Recently one of my dreams came true – when my wife and I ran with my daughters in their first half marathon at Disney World. My daughters are 14 (yes twins, and identical), and are a true miracle. Fifteen years ago, they should have died in utero but were saved by an amazing surgeon who performed fetal surgery.

This blog is about what life lessons running keeps teaching me and now, hopefully, my daughters.

1. Mom and Dad will always be by your side – Through all the ups and downs of training and race day, we were always by their side to encourage them and love them no matter what.
2. The first step towards a goal is the scariest – The scariest part can be finding the courage to take that first step toward reaching your goal.
3. There will be ups and downs – There are times when we may deviate from our goals, but we can get on course again. Keep focusing on the goal.
4. Be Kind – No matter how hard or easy parts were, the girls always waved at every spectator, high-fived anyone willing, and had a smile for their fellow athletes.
5. You are stronger than you think – One of my daughters had terrible stomach pains for almost all of the run, yet she kept pressing on and found her inner strength.
6. When you see the finish, go for it and celebrate – With the finish line in sight, arms held high and smiling ear to ear, each of my daughters proudly received a shiny medal. The finish is not the end, it is the beginning of what is possible.

Our experience running the Walt Disney World Half Marathon taught all of us some very valuable lessons about life. I could not be more proud of my girls.

Tiffany Tipton is new to the Lollipop Gang, but that doesn’t mean she is new to The Great Candy Run. As a teacher, Tiffany is involved with Girls on the Run and has worked to get a lot of new runners across the finish line at the Candy Run. She loves the event and says, “It’s a fun race and a great atmosphere.”

Tiffany runs, “To be a better version of me!” It helps her decompress, feel better, and just makes her happy. Along with running, Tiffany likes to swim and bike as well as do classes at the gym, keeping her active 6 days a week. Tiffany has 2 children and 2 dogs. Her family loves going to Disney and golfing together.

Tiffany says, “Life is sweet…and I LOVE sweets!” We are sure Tiffany will bring a lot of sweetness to the Lollipop Gang – Welcome!

Nachos are Mary Carey’s spirit animal. She can eat them all: she is a local triathlon and running coach working with beginner to intermediate athletes, and she loves her job.

Mary believes running is a lot like life – it can be challenging, fun, crazy, rewarding. Often, it is what you make it. So, she tries to make it sweet! “Our family can do it together by running, hiking, exploring trails,” she says.

She is married and has two girls who are into soccer, running and swimming. Her girls have run The Great Candy Run several times. A few years ago, The Great Candy Run was the first 5k that Mary’s older daughter ran. The following year, both her girls were able to run it. It was a great atmosphere for kids to get into 5k racing, and the tie to the Fetal Health Foundation made it more special.

While Mary has enjoyed doing our event, this is her first year as an Ambassador. Welcome, Mary! #runsweet #TheGreatCandyRunDen #sweetbassadorsden

Rob has been a nurse at UC Health for more than 30 years and has seen many sad stories. He believes life is sweet and needs to be enjoyed, and that we need to make the most of our time. He feels he can encourage this through being an Ambassador for The Great Candy Run.

Rob works out 5 days a week and he and his wife of 30 years typically do 2-3 races each month. Rob enjoys his pet Shih Tzu, and is an avid reader and sports fan.

This is Rob’s first year as a Great Candy Run Ambassador – welcome! #runsweet #TheGreatCandyRunDen #sweetbassadorsden

Katie Boncella is returning for her second year with the Great Candy Run Ambassadors. Being raised in Colorado she developed a love for the outdoors and loves activities that get her outdoors with her dogs. Katie started running when she was in sixth grade and hasn’t stopped since; she started competing in triathlon and bike races in 2014. Katie recently graduated with a degree in Health and Exercise Science and is currently pursuing a masters in biomechanics.

Her passion is working with individuals to develop and maintain a healthy lifestyle, especially in the areas of rehabilitation and strength training. Katie understands there are a lot of hardships in life. She believes we all need to remember to focus on what we enjoy and what makes our lives sweet. We also need to remember to pass it on.

