that are amazing. You just gotta venture to LA to find some! Haha
Emma @em-poweredwellness
I run 3-4 miles easily on my own, but I ran a 5k a few weeks ago and struggled hard. I agree, it’s mostly mental. Congrats on finishing a 10k! That salad looks just as delicious as those doughnuts mmm.
Brittany
Soooo mental!
Anthony
Awesome that you made it and you’re reigniting passions.
As for my favourite donut flavour–I love honey crullers, but lately have loved the maple topped donuts.
Brittany
I’ve never heard of a honey crueller, but it sounds awesome!
Anthony
and tastes awesome too
Ellie
Way to push through. Running is really challenging and scary when you’re unsure of how your legs will handle it. I am an apple fritter girl all the way. If not that, then strawberry frosted with rainbow sprinkles 🙂
Brittany
OHHH yea!
Lindsay Edwards
Orange olive oil? How cool! I’m not a donut person (banish me from earth!) but I’ll take a heft bag of trail mix any day 🙂 I read an article today about how the painful memories of racing only last so long…that’s why we keep signing ourselves up for more. Runners are so BA 🙂 Good on you for sticking to it.
Brittany
Hell yeah! It’s ok, more donuts for me. That flavor was awesome!
Heather
Our local bakery, Riverside Bakery, has the BEST chocolate frosted cake donuts and apple fritters and custard filled and maple swirl and long johns and and and. And it is truly impossible to choose a fav. I would ship you some but they are not vegan or remotely vegetarian. Congrats on your first race of the season! Love your blog.
Brittany
Yummmmmmm, I like your “I can’t choose” style, it speaks to me.
P
This race sounds like so much fun! Nothing like a 10k race to help boost the running spirit and serve as a good excuse to chow down on some delicious vegan food 😉
Brittany
Yasss! I want to go run this course again.
usabaker
I’ve not had Donuts in 4 years WHAAaaaaaaaa no fair. Do nuts do this to me! Cool run! I have a 10K run for Autism on May 30; this will be the second year in a row for this race. 🙂
Brittany
4 years!?!? Teach me your self controlled ways! 😱
usabaker
Brittany… I was SO EASY! all you have to do is abuse your body with processed sugar until you are pre-diabetic like me! LOL
Brittany
You know what…I’ve been very complacent lately and fear if I don’t get my shit in check I’ll be on that path. Your comment was a sign I need to wrangle my sugar beast in, it’s gotten ugly! 😂🙈
usabaker
LOL as long as you watch out for ADDED sugars you would be good. 🙂 I’ve seen what you eat from your posts and you have no issues….
Dannii @ Hungry Healthy Happy
Sounds like a great run! Whenever I find that I am lacking in motivation with my running, I sign up for an event and it usually helps.
Brittany
Me too!!
Amanda @ .running with spoons.
#willrunfordonuts!!!! I love a good honey cruller, but I think chocolate glazed will always be my #1. And totally agree with you about the mental part – attitude is everything! Well, attitude and good food and enough sleep 😆
Brittany
Sleeeepppp! What is this? I fantasize about the day I have a steady sleep schedule. So close…haha.
Rachael @ Catch Me If You Can
yay back to running!! i love that medal its so interesting! and those donuts were well deserved and look delicious, you seriously find the best looking and probably tasting food ever. i really need to make my way to portland!
Brittany
I’m just obsessed with eating, what can I say. Haha.
allisonfiorini
Congrats on an awesome race!! That medal is so cool! I need to run a race in Oregon soon. I don’t have that state yet. This looked amazing! As did the donuts that found their way into your hands. YUMMM! I thought of you this weekend as I visited our local vegan bakery, vegan treats, and had a cup of their Brown Sugar Brulee vegan soft serve. They also make some scrumptious vegan donuts!!
Brittany
Homaagghaahh! That soft serve sounds SO GOOD.
An Unrefined Vegan
Sounds like the stars aligned on this one, Brittany! I think that was an inspired strategy to reinvigorate your running mojo. It’s true – nothing like a race atmosphere to remind a person why they started running in the first place and to get excited! I did a Warrior Dash on Saturday and had a blast getting dirty, challenging my physical self and sipping an icy cold beer!
