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Did you just train for -- and compete in -- your first 5K, 10K, marathon, triathlon or other fitness feat? We want to share your story with the world! Let us know why you decided to train, how you did it and what it felt like to cross that (mental or physical) finish line. Send us an e-mail at successstories [AT] thatsfit [DOT] com.

Photo: Omar de Armas, Flickr

Do you sometimes want to run where nobody knows your name? While some folks love knowing the names of their competition, others get tired of all the same faces at their local races. Fortunately for them, Active.com has put together a list of the five biggest 5K races in the United States. And you don't have to go to New York or L.A. to run in them!

That being said, the Revlon Run for Women (held in NYC and L.A.) did take second place with 31,120 finishers in L.A. and 26,000 in New York. The largest race is the Race for the Cure: D.C., which, as you clever folks probably already figured out, takes place in Washington D.C.

Rounding out the top five are the Mercedes-Benz Corporate Run, held in several Florida cities, the Run to Feed the Hungry in Sacramento, California, and the St. Luke's Women's Fitness Celebration, all with more than 10,000 finishers. Yep, even in Boise.

See? You don't have to do a full marathon or complete any qualifiers to take part in a major running event. You just have to find the right race for you.

Which do you prefer; small or large races? Let us know in the comments!

Fall is a popular time for charity walks and runs. There are several Susan G. Komen marathons scheduled to benefit breast cancer research. The Alzheimer Foundation has Memory Walks scheduled around the country. Step Out Walk to Fight Diabetes has many fall events. And that's just naming a few!

Participating in a charity walk or run is a great way to get in shape. You have all the traditional perks of training for an event, plus you have the added motivation that your actions are a benefit to a worthy cause.

If you're planning to sign up for a charity walk or run, it's time to start training. You can consult a personal trainer for a customized training program. Or, check out the web site for your charity race. Many, such as the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, have training programs designed for their participants.

My sister's friend is training for a half-marathon in February. She wants my sister and me to do it too. So my sister drove up my driveway the other day, called me on my cell phone, and beckoned me to her car window where she handed me this Hal Higdon 12-week training plan intended to prep me for conquering 13 miles, all in one shot. This is the same me who has only ever run as many as five miles at one time. My long runs lately are three miles. Hal's training schedule features three miles as a short run. I'm not sure about all of this. Either is my sister.

Runner's World calls the half-marathon the hottest race distance out there, perfect for newer racers like me who have maybe finished a few 5K or 10 K events (I've run three 5Ks, doing another on October 4). The half offers a worthy-yet-doable challenge without the training and racing grind of the marathon, say the running experts.

Doable. Sure it's doable. I have enough confidence in my abilities to know I can complete a half-marathon if I really set my mind to it. But do I want to? That's the question. Do I want to train harder than I do now to maintain my average level of fitness? Do I want to put a squeeze on my work and family schedule? Do I want to accomplish a physical feat I've never before attempted. Lots to think about. Gotta give Hal's program some thought -- and this Runner's World plan too (a nine-week commitment). Then, I guess I'll make the call.

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On October 4, I plan to run in my fourth Making Strikes Against Breast Cancer event. Most people walk this 5K course, but I like to run it. I'm no marathon girl, but 3.2 miles I can do. How about you?

If you're not quite skilled at the 5K but want to take your run a bit farther, check out this site, c25k.com. It's the couch-to-5K running program, and this week-by-week plan is sure to get you up and running in no time. Here, you can chat with other runners, even download podcasts to help you train.

Maybe you're beyond the 5K and wish for something more like 26 miles. Marathontraining.com has what you need: a mileage buildup schedule, information on injury prevention, and motivation strategies.

Combine the two -- the 5K and the marathon -- and you've got halhigdon.com. Here, Hal Higdon, author of Marathon: The Ultimate Training Guide, coaches novices and road warriors alike.

Saint Patrick's Day is a day for wearing 'Kiss Me, I'm Irish' t-shirts, consuming copious amounts of green beer and loudly belting out Irish folks songs that you hardly remember the words to. It's fun, yes, but let's just say that March 17th is not commonly thought of as a healthy holiday (but then again, are any holidays healthy?)

Anyway, if you're trying to make healthy choices, why not make the choice to forsake green beer and do something fit this St. Patty's day? There are a number of great St. Patrick's Day runs across the country, of all different levels of difficulty. Hey, you can always grab a green beer afterwards if you really want -- you'll have something really impressive to celebrate!

(Via Fitsugar)

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In my town, there are two things to do on St. Patrick's Day -- run a 5K or drink green beer. Many residents do both, a few do both at the same time. Last year, former That's Fit blogger Jessica gave us some tips for making our St. Pat's celebrations a little lighter and a little healthier.

