Confessions of an Amateur Athlete

I had a strong summer and fall of good training. My Life Long Endurance coach definitely had me working hard and building up to big things. I had lofty plans for the beginning of the year. But as all runners know, we sometimes have to make tough calls when things don't go according to plan. Photo by Jared Seger Photography

Long miles, sore legs, and anxious nerves! I've put in the work for my next ultra, but calming the taper week jitters may be just as tough as the training. Photos by Jared Seger Photography

Chances are you've probably heard about runners using cryotherapy. But what is it really? Does it help? Is it worth it? I've used cryotherapy plenty to help aid in my recovery and I'm here to share what I know and how it's benefited me!

Let's face it, we could all probably use some extra sleep. I hit the snooze all too often. I train hard, and need more quality sleep. But sometimes there just isn't enough time in the day to do all the workouts AND all the adulting. With a busy schedule, sleep is the first thing to go.

Next up on My Favorite Gear Holiday Giveaway is the Orange Mud HydraQuiver Vest Pack 2 ! No doubt you've seen me sporting this hydration pack for the last few years, and it's still going strong. Now it's your chance to WIN one just like mine!

Well I finally pulled the trigger and will be running the Black Canyon Ultras 60k in February! Running an ultra has been a goal of mine for a while. I've even signed up for one in the past and had to drop out because of injury. This time, I'm determined to train smart and complete the adventure! Photo Courtesy: Black Canyon Ultras FB Page

The Skiddaw Fell Race in Keswick, England was challenging. It was scary. It made me nervous. It was unlike any event I've ever done. And I wouldn't have wanted it any other way! Courtesy: James Carnegie Photography I've ran races that were tough physically. Races with stunning scenery. Those that have tested my mental toughness. Small races. Races with local history. The Skiddaw Fell Race was all the above. And once I was up in those mountains with the city down below and the Lake District views all around, I was loving every aching moment.

Disclaimer: I received a pair of XX2i Bahamas1  to review as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review find and write race reviews! When we run, we look for high-quality and function. But what about when we're not running? We look for style, comfort, quality and all around fun! And it's great when we can rely on one company to have all the above... no matter what the occasion.

Disclaimer: I received a pair of rechargeable Knuckle Lights  to review as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review find and write race reviews! Morning and nighttime runs in the winter, means a lot of running at night. Toss in early workouts with November Project Phoenix and I'm working out in the dark more than daylight these days! So I was excited to give the Knuckle Lights a try.

Disclaimer: I received a pair of Rudy Project-Rydon Impactx-2 shades to review as part of being a BibRave Pro . Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review find and write race reviews! All opinions are my own. Shades are essential on my desert runs. But does a pricey pair make a difference? I compare my last sunglasses review experience to this one for the ultimate analysis!

“Disclaimer: I received 2 free pairs of  XX2i  France 2 Sunglasses to review as part of being a BibRave Pro . Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review find and write race reviews!” -------------------------------------- I've been dividing my time between the trails and a "big boy job" lately (more about that HERE ), which means I haven't been able to sport my running gear to the office... until now! I love my new sleek shades from XX2i, that make me feel fast on the trails and polished at the office. 

A savory option to those sugary gels... but do they WORK? What about the TASTE? Thanks to the #RunEatTweetAZ crew, I was able to take the new  Organic Energy Food  from  Clif  for test run!

Another great time with running group with a blogging problem... #RunEatTweetAZ ! We set out to hike the tough route at Camelback Mountain, the Echo Canyon Trail.  We would have loved to see the sunrise while up on the mountain... but we hit a small snag.  Apparently they don't open up the park/parking lot until sunrise! So we sat in a long line of cars full of people in the same boat, waiting for the lot to open ad we could start sweating our way up the mountain! sunrise from the car Finally, the park opened up and we all got in and were more than ready to start our hike! It's not a very technical trail, per se, but it is VERY steep.  We had to hold onto railings at in some spots!  It's only a 1.2 mile climb to the top, but you're also climbing over 1200ft in that short amount of time... so needless to say, it's quite the workout! But the views are worth the extra effort! We chatted it up... on everything from upcoming races to...

Janie here.  Guest Blogging for my dad, Jeremy.  He's a human, and they can sure be a nuisance to run with! But let's face it, humans need their exercise too!  I run with my human all the time, and it definitely takes patience. First off, they're tough to get going in the morning.  They're stubborn and insist on sleeping in.  But you've gotta get them up early before it's too hot or too late.  So be persistent.  Enough licks and they'll wake up.  Eventually, just walk on your human.  That'll do the trick. Once your human is up.  Here's the really tough part.  They take FOREVER to get ready!   Jeremy is always fumbling around for some nasty drink... called "coffee"... before he will finally start putting on his stuff!  For some reason humans have to wear tons of "clothing" and carry all sorts of gear.  But if they want to carry all that stuff, let 'em.  At least THEY can carry your water. All I ne...

 The RAGNAR TRAIL adventure is nearly here! One week from today... we will be hitting the trails at Snowmass resort in Aspen, CO!  8 friends, 3 trails, 1 tent!   My team, "Fast and Fabulous" is made up of Ragnar veterans, and Ragnar rookies. However, we are ALL newbies to the Ragnar TRAIL! And we're all excited for the new challenge.  from my latest 24-hr "dry run" training!   We are a mix of good friends, and new friends. But we have all grown so much closer through some really tough training in the past few months.    From hitting the desert trails in the hot summer sun......       To taking on the Grand Canyon itself...     Our team has bonded tremendously!  There are now inside jokes, and witty tales from our runs together. However, our real story has yet to be written.     The adventure ahead.... the fun... the challenges.....

I can't say it enough.  This was an AMAZING trip.  A truly awesome adventure!  What better way to see the GRAND CANYON than to go for a 20 mile RUN through this beautiful 7th wonder of the world?! My runs along the dreary canals here in the desert will seem boring compared to the exhilarating sights from the Grand Canyon.  We ran down the South Kaibab trail, and ran/hiked up the Bright Angel trail. Let me break down the experience for you. (I apologize in advance for the long post... but there's just so much to share! I'll break it up into a two-parter. The adventure DOWN, and the challenge of getting back UP! ) We drove up on Saturday morning, arrived in the late afternoon.  Just enough time to set up camp, do some small sight seeing, and eat at the cafeteria near the campsite (you know, really "roughing it").  Then it was a small glass of wine/beer before bed.  Because we're classy that way.   It was warm...