the benefits of starting a gratitude journal or jar

We all know the benefits that come from keeping a journal or following a planner when it comes to achieving goals. Writing things down truly has the power to influence our likelihood when it comes to getting things done! Part of it is the satisfaction that we get when we mark things off as completed and part of it is just the way our brains work. By writing things down we are telling ourselves that this is important and we want to remember it! This keeps our goals at the forefront of our minds throughout the day. But what if we want to remember more thenRead More →

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gifts for runners a cristmas gift guide

I don’t know about you but I always find it easier to shop for people with well-defined hobbies. Friends and family who are into art get art supplies. Those who enjoy spending time in the kitchen get cooking gadgets. Shopping for people without hobbies are my most challenging Christmas hunts! However, I also have trouble if the hobby is unfamiliar to me. I have no clue what to get someone who is interested in fishing for instance. Other than a gift card and while I love gift cards – sometimes you want something more personal. If you have a runner in your inner circle then hopefullyRead More →

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dealing with holiday stress

There is no getting around the fact that this is a crazy time of year. While summer can be hectic with the kids home from school there is nothing quite like the endless parade of holiday’s that show up when they go back. Between Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years and Valentine’s Day it can start to feel like the world just got a little bit too busy a little bit too quickly. Dealing with holiday stress can be a challenge for all of us! Don’t get me wrong – I love the holidays! I love the cheerful fun decorations, the spirit surrounding them and theRead More →

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A couple of months ago I decided to add some strength training to my running routine. Originally I intended to write this conclusion post after 30 days. When I reached the third week, however, I knew this was something that needed a bit more time. Strength training seems to be something that takes a little while before you start seeing any sort of results (other than being sore!) It took me most of the first month just to get the routines and forms down. But! After two months, I’m happy to say I can come back with actual measurable results and my opinion on ifRead More →

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It was bound to happen eventually! No matter how careful you are and no matter what sport you choose to take part in being active always carries the risk of injury. That said, I think the health benefits of being active far outweigh the risk. Being fit and active might mean I have to deal with the occasional angry muscles or joint but I will take that over the deteriorating long-lasting effects of a more sedentary lifestyle any day! In my case, the injury that chose to plague me is Peroneal Tendonitis and if I am honest I brought it on myself. Running after peronealRead More →

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cold weather running tips and gear

Lacing up your running shoes on chilly mornings might not seem like a fun idea. Especially if you hate being cold as much as I do! Running in cooler temperatures can be surprisingly satisfying, however, in fact, it’s pretty much the ideal running condition.  I’m not talking blizzards and ice storms of course, but chilly mornings are perfect! Running is much easier on your body when it’s not stressed by heat and humidity. Running during the winter months has also been shown to help those who suffer from SAD (Seasonal Affect Disorder) by releasing hormones which helps battle depression and increase positive moods. But! AllRead More →

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should runners be strength training? #running #weights #exercise #fitness #healthy #healthylife #activelife

Strength training is something that I have been neglecting but as I progress with running it’s also something that has started entering my mind more and more. Should runners be strength training? Honestly, after doing some research it seems like we should be. Although some runners shy away from the prospect of strength training, afraid that too much bulky muscle might slow them down this is probably more of a myth than reality. It would be extremely difficult for a long distance runner to become muscle bound enough that it affected their running. I admit that I have always been slightly against the idea ofRead More →

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how to run farther without hurting yourself

When I first started running my goals were simple. I wanted to be able to run around the block without stopping – then I wanted to progress to running a 5k. At the time a 5k seemed like the impossible dream, I mean I hadn’t run since high school and I was in terrible shape. Running across the yard after the dog was the extent of my fitness abilities. But I was tired of feeling like that. I felt like I was missing out on so much because of my physical condition. As a family, we made the choice to change, first by changing ourRead More →

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I started yoga as an experiment to see if it would improve my running. As I researched and learned more about the practice I was surprised to learn of all the benefits. I was also surprised by how hard some of the poses were! I was quickly alerted to just how weak my upper body was. My legs have benefited from running but my arms? They are still a work in progress! I can’t yet accomplish the harder poses so here is a collection of 5 upper body yoga poses that even beginners with weak arms (like me!) can achieve. This post may contain affiliateRead More →

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Keto and Cancer

We in the western world have an addiction. No matter who we are or what we do, no matter how much we exercise or how much we eat, almost all of us are afflicted. In fact, this addiction has become so normalized that we usually don’t even notice it. Yet, it can cause us to pursue damaging and even life-threatening behaviors. That’s right, we’re all addicted to… Convenience. We live in an age where convenience is no longer regarded as a fun novelty or a useful helping hand. We treat it as if it were a fundamental human right. And why wouldn’t we? Convenience hasRead More →

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