What a wonderful event that was!!!
We gave away about 750 slices in just under 2 hours to a bunch of fantastic, enthusiastic, bread-loving runners. In fact, we just had someone call us to see where our store is so they could buy some on their way out of town. So sad we don’t have a store open yet! SOON!!
We were up at 5:30 to quickly assemble ourselves and get to the site for setup. The coffeemaker was up too, brewing for us while we got ready. Matt and I shared a thermos when we got there
We had 60 loaves of bread – Cinnamon Chip [Whole wheat!], Honey Whole Wheat and Dakota.
Our fancy new tablecloth 🙂
Chalkboards in use! GOSH these have been so useful and we didn’t even make them for the bakery!!
We had a little army of bears to help us out
Sadly they were all GONE before the bread was and we had to run to the car for our backup honey bottle, which made the line get long. Next time we’ll have to think of something better for honey distribution!
There they go!!!
While the runners ran, Matt and I had breakfast!
How do you smash a banana with no knife? Between waxed paper tissues!
I had Cinnamon chip with banana and honey
So good!
We had so many people casually say “Yeah, I take a slice of bread” and then take a bite and turn around with “OH MY GOSH that is good!!!” Warms the heart!!! We were one of a few bits of food at the race, and after 10 miles, I’m happy to say that our bread seemed to be the hit of the after party : )
We ran out just as things were wrapping up
A little blogging, a little unpacking and I’m headed to YOGA! I need a good relax + stretch for sure.
Michele @ Healthy Cultivations says
What a great morning! Looks like you had a really nice time… and the runners loved it too!
Lea @ Healthy Coconut says
Great event. That’s really good that you guys are out there and participating in your local events. I’m sure you guys have loyal customers already and the shop hasn’t opened yet
I wish our local GH bakery would participate in the local races here in Southern California. I don’t think I have seen them at all.
Jim Costello says
Hi Lea,
I’m sorry you’ve missed us at local races. Just this past Saturday (march 26) we were handing out race rolls and Trek bars to the 7,000 runners at the Great Race of Agoura, featuring the Pacific Half-Marathon, Cheseboro Half Marathon, Old Agoura 10K, Deena Kastor 5K, Kids mile, and family fun run. We’ve sponsored this event for the past 6 years (as long as our store has been open.)
Other local races you might see us or have seen us at in the past at are the Love Run, the Westlake Village Great Pumpkin Race, Cruisin the Conejo, Amgen Breakaway for Cancer, and Relay for lIfe.
We also participate in health fairs at many local businesses, and donate tons of merchandise to local food banks, schools, and non-profits.
As a small business owner who relies on the community to support us, I feel that it’s important for us to support the community in return.
If there is a specific local race or event that you’d like to see us at, please send me an email. We can’t be at every event, but we’d like to participate in as many as we can, and sometimes I just don’t hear about the events until it’s too late.
Regards,
Jim Costello
Owner, Great Harvest Bread Company
2092-H Newbury Rd.
Thousand Oaks, CA 91320
Simply Life says
what a fun way to share bread!
Cindy says
Cinnamon Chip bread sounds SO GOOD!
Samantha says
It truly is amazing bread! I wish I could come and buy some from you.
Heather says
I wish there was a Great Harvest in my area!
Sounds like a lot of great advertising for your store.
Ashley says
Isn’t it awesome that handing out bread is part of your job???? I remember selling my granola bars at the farmers market..people would take a sample and not think much of it. They would turn around and be walking away, then take a bite and turn back around to tell me they loved it or that they wanted to buy some. That was the best feeling!!
Jess S. says
AH, I wish your bakery was opening near me! I’d go there all the time. And I live in NYC so that’s saying a lot with so many options around here otherwise. Great Harvest looks so amazing and unique though.
Suzanne @ continuing my education says
Aw, love the Cville 10 miler, my favorite race. Hope to do it next year again! Glad everyone liked the bread, can’t wait for the big opening!