Brittany
I love it! I still need to do one of those.
Heather Patton at Afternoon Glow
Congrats on getting your (running) groove back! As for my favorite doughnut flavor, I’d have to go with a good ol’ Polish paczki with raspberry filling. It’s a good thing they’re only available for a few days each year (for Mardi Gras) because it’d be hard not to eat them all year!
Brittany
Oh man, I wish the donuts I enjoyed were only available once a year. 🙈
Nicole @ Foodie Loves Fitness
Nice job lady! Sounds like the good race vibes got you in a positive running spirit. I had my very first chai donut recently, and it was unique & yummy!
Brittany
Chai!? Ohh yum!!
Jade
Awesome job! What a beautiful day for a race! Every time I’ve been in Portland it’s been grey and sad. And getting carbs at the end is what running is all about lol
Brittany
YAASSS! Go to pdx in the summer!
Jade
Whenever I get days off again I’m going lol
Josie @ Literature Mistress
Poeple have called me weird for this before, but I’m really not into donuts. Muffins, yes! Cookies – oh please! But donuts? Just nope.^^
Brittany
That’s ok, you’re not alone! I’m just into all things sugar haha.
Rach @ This Italian Family
Wow! Only 2 minutes shy of your PR is really impressive since you’ve struggled with your running lately. Good for you! It seems like so much of running really is mental. Glad you overcame it (and if it takes donuts to get you there then you gotta do what you gotta do 😉 ).
Brittany
😻🍩🍩🍩🍩😻
Heather
Look at that pace 🙂 Glad running is on your good side again! Simple chocolate iced or frosting filled! Food is always a good motivator for my running!!!
Brittany
I run to eat. And to feel good. 😝
dave379
Congrats! I like the medal design too. In my heart there will always be soft spot for Boston Creme. I indulge a few times a year 🙂
Brittany
OHHH goodness yes. 🍩🍩
kathy @ more coffee, less talky
i haven’t had a donut since 2011 (!!!) but that doesn’t mean i don’t creepily stare at them whenever i’m buying coffee.
Brittany
I need your mind. Can I have it…can I…cannnn I !?!
The Zen Kat
Congrats on your first run of the year! That calls for many donuts in celebration! I have to say those donuts we had a while ago were up there on the list for favorite donuts. Yumm!
Brittany
That was a magical day all around!
Josh dV
Happy to have you running again. Portland is a beautiful city and I was there for the Rose Festival years ago. I’m unhappy to say I was not in my best state of mind and Remember it less well than I should.
Donuts? I don’t really do them but an old fashioned cake donut. Classic. Like me.
Brittany
Classic indeed, sometimes simple is best. I went simple this round, yes…these were simple for me. 😝
Josh dV
Are you calling me simple? Ha! You’re not wrong.
Brittany
NEVER!!
Meghan@CleanEatsFastFeets
Congrats. I’m glad you made yourself go to the race and thrilled you found your love of running again while you were there. I’m still not ready to hop back on the running train (I think my last run might have been with you in September), but maybe one day. I did after all get a stroller which you can jog with….
Mmm olive oil donuts. Mmmmmm.
Brittany
Ohhhh jogging mama! I’ll jog with you and baby!
stateeats
Hi Britt – Kudos to you for doing that race even when you woke up and didn’t want to. I give you a lot of credit. Fave donut? I have just discovered Vault donuts here in Chicago. All of them are old fashioned but they have different icings and toppings. Have vowed to try them all, which will take me a few months since I only eat donuts occasionally – Kat
Brittany
Your self control is admirable. 🙌🏼
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April Cunningham
The donuts and salad all look so delicious! Glad your love affair has been rekindled!
Brittany
Me too!! 😝
Allie Zottola
What a special race you ran! It’s always amazing when all of the proceeds go towards a cause. And orange olive oil. That sounds like it would rock my world!
Brittany
It was soooo good!