Inspired by the memory of her mother to register for this year’s Newport Bridge R, Rhode Island’s most popular long-distance running race of the year, 14-year-old Michelle Natale envisions herself getting fit, sporting a perfect body and finally silencing the Hyenas and their boyfriends at Apple Valley Middle School who bully her and call her Pound Cake.

But when Michelle invites her best friend Mandy on the journey, from overweight outcast to beautiful winners, Mandy declines. Instead, she takes a different path to happiness, and the two friends nearly destroy everything that’s most important

Michelle learns from her relationships with her science-nerd father, her obnoxious big brother, her dreamy new running coach, her min-me dog and even Elvis Presley bringing messages from beyond, that true beauty comes from family, friendship, healthy choices, and being happy with who you are.