Allie (Live Laugh Eat) says
Wahoo! I can’t believe they went through all that honey! Maybe you could get it from Costco to refill those bears? Much cheaper than regular grocery store honey. Great PR day for GH!
polly says
Go Kath and Matt!!
So proud of/happy for/love you guys!!!
XOXO
Freya (Brit Chick Runs) says
So..much…bread! What a fun way to spend the (extreme early) morning!
Baking 'n' Books says
It just needs a little nut butter with that banana and honey combo 😉
When is the official opening date? I didn’t realize it was as early as May! When did the whole “process” start?
lynn @ the actor's diet says
it’s true – GH bread is so mindblowing it’s hard to stop at one sample!
Jess (Sweet Potato) says
Yay! I’m glad it was successful!
Christy says
Bread looks delish…will you be shipping bread from your store ? I noticed on Great Harvest website that only a few stores ship products. I live in Texas and would love to order your goodies online.
~Christy
KathEats says
I’m not sure what our shipping capabilities will be, but we will definitely consider it – esp. with my KERF audience
Erin says
Yay!!
Shayla says
Yay that makes me so happy too!! I live in San Francisco and sadly no Great Harvest Bread shops here and I want to try the bread so badly!! I’m crossing my fingers you’ll do it! 🙂
Heather @ Get Healthy With Heather says
What a fun time! I always love a good slice of bread after a run but there’s never any with chocolate chips. Love that!
J3nn (Jenn's Menu and Lifestyle Blog) says
That sounds like so much fun to be a part of! I need to get my hands on cinnamon chip bread; that sounds amazing!!
sarah (sarah learns) says
that seems like such a great event! i found out the the kirkwood great harvest doesn’t open until april, but a lovely twitter friend let me know that there are several other locations around st. louis – one very near my fiance’s chiropractic school! i’m heading there this afternoon! 🙂 can’t wait to try it.
Abby says
Cinnamon chip…MMMM! Looks like a great morning for you and Matt! 🙂
Katie @ Nourishing Flourishing says
This is awesome! I remember when I used to do races and such before I knew I couldn’t eat gluten, and Great Harvest was always the best fuel! Nothing ever surpassed it as a favorite 🙂 So neat. I’m sure you guys will be booming when the doors open!
Krissy - Shiawase Life says
so glad that you all were there! what a great treat it was to have awesome bread after a fantastical run!
loved all the bread and so glad everyone is super excited about gh in cville! =D
KathEats says
🙂
Camille says
I’m glad everything went well! You can never go wrong with some post-run GH 🙂
Estela @ Weekly Bite says
Congrats on a successful event!!! So exciting 🙂
Jessica @ How Sweet It Is says
That is so cool. So glad it went well for you guys!
Heather @ Health, Happiness, and Hope says
So glad it turned out to be such a success!!! For the honey, maybe personal packets would work better? You could even do nut butter or jam in personal packets too!
Enjoy yoga! 🙂
KathEats says
I thought of that, but I think it might be too wasteful. I was thinking of a soap pump?!
Heather @ Health, Happiness, and Hope says
True, it would be easier to re-stock and allow for more toppings, but definitely more wasteful. I think a soap pump is a great idea to try! It would prevent spillage as well. I’d suggest keeping some sort of towel/linen under it though because it might be drippy.
Allie says
What about a glass bottle with one of those liquor measuring pourers like this…
http://www.google.com/products/catalog?q=liquor+bottle+pourer&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&cid=6073259261425246599&sa=X&ei=WdSPTaXqEZGC0QHf4627Cw&ved=0CDkQ8wIwAA#
KathEats says
That could def. work!
Sarena (The Non-Dairy Queen) says
Who doesn’t love fresh baked breads? Seriously, if they didn’t something has to be wrong with them. Looks like a great even Kath. Enjoy the rest of your day!
Holly @ The Runny Egg says
That would be so much fun!!!
I really need to start just volunteering for races instead of running them — I bet that would be a blast!
Laughter-Loving Stacy says
Congrats on the successful event! How awesome!
Amy says
Cinnamon chip + banana + honey? Come to mama!
