Confessions of an Amateur Athlete

I know I haven't posted in a bit. Been busy getting those miles in! As my next ultra gets closer, expect to see some more updates from me soon. While putting in 30-40 miles a week, on top of instructing cycling classes, I've been pretty exhausted. Lots of wear and tear on my body. I've seen a lot of OCR athletes posting about Nutribeet so decided to give it a try and see if it the power of beets could help me !

Thanks to Toyota ,  I had the amazing opportunity to join a few Arizona influencers on an epic road trip through Northern Arizona! It was truly an incredible experience and one awesome adventure.

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.

I've now ran well over 100 miles in the 361° Meraki. And spoiler alert: I've found my new favorite! This may be a lengthy review, but I've got lots to share about the 361 Degrees brand, the Meraki model, and why they are performing beyond expectations.

We've all been there. Our training hits a plateau. No matter how much harder we run/lift, we seem to be in a training rut. Can't get any faster. Strength seems to be as good as it's going to get. I was definitley there. The only thing that was increasing were my injuries. Photo courtesy: Photographing Strength I felt that my nutrition really needed some work. But all the diets out there are so generic. No carbs. No meat. They go on and on. But which one was right for ME? I felt like I NEEDED carbs and meat...the only thing left to do was see where my personal nutrition was lacking and "take a selfie from the inside" as InsideTracker calls it.

Cyclists and runners alike deal with chafing. Most of the time we slather on some Vaseline, or deal with the painful consequences. But that's not ideal, especially if you want to maintain healthy skin conditions. Lately I've been training hard and riding a lot. And when I started using Crotch Guard Skin Care Oil , I realized just how much I was neglecting my....ummm... more sensitive areas of skin. Disclaimer: I received a free sample bottle of Crotch Guard Skin Care Oil in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and options are my own.

My big Spartan Race Weekend is closing in! The training has been tough, to say the least. But I've noticed by combining OCR training and strength training into my routine, my performance has been slowly improving. Thanks in part to my C3fit compression! When I said I've been basically living in compression... it couldn't be more true! From long runs to Spartan Training workouts at FITNESS 5 Gym , I've been constantly relying on my C3fit compression calf sleeves for performance and recovery. And my C3fit socks for comfort.

How's my summer training going? "Busy" would be an understatement! The Spartan Beast & Sprint in Colorado is just around the corner. This race is all is on ski slopes, so it's going to be a tough one for sure! I've been running multiple Valley summits on the weekends, in preparation for the big climbs ahead. This race is all is on ski slopes, so it's going to be a tough one for sure! Between the summits and the intense OCR workouts, I've practically lived in compression gear! A few of my go-to pieces these last few months have been my SKINS   DNAmic Men's Compression Half Tights and my Unisex Calf Tights.

I've been living the life of a weekend (and often weekday) warrior. I wrote about my Weekend Warrior Status  previously. I'm constantly running from one workout to the next. So I'm always reaching for what's most convenient. But I would prefer to not sacrifice healthy  in order to save time. Enter my new found favorite... Health Warrior Bars!

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 few Luvo Meals  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! The hardest part of training, for me, is always my diet! Breakfast becomes my biggest meal, but is usually whatever I can grab that's convenient so I can quickly get my workout in and jet off to work. You may remember my previous review of the Luvo Meals HERE . This time around I was excited to give their breakfast meals a try! 

Disclaimer: I received a hands-free dog leash from Stunt Puppy  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! Running with your dog can be a pain if you don't have the patience.. and the right gear! I was excited to give the Stunt Puppy hands-free "stunt runner" leash, as was my four-legged running partner Janie! 

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 canister of Epsoak SPORT Epsom Salts   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 always been a believer of Epsom Salts when it comes to recovering from running aches and pains. The longer my miles, the more I want a good soak. So I was excited to try the epsom salts from Epsoak SPORT . I've been increasing my miles in preparation for the Sedona Marathon , so I've put these salts to the full marathon-training test!

Disclaimer: I received a pair of Fotonyk Performance Sunglasses and Trucker Hat from Rudy Project  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! Santa didn't bring everything you wanted for Christmas? Treat yourself to what are now a crucial piece of my training gear: Rudy Project Fotonyk shades . I put them to the test and share how they held up in the desert! 

Eating healthy is a struggle on its own. But SNACKING healthy--that's a whole new challenge! So I put the Thrive Bars from GoMacro through the test to find out if these Organic, Gluten-Free, Plant-Based protein snack bars were as tasty as they sound.

Disclaimer: I received a pack of Luvo Frozen Meals  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! One of my largest issues holding me back from becoming a stronger athlete and reaching my fitness goals... is my diet! But leading a busy life and trying to do meal prep can be tough. Not to mention palate fatigue from the same old meals each day. So I was excited to see if Luvo meals could be the answer to my struggle. 

Disclaimer: I received a Rudy Project Sterling Helmet-Limited Edition Fluo  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'm working on running smarter, and stronger. So I have been cross-training to strengthen other muscles, and to change up my routine. Biking has been one of them. I wanted to stay safe on the trails, but looking sexy too doesn't hurt either . That's where my Rudy Project Sterling Helmet comes in! 

“Disclaimer: I received a sample of 2Toms Stink Free Sports Detergent and 2Toms Stink Free Spray  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!” -------------------------------------- Leading an active lifestyle means I go through an above average level of laundry. If I have more than one activity or run in one day, plus my work clothes--that's three "outfits" in one day! All of them wet, smelly, and downright nasty. And my running gear... even worse! So my stinky laundry was the perfect test subject for the 2Toms Sink Free Sports Detergent and Stink Free Spray. 

“Disclaimer: I received a free pair of AMPLAFly  shoes 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 attempting to not just begin training again, but to train smarter. Better form, stronger running. So I put the ultimate training tool, a pair AMPLAFly shoes, to the test!