Welcome back, Katie! #runsweet #TheGreatCandyRunDen #sweetbassadorsden

If you have been a part of the event, how did you decide to run The Great Candy Run? There’s a good chance Julie Capp swayed your decision with a tootsie pop. Julie is our Senior Ambassador, and has been a member of the Lollipop Gang from the beginning. She joined us because she believes in the organization; she enjoys working with the Candy Run staff and other ambassadors.

Julie teaches Zumba multiple times a week and runs or walks every day. Racing makes Julie feel good and helps her handle work and family stress in a positive way. Along with her dance and running, Julie likes to hike and explore fun Colorado mountain towns, and soak in hot springs. When she is at home, she loves to embroider.

Julie believes that, “Running and walking frees your mind. When your mind is free life becomes sweet.” #runsweet #TheGreatCandyRunDen #LollipopGang

Each year, The Great Candy Run counts on some of the sweetest people around to spread the word about the fun to be had at our event. This is the first in a series of introduction posts about these devoted people.

Ambassador Manager Janet Miller, Director of Sweetness Danielle Huskey and Lolli Ambassador Kenneth Lewis are joining us for another year to bring you more sweetness. Watch for them at events throughout the next several months where they will be sharing the sweetness and a discount code.

Welcome back, gang! See you at the races! #RunSweet #TheGreatCandyRunDen #SweetbassadorsDen

The 2016 Great Candy Run surpassed our expectations. Thousands of people had a ton of Mile High fun. Let’s keep it going. Here are three ways to build on the momentum.

1) Sweet hoops! Win Denver Nuggets Tickets. Donate $10 and you’ll be entered into a random drawing for 4 tickets to see the Nuggets. Donations benefit the Fetal Health Foundation, a nonprofit that assists families affected by various fetal syndromes, funds life-saving research, and increases fetal syndrome awareness.

2) Virtual Great Candy Run 5k: Get the SWEET bling. Did you miss it, or do you live far away? You can STILL get the candy bling. Register for our Virtual Great Candy Run, get the shirt and the medal, and share your photos and times with us.

3) Sweet or Sour Challenge: BeanBoozled Challenge for Fetal Health. As the official candy sponsor of the 2016 Great Candy Run, Jelly Belly hosted a Jelly Bean Village at the run where participants took the BeanBoozled challenge. You can take the challenge too — grab a BeanBoozled game, gather your friends, and post your video tagged #BeanBoozledforFetalHealth.

Pearson’s Candy makes some of our very favorite treats. Pearson’s started in the candy business in Minneapolis in 1909! They’re famous for their Salted Nut Roll, Mint Patty, and Bun Bars — treats we deserve after a great run. Don’t tell, but athletes don’t stick to health food. A treat motivates like nothing else. Reward yourself. Here’s how:

1. You managed to fit in a few miles on the treadmill when the weather wouldn’t let up. How about a Bit ‘O Honey? We call it sweet victory that fits in your gym bag.
2. Text some of your favorite buddies and hit the trail — together. It’s not bribery but rather “incentivizing” when you cleverly stash some Salted Nut Rolls in your car for a post-run surprise.
3. Some fellow runners recommend new trails or insist on training with you when your motivation is low. Friends like that are worth a mint — a Mint Patty, right?

Running the Great Candy Run helps the Fetal Health Foundation assist families who have received a fetal syndrome diagnosis before their baby or babies are born.

If you’ve run even a tiny bit, you know that an accountability buddy makes training and racing more fun. The same is true for teaming up at the Great Candy Run. You also get to be a crucial part of the Fetal Health Foundation’s efforts to support families diagnosed with fetal syndromes. Here are five tips to make your team The Sweetest.

1. Be the Captain. When you register, you’ll be given the option to create a team or join one. Register early, give your team a clever name, spread the word, and see how many candy-crazy running, walking, and stroller-pushing friends you can bring together.

2. Think Costumes, Think Prizes. Show your team spirit by planning candy-themed costumes. You’ll be a hit — and did we mention there’s prize money to be won?

3. Create a Fundraising Page. Make a team fundraiser page so you can brag about your excellent team on social media. Some teams casually compete to raise money against other teams, or among themselves.

4. Share. Spread the word about your good work on social media. We love it when people use our hashtags, #RunSweet and #GreatCandyRun.

5. Run, Have Fun, and Take Pictures! Be prepared for the spotlight: race day means our fundraising teams are a REALLY BIG DEAL.