It’s no secret that running is an activity that requires a good bit of motivation – especially in the beginning and your fitness levels might mean you find yourself struggling . While this struggle tends to get better over time there are more than a few tricks to keep you going when the weather is bad or your just not feeling it! Running playlists can be a simple but highly motivating way to get your feet moving and make you feel great while you’re doing it! Running Playlists, What Music is Best for Running? This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchaseRead More →

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

Lots of people love going to the gym, others dislike it but put up with it because they know it’s good for them in the long run. But, for some people, the thought of going to the gym is a special brand of torture – and often it’s not due to the workout! For a lot of people social anxiety, self-consciousness and worries about looking silly when unfamiliar with the equipment keep them from joining a gym. Thankfully home workout ideas like the ones below offer a good way for people afraid of the gym to stay healthy and keep active! While joining a gymRead More →

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 →

Leg Exercises for Runners

If you’re like a lot of runners, especially those just getting started, then you might think that running in itself is enough of a leg workout.  I can certainly understand why many of us think so, those first few weeks of running will give you enough aches to make you believe it! But you might want to rethink this idea if you want to keep running injury free! Leg exercises for runners are an essential part of training if you want to add miles without injuries. Not everyone has access to a gym and expensive equipment (me included). So, with that in mind, I have kept thisRead More →

cross training for runners

When you start to love an activity it can be hard to do anything BUT that activity. Running is no exception to this rule! Although I would have considered myself crazy a few years ago running has become an activity I truly love, despite the challenges. It’s an important and well-loved part of my life which keeps not only me but my family and pets healthy too! Cross training for runners used to be a controversial topic. Many trainers felt that people should focus all of their energy on one singular activity. Cross training was often considered pointless and a waste of time. More currentRead More →