Two people running in the woods

Running is a hobby that has turned my life around in ways I never expected. It started out as a simple way to get into shape from home and quickly became an activity I truly enjoyed! Running has allowed me to improve my health, help my asthma and even bond with my dog. However, learning to run has proved to be more difficult than I originally expected as well. Learning to train so that I avoided injury and improved my time was a balancing act that was hard learned but necessary. The importance of a weekly long run is a training step that might beRead More →

running shoes

Sometimes life gets in the way! No matter how much you love running (or even love to hate it) sometimes we are forced to take a step back and focus on other things. Running After a break can be challenging but there are a few ways to make it easier, both mentally and physically! Running is such a beneficial activity that overcoming your challenges to start again is more than worth it! Once you get past the initial re-starting phase and make exercise into a habit again then your sure to realize that the benefits far outweigh any misgivings you might be having. If youRead More →

Speed workouts are important for runners

There’s no way around it, speed workouts are important! When I first started running I didn’t pay much attention to formal training plans or specific workouts. I just wanted to run around the block without passing out. It might not have been much of a goal but at the time it felt pretty monumental! Now that my running habit has progressed from ‘let’s just get healthier‘ to ‘I really love this! Let’s break some personal records’ I’ve started to focus on improving! And truthfully if I had known some of the information I know now I would have started incorporating speed workouts into my trainingRead More →

running shoes

With most sports the more serious you get about your performance the more complicated your training gets. Running is no exception to this.  When we first took up running as a part of our overall lifestyle change our goals were simple – be able to run around the block, complete a 5k. Seemed easy enough right? It was and it wasn’t! There were challenges to face. I had to learn about running with asthma, there were injuries to overcome and we both learned about the importance of a good pair of shoes! But, that was nothing compared to what we had to learn when weRead More →

Marathon Training, the journey of a first timer

Running was a hobby that my husband and I started over a year ago. At first, it was a simple way to get active after we decided to change our lifestyles. For the sake of our children, we knew that we could not continue down our previous path. We were unhealthy and that wasn’t the sort of example we wanted to set for our children.  Of course, we had no idea the journey this decision would take us on! Although I am still content to train for a faster 5k time my husband has moved on. After a half marathon last fall he has setRead More →

Should I Get a Fitness Tracker?

Running is a hobby you can enjoy with pretty small startup costs – some good shoes to prevent injury and you’re good to go! Technically you don’t need to track anything while you run and sometimes just running for the love of it is worthwhile. At some point, you’ll probably want to start measuring your progress and working towards some running goals. When I first started running I was happy to use my phone and the multiple free applications available to do this. But the farther I ran and the more involved I got with the sport the more information I wanted. It won’t beRead More →

run safe with these 5 tips

Running is a hobby that I have grown to love. Not only is it great exercise but there is something very relaxing about being out on the road. It gives me time to clear my head and work through anything that might be troubling me. But it also tends to be an activity that I do alone and sometimes that causes a bit of worry. It’s not something that I want to worry about but realistically I am a small person with very little options in the way of self-defense. Of course, it’s not just other people I need to worry about but cars and strayRead More →

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 →

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 →

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 →