When people ask, ‘why do you run?’ you’ll usually get typical responses like, ‘oh I’m trying to lose weight’ or ‘I’m training to run my first marathon’ or something similar. However, my go to response is more ‘because I love to eat!’ Going as far back as high school, I still remember going out to eat with another cross country friend at a restaurant and having each of us consume the following with little to no effort: 5-6 glasses of lemonade, individual appetizers, full entrees followed by our own, very rich dessert to complete the meal. You can try and justify such a large meal by saying that we were just kids with big appetites. But I’m sure it was also due to us burning thousands of calories every week that contributed as well.

Since I started running consistently again as an adult, I would follow the same ‘run to eat’ mentality. Post long runs and post-race celebratory meals were often just as important as the run itself. I would find new restaurants and places to eat depending on where I ran. Race-cations were also planned by destinations with the best food (along with sightseeing opportunities).

Eat your way to the finish line, then celebrate at the post-race John Hancock Vitality Village Food and Fitness Festival, featuring bites from local restaurants, a beer and wine garden, mini-workout classes, and so much more. A race you can really sink your teeth into, your registration includes:

• Race registration and bib
• Bites at each mile
• Finisher’s medal
• Access to the John Hancock Vitality Food and Fitness Festival
• Delicious tasting stations
• Finish line celebration drinks
• Goody bag with gifts from top health and wellness brands
• Meet-and-greets with John Hancock Elite Athlete Ambassadors
• Cash reward for top finishers
• Friday Night Packet Pick Up Party
• Donation to No Kid Hungry

Talent & Celebs

Bill Rodgers – John Hancock Elite Athlete Ambassador, Four-time Boston Marathon and New York City Marathon Champion
Renatto Medranda – Executive Chef Pinzimini
Christina Ross – Owner, Love-Fed

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