An old Irish recipe for longevity says:

Leave the table hungry.
Leave the bed sleepy.
Leave the table thirsty.

You may not be able to leave the table hungry with these delicious recipes in front of you, but at least you'll know they are not only delicious, but light and nutritious as well. Check out this St. Patrick's Day Irish Stew, these St. Patrick's day recipe makeovers, or these traditional recipes that are also vegan.

Do you have a blog you'd like to see featured on Fit Links? Leave us a note in the comment section!

On Sunday, a marathon will take place in my city. There will also be a half marathon, a kids marathon, and a 5K. I've got a handful of friends of who will challenge themselves in the name of fun and fitness by running in these races and while I won't be one of the competitors this year, I may entertain the idea next time around. Part of me is intrigued by the physical accomplishment I could make by conquering more than 26 miles. Part of me just wants to participate in an event that has the power to save lives in five different ways.

The Five Points of Life races, sponsored by LifeSouth Community Blood Centers, are designed to raise awareness about the need for five life-saving donations -- blood, apheresis, bone marrow, organs and tissue, and cord blood. Some event participants and volunteers are donors, some are recipients, and some are both. Donors are asked to wear an orange ribbon on race day. Recipients: a blue one (we're Gators here, hence the orange and blue). The ribbons will serve as reminders of the importance of saving lives.

Should I run next year, I'll be wearing a blue ribbon, in honor of the several units of blood I received while hospitalized three years ago with chemotherapy-induced low blood counts. What a thrill it would be to publicly acknowledge the gift I was given. What a thrill it would be to run all those miles.

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One of the biggest mistakes you can make when starting a new fitness routine is jumping in too fast. Injury and burnout will kill your routine faster than you can say "shin splints." When I was doing the Couch to 5K program last year, I learned that when you first start a new fitness routine, you should actually do what feels like a little less that you're capable of. It's hard, I know, because I just wanted to keep pushing ahead. But gradual progress is safer and healthier for you and your body.

So let's say you're a couch potato who's just recently become interested in getting up off the sofa. If that sounds like you, then you might be interested in this Couch Potato Workout. It'll teach you some basic stretches and strength training exercises to help your body adjust to the idea of exercise, then help you kick it up a notch when you're ready. Before you know it, you'll be out there doing daily workouts with your fellow fitness fans.

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Have fitness questions? Fitz has your answer. Our ThatsFit.com fitness expert -- and now your own virtual personal trainer -- will help you get fit, increase your overall health and do it in a fun way. Drop your questions here in the Comments section below and we'll choose two per week to publish on That's Fit! Learn more about Fitz here.

Q. Hi Fitz. I've just begun jogging as a part of my fitness routine. I've traditionally walked a lot and jumped rope. My husband, Aaron, is trying to convince me to run a 5K race with him within the next few weeks. I don't think I can run it all! Do you have any expert advice that will help me get out of it? Thanks. Amy

A. No can do, Amy! I suggest you sign up to complete that race and get the fancy t-shirt that goes with it as soon as possible. Nothing motivates like an upcoming athletic event. Look at it this way. You are a new runner, and that's fine! In fact, it's terrific. We already know you wouldn't be racing to win, right? You'd just be going out to get some exercise and probably support some charitable cause. That alone makes you a winner. Jog as much as you can, and fill in the spots when you get tired with all of that walking you've been doing.

Trust me. I've participated in a bunch of 5K races, and haven't won one. I didn't care, nor did anyone else around me. It's a ton of fun to lace up your kicks and get moving with hundreds or thousands of others. I bet you'll enjoy it so much that you start looking for another race as soon as you're done. Thank your husband for the invitation and the motivation. Then let him know that you're eager to cover the distance at a pace that feels good to you. If he moves faster, he can wait at the finish line with a kiss for you as you cross it. Have fun and let me know how it goes! Fitz

Q. Miss Fitz. I was startled to read that the woman who won the New York Marathon had a nine month old baby. Isn't that really unhealthy? I was shocked! Mark.

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Curious to know how celebrities squeeze fitness into their daily lives? Want to know the secrets of the stars? Bi-weekly our That's Fit fitness expert Fitz sits down with the celebs we want to know more about, and digs out their great and not-so-great methods to staying healthy.

Our featured celebrity this week is one of our very own That's Fit bloggers, Jacki Donaldson. Jacki has published and become the feature of more than 1,000 magazine and online articles. She's an eloquent writer who guides her readers towards healthier, more appreciative and joyful lives with ease.

Jacki is also a Breast Cancer Survivor. Jacki was diagnosed in November of 2004, when her two small sons were only three years old and 18 months, Soon after, Jacki endured a lumpectomy, radiation, chemotherapy and all of the great side effects that go along with it. Jacki lives in my neighborhood and approached me about personal training in April of 2006. I considered her a friend before this, but truly had no idea what an inspirational and fun person she would be to have in my life.

