Confessions of an Amateur Athlete

Stars, S'mores, and Sprinklers! You may have seen posts about the adventure....and the chaos . Frustrated campers and happy runners. I've got the full race report on my Ragnar Trail Snowmass experience.

No doubt you've seen tons of meal kits popping up in your social media feeds and emails. Since Jason and I live an extremely busy and active lifestyle, we decided to give Chef'd prepared meal kits from Costco a try!

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!

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.

The Arizona Distance Classic Half Marathon, Quarter Marathon, and 5k is a true hidden gem in Oro Valley, Arizona! This was my first time running the event, and I had an absolute blast. Read on to find out why as I share the details about my awesome race weekend. credit: Oro Valley Photography

PART ONE Team FAST & FABULOUS My Team and I just finished the Ragnar Trail Relay at Snowmass this past weekend.  It was an amazing adventure!  This was my first trail Ragnar, and it was very different from the regular road Ragnar Relay events.  Should you run the trail versus the road Ragnar Relay?  Is a Ragnar Trail Relay for you?  I'll share my experience and let you decide for yourself! We all arrived via different routes to the Snowmass village, just outside of Aspen on Thursday.  We stayed at the Westin and they offered a really great deal for Ragnar runners!  Besides a great price, the "Ragnar Trail Perks" package included a catered dinner at the Snowmass Club with a guest speaker!  View from hotel! On the shuttle ride to the dinner, we had the chance for an impromptu Q&A with the Race Director.  He informed us that about 40% of the Ragnar Trail participants in the past have said ...

  I recently had the pleasure of doing a review for Cocogo .  A sports drink hydration powder in a stick pack.  What makes Cocogo different from all the other powdered drinks out there?  It uses real fruit and coconut water .  No artificial flavors.  No corn syrup. And no artificial sweeteners.   I was really excited to try it out!  Like many everyday runners out there, I'm always "on the go".  Last week I knocked out my run, jumped in the shower and rushed to work.  No time to really re-hydrate so I was still pretty thirsty. I opened up a packet of Cocogo and gave it a shot!  For those of you not familiar with powdered drink packets... you just pour a packet (or two depending on how much flavor/electrolytes you want) into a bottle of water, shake it up, and enjoy!  This wasn't my first time with that kind of stuff... but it really is hit or miss with all the different versi...