Emily @ Savory and Savage says
A slice of bread and honey sounds like the perfect post run snack 🙂
Angela (Oh She Glows) says
It’s so fun watching your dream come to fruition! So happy for you guys 🙂
my little celebration says
Looks like fun! Glad to see everything is going well so far and that the store will be opening soon. I really do adore Great Harvest, too!
Natalia - a side of simple says
Jealous. That’s all I can say right now. I’m too overwhelmed by the thought of such good bread. 😉
Katie @ peacebeme says
Such a great promo idea! I know I would LOVE fresh bread after a race!!!
wendy sue says
loved my slice after the race! can’t wait till you open for more cinnamon chip!
KathEats says
So glad!
Sam says
My husband brought me a slice of the Cinnamon Chip home from the race. His stomach felt a little off so I ate it 🙂 It was the bomb. I can not wait for your store to open.
KathEats says
Oh yay! Glad you got some 🙂
Sam says
Me too! And I found Biscoff spread at one of the Krogers yesterday. It was delish.
Marci says
That looks like so much fun. Nothing beats fresh bread. Yum. I want some!
Jessica @ The Process of Healing says
Looks like a very successful time, congratulations!
Cathy says
Now I really want some bread!!! Off to Great Harvest I go. It’s a bit of a drive, but WELL worth it!!! Looks like you guys had a great time and a very successful day!!!
Emilia says
Wow- well done Kath and Matt! Looks like you two really did well and served the community right. Right on! 🙂
chelsey @ clean eating chelsey says
Wow! What an incredible event! You guys rocked!
Donna says
I’m so excited I just found a Great Harvest online that is within driving distance!!
Stacie @ Imperfectly Healthy says
That cinnamon chip bread sounds so good! And it sounds like you’re going to have lots of happy customers soon! 🙂
JenATX says
I’d run ten miles for some bread any day (well probably not because I could just walk over to my pantry & grab some, but its a great event idea :)). Cheers to all of your hard work!
Katherine: Unemployed says
this is a great idea! such a good post-run eat ((some races have pizza at the end; seriously, who wants that after you’ve run ten miles))
Sarah (Running To Slow Things Down) says
That is such a cool event!! I have to say, I would have been all over the bread after a 10 mile run as well. Eggs and bread. That is all I ever crave.
You guys are going to make great Great Harvest owners! 😀
lani says
Oh, that looks like a great day! Wish I could have run that 10 miler and gotten GH bread from you guys! Instead, I ran the National Half!!! Crazyness. I am alive and well, and got a nifty medal, but the Cville 10k was more fun. 😉 Hope that yoga is just puurfect.
Hilary says
Man that looks good….I wish that the races I’ve run had such tasty-looking bread at the end! 🙂
Stacey (The Home-Cooked Vegan) says
What fun! I knew they would love your bread 🙂
The bread SOUNDS amazing just reading about it!!
Have fun at yoga, hope you get all relaxed and streeettchhedddd 😉 You guys deserve it!
Morgan @ moments of mmm says
Wow! Congrats on the success today! That must be so exciting to get great feedback!
Marina says
It’s great what you’re doing, I bet your bakery will be packed all the time!
Kerry says
I love when GH is giving out samples at races and Farmer’s Markets. I don’t remember seeing honey though, that sounds good. At the store I visit (Newtonville) they just offer a smear of butter but that might be messy at a promotional event
Kate says
Congratulations!! Looks like an awesome event and a great success for you guys
Mary @ Bites and Bliss says
How fun!!! I do this every year at a marathon that’s hosted in our town. We prepare thousands of bagels smeared with PB, jelly, and honey. I’m sure they were so grateful for you!
dee says
Aww, I want to come to Cville and visit your store! 😀 What a fun event. Banana and honey on cinnamon chip bread?! That sounds incredible!
sally mae says
Great title! I love GH after a race! Our store in Eau Claire, WI always donates the best little cinnamon raisin dough balls that do just the trick after a good run. I would think it would be a lot of work to slice at the events. Maybe someday after you are established you can just donate to the event.