As I've cheered for her, she's inspired me to become a better person in every aspect of my life. Her writing makes we want to be more insightful. Her parenting makes me want to be more creative. Her friendship makes me want to be a better person in general. Jacki has turned her experiences with cancer into a positive somehow. She's turned the most rotten lemons into the sweetest lemonade. She's now a role model for health and I'm grateful to be able to share her with you. I recommend visiting JackiDonaldson.com to get her full story.

Fitz: Describe your original diagnosis of breast cancer and your life at that point.

Jacki: I found a lump in my breast while washing in the shower. I knew in my gut it was cancer. After a mammogram, ultrasound, and biopsy, I knew with absolute certainty. I had cancer. I was 34 years old, with a husband and two little boys, ages three and 18 months.

Fitz: What type of treatment did you undergo and for how long?

Jacki: I had a lumpectomy to remove my tumor and four lymph nodes. Then I had four doses of chemotherapy, six weeks worth of radiation -- I was zapped every week day for all these weeks -- and then a year-long targeted drug therapy with a new wonder drug that cuts the risk of recurrence by 50 percent. I also received physical therapy -- both surgery and radiation affect range of motion in the arm -- and talk therapy, and I took an anti-depressant for more than one year. My treatment began in January 2005 and ended in July 2006, just more than one year ago.

Fitz: You hired me as your personal trainer about 17 months ago. You said you wanted to "get strong." How were you weak?

Jacki: My body had been battered by both cancer and the treatment designed to save my life. I was fatigued, worn out, and without physical strength. I knew I needed to make a comeback. I just didn't know how. Then I found you.

Fitz: You were still undergoing chemotherapy once every three weeks for your first few months of training. Small things like lunges and strength training with tubes would leave you dizzy quite often, but you persevered. What kept you coming when you certainly were not required to?

Jacki: I believe the healthier and stronger I become, the less likely I am to develop cancer again. So I require myself to work hard. It's my way of controlling an unpredictable disease.

Fitz: You began training in April, 2006 and ran the entire Making Strides Against Breast Cancer 5k in October, 2006. You were the first survivor to cross the finish line as you ran every step of the way. As I finished a few steps behind you, I couldn't think of a more proud moment in my career. What did that physical accomplishment mean to you?

Jacki: It meant I really could run, not just around the block which I could barely do even before cancer, but for 3.2 whole miles. It meant that I was taking powerful steps against a disease that threatened to take my life. It meant I could keep up with you -- which is no small feat!

Fitz: You've now revamped your entire way of eating. Tell me about the changes you've made and the results you've experienced. You look really hot by the way!

Jacki: I love you! I've cut out all sweets, soda, and red meat. I eat low-fat, low-sugar foods and lots of fruits and veggies. I drink only water. I've cleared my kitchen of butters, oils, dressings, and more. Results? I've lost 15 pounds, 10 of which crept up on me during treatment. I'm leaner, firmer, and so much happier in my slimmer body.

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I've got my eye on running a 5K this spring, and tomorrow (cliche or not, it is January 1st after all) I'm going to put my running shoes back on. Today I've been spending some time surfing the net looking for music to jog to and came across jogTunes. I tend to put the same music on my mp3 player, often because the songs mean something to me, but also because I don't have time to look for new music with the right tempo.

JogTunes takes all the work out of creating a playlist. Organized by the traditional tune, artist, and genre, the songs are also defined by beats per minute so you can create a list at exactly the tempo you want for your personal workout. This is important to me, because I'm constantly getting into a fast paced walk or steady jog and then a slower song comes on and it throws my stride. They also link directly to iTunes, a popular source for online music. You can surf and see what other people are listening to or look at prepackaged playlists as well.

Music keeps my workouts longer, faster, and more intense. If you like to exercise to music -- whether you walk, jog, dance, ski, or lift weights -- I suggest playing around on this site a little for some inspiration. I have a new playlist ready to go for my first day of training tomorrow!

While we're on the subject, what songs do you like to listen to while working out?

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[That's Fit blogger Larissa Brown chronicles her journey to health and fitness through this regular weekly feature.]


I wrote after I completed my first relay race that I was going to use bicycling to work as a way to carry myself through the post-race slump. Well, biking was exhilirating and fun the four times that I did it, but it wasn't the right kind of challenge to keep me moving. I'd biked a lot before (my husband and I lived for 7 years without a car). But this time around I was a super-tired mom who slept too late on workdays, and the challenge mostly left me feeling guilty for taking my beloved tiny convertible to the office.

I started to get scared that I was going to hit the holiday season with a fat old thump. So what to do?

I started running with friends. Four of them to be exact.