Confessions of an Amateur Athlete

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!

Stop chafing and dry skin with the newest installment of My Favorite Gear Holiday Giveaway! Enter to WIN a 4oz bottle of Crotch Guard!

Drum roll please.... I'm excited to announce the next installment of My Favorite Gear Holiday Giveaway: C3fit! My C3fit compression gear has become my go-to for all my training and racing adventures. And for this one, I'm giving away a pair of C3fit Performance Sleeves and a pair of Arch Support Ankle Socks to one lucky winner!

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.

Yesterday my running group, #RunEatTweetAZ, joined forces to help a local girl fight cancer!  We signed up for a Virtual 5K and ran it together.  Was tons of fun! But the cool thing is that our little 5K run actually HELPED someone.  We weren't just getting out and being active, we were helping a young high school student in her battle against cancer!  It was a very heart-warming, and emotional run. And the cool thing is? Even though you may be miles away, or right down the road, YOU can help too!  The Virtual 5K Run for Courtney is going on throughout August.  That meas, you can sign up, go for a 3.1 Mile run anytime, anywhere, and you're run will have helped Courtney and her family! Plus look at these awesome medals! Fellow #RunEatTweetAZ member Traci, is the one who's organized this Virtual 5K.  I highly recommend you check it out, and sign up!  Make your miles count! The Brains and Braun behind the operat...

I'm running the San Francisco Marathon  next weekend, and I have finally reached the final stage of my Tapering: Acceptance. As many of us runners know, as we end our marathon training and start backing off our mileage, we go through a series of emotions.  Let me break it down for you. STAGE ONE: EUPHORIA p.gr-assets.com You've put the mileage in. You're feeling good.  Legs are sore, but it's a good sore.  Now you can just sit back and wait for the race...which you're going to ROCK of course! Everything is AWESOME!   STAGE TWO:  ANGER sharegif.com Dang it! You need to go run! And your IT Band/Knee/Hip/Foot feels achy.  You'd better NOT be getting injured.  It's too late in the game!  And you feel fat.  Just FAT.  Now...who hid the @&#*#@ Cookies!?! STAGE THREE: DEPRESSION 31.media.tumblr.com Yep.  This race is going to be horrible.  What if you don't finish?! Did y...