Megan says
One of my most favorite post race treats is Great Harvest bread. A lot of local races here in Bellingham, WA always have delicious bread post race. Love it!
Chelsea @ One Healthy Munchkin says
Yay glad it was such a success! Who wouldn’t want delicious bread after running a race? 😀
Denise says
Let me just say, I was totally looking forward to some delicious Great Harvest bread (which I had never tried before) after the race, and you didn’t disappoint!!! It was SO cool to meet you in person, and I cannot wait until your store opens! Thanks for an amazing blog that inspires me to eat healthier.
KathEats says
🙂 Wish we could have had longer to hang out!
Ashley says
Kath – just curious – how many runners were at the race today? I’m curious because my company is soliciting donations for a local 5k run by a charity that we support and it never occurred to me to ask bakeries, but it seems like a brilliant idea and an avenue we haven’t yet explored. I’d like to get an idea of how far your 60 loaves went.
Thanks and know that even though this is my first comment, I’ve been a loyal reader for a long time now.
Krissy - Shiawase Life says
a little over 2k, as per the race results =)
KathEats says
Yeah, I think 2400 were predicted
madlibrarian says
The Great Harvest in my neighborhood does sponsorships at races — which is how I discovered its wonderful bread. I’m partial to the cinnamon chip, and went to buy a loaf today. 🙂 Your blog convinced me to buy some Naturally Nutty (honey roasted cinnamon peanut butter) while I was there, and I’m in looooooove.
Annette @ EnjoyYourHealthyLife says
how cool! I love GH bread!!! 🙂
Emma (Namaste Everyday) says
congrats! I’m so pleased to say it went so well! I love the resourcefulness of using the wax paper to mash banana….YUM!
Kat @ Cupcake Kat says
Wow people must really like honey! I understand because honey is good but I am still surprised.
Looks so good! I wish I could have some of that bread
hemp jogger says
thank you guys so much! both were just as i was expecting…amazing! totally hit the spot after that hard run.
cant wait for the store : )
KathEats says
Glad it was amazing!
MorgzSyd says
your bfast looks heavenly!
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chanelandolivia.wordpress.com
Samantha Angela @ Bikini Birthday says
I would run a marathon for a slice of Great Harvest… so nice that they give away free samples 😉
Christine @ Merf In Progress says
I’m really happy for you guys, sounds like people love the bread. I can’t wait to come visit when the store opens!
Alaina says
That is so cool that you gave out such amazing bread for the race! Did you volunteer to do it or did the race organizers approach you about it?
KathEats says
We volunteered
Hannah says
Bread and honey! For some reason I can’t help thinking of Winnie-the-Pooh. Yay!
Blythe says
Sounds like it was a great event! I live in France, the land of yummy baguettes, and this blog entry reminded me that the word for friend in French (copain) literally means someone you break bread with (co=with and pain=bread). Yay for fantastic bread shared in good company! 🙂
Heidi - apples under my bed says
What a great thing you guys did! Your breakfast looks mmmm delicious!!
Heidi xo
Paula says
Our local GH gave out whole wheat & white buns at our last local race. What a great carb idea for runners and walkers. Made a few regulars at that GH that is for sure so I am sure that this gesture will go a long way for you & Matt too.
Allison @ Happy Tales says
oh girl, GHB is always the highlight of any Charlotte race I run! Jeff always seems to be at every single one of ’em… and he knows very well that I like the “butt” pieces and gives ’em to me every time! Seriously, that bread is motivation to cross the finish line, it’s delicious anyway, but especially so after 13.1 miles!
Natalie says
Hi Kath-
I LOVE your blog and have been reading it for over a year now, but I don’t think I’ve ever commented!
Anyways, they just opened a GH in my town (Jackson, WY) recently. I work at a local coffee shop and we get GH cupcakes for “Cupcake Tuesday”. Just wanted to let you know I’m a huge fan and you and Matt should make some cupcakes when you open up GH because they will sell sell sell!
Thanks for all your words!