Disclaimer:  I received an entry to the Chicago Half Marathon 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. Three years ago while (pseudo) training for the Chicago Marathon, my son asked me if I wanted to run the Chicago Half Marathon with him. I whined like a baby about the drive into the big city and decided to run a half closer to home. Queue the extreme jealousy and regret when he texted me a picture of his finisher’s medal. The Roman numeral XXs spin!Read More →

Disclaimer:  I received a generous supply of Gatorade Endurance to trial 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. As I shared in a recent post, I am training for both the Chicago and the New York City Marathons using Gatorade Endurance Formula. Both races will be providing Gatorade Endurance Formula on the course, so with these races on my calendar, the opportunity to train with Gatorade Endurance Formula over the summer has worked out perfectly. I have been training (that in itself being a shocker) using bothRead More →

Disclaimer:  I received an entry to the Chicago Mag Mile 10K 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. Let’s cut to the chase. This was an awesome race and I loved every minute of it! Though I live in Chicago, I have never run this race. It’s always exciting for me to try new races and especially to explore different areas of my home city on foot. When the opportunity to run arose, I jumped at the chance!   Packet pickup was at theRead More →

Disclaimer:  I received online coaching from Olympic Marathoner Jared Ward and his team at Endure Strong 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. Let’s face it. I am worse than bad when it comes to training for races. The thing is, I simply enjoy participating in them, but I really don’t care much about my time. However, I’m not getting any younger, and completing long distance races isn’t getting any easier. So when the opportunity to receive online coaching from Jared Ward and hisRead More →

Disclaimer:  I received a complementary weekend stay at the Empower Summer Camp at Ronora Lodge in Watervliet, Michigan from FitApproach in exchange for my honest review and various social media postings as part of being a Sweat Pink ambassador. All opinions are my own. Last weekend I had the amazing opportunity to join other fitness enthusiasts, bloggers, and influencers for a weekend of fitness, friendship, and fun. When the invitation arrived, I immediately checked my schedule and was thrilled to see that with just a little bit of shuffling, I was available to attend. The fact that it was an easy drive from my homeRead More →

Disclaimer:  I received a generous supply of Gatorade Endurance to trial 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. As many of you know, or as my blog title implies, I ‘fell into’ running somewhat unintentionally, but once I got a taste of it, I kept on going and I have never looked back. I still sometimes feel like I don’t have a clue what I’m doing, but I keep plugging along, and I keep moving forward. My journey began in 2013 when I ran my first raceRead More →

  Disclaimer:  I received a pair of Shady Rays Allure Polarized Sunglasses to review as part of being a BibRave Pro (ambassador). Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro, and check out BibRave.com to review, find, and write race reviews. As someone who has not historically been good about protecting her eyes from the sun, I’ve surprised even myself with my new obsession with sunglasses! Although I already own a pair of Shady Rays Signature Series sunglasses, I was thrilled at the opportunity to try another style. For me, the Signature Series style is more sporty and I love using them for running and biking.Read More →

  Disclaimer:  I received Science in Sport (SiS) isotonic gels 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. Having completed 10 marathons and a number of half marathons and smaller-distance races, you would think by now I have the whole fueling thing down. Nope, wrongamundo. I STILL don’t have a clue what I’m doing. My very first race was the 2013 Chicago Marathon. I did not train, and I had never run in my life. How did I do? Believe it or not, that finishRead More →

  Disclaimer:  I received an Orange Mud Gear Vest Pro 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. For as long as I have been running, I’ve carried a water bottle in my hand. For larger races or distances, I carry a one liter bottle. It can get cumbersome and I can’t tell you how many times my bottle was knocked out of my hand by another runner during a race. I’ve been in search of a good vest to carry my water and otherRead More →

  Disclaimer:  I received AfterShokz Trekz Air bone conduction headphones 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 wanting to try AfterShokz for quite some time. Then when I ran the Surf City Half Marathon in February, the person I was with was wearing a pair. At some point during the race I asked if she had them turned on, since I never heard music coming from them and we were conversing with each other pretty much the entire time. She said sheRead More →