Disclaimer:  I received the Addaday Pro Massage Roller 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 first learned about foam rolling when my kids were running cross country and track during their high school years. I’d play around with their rollers here and there, but I was never too religious about it. A few years later, due to poor mechanics and far too many hours sitting at a computer, I developed some numbness and tingling in my arms because of tight muscles and pinchedRead More →

Disclaimer:  I received the Zwift RunPod 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 reasons many of you will remember, despite the frozen tundra that was winter in Chicago last year, I took my runs outside as part of a challenge to run either 40K (about 25 miles) or 80K (about 50 miles) over a 14-day period, from January 2nd to January 15th. Me being me, of course I went for the bigger distance. The photo on the right is me about to goRead More →

This post contains affiliate links Today is Saint Nicholas Day, and for me that generally serves as a reminder that it’s time to start Christmas shopping! While I do pick up a few special gifts here and there in the months leading up to Christmas, I generally don’t go into full shopping mode until mid-December. I find that’s when I get the best deals, and under pressure, I know I will get done! If you are looking for just the right gift for the runner/athlete in your life, you have come to the right place! Maybe you are the runner/athlete who is looking for someRead More →

I received an ActivMotion Bar through my affiliation with FitApproach in exchange for my honest review.  All opinions are my own and should not be taken as health care advice. Always consult your health care provider with questions or concerns about your health and any new fitness program you may participate in. Although it is not technically winter according to the date on the calendar, believe me – winter already has made its way into the Midwest with a vengeance. While I try to get outside as much as possible, sometimes that is not an option. So with ‘official’ winter quickly approaching, I’ve been looking forRead More →

This post contains affiliate links Happy Valentine’s Day everyone! I hope you are having a day filled with love and happiness! To help you celebrate, I thought I would share some discounts on some products I absolutely love! Momentum Jewelry  Who doesn’t need (and love!) a little motivation every now and then? These motivational wraps and other products can help you stay on track and remember what an amazing person you are! You can check out their products using this link, and be sure to use the promo code sharetheSPARK2018 for 15% off of your order through March 31st! SPIBelt  I have used a SpiBelt toRead More →

It’s that time of year! December 1st is here, and for many of us, that means it’s time to launch into full panic mode as we haven’t even started our holiday shopping. For me personally, Black Friday left me a little meh. I bought one gift item online but most of what I saw that day didn’t seem like that much of a deal. Cyber Monday came and went without much luster for me either. And so begins my annual trek to stores both physical and virtual, trying to find just the right gift in just the right size at just the right price. IRead More →

This is a sponsored post. I was given a copy of Fresh Tastes From A Well-Seasoned Kitchen in exchange for my honest review.  All opinions are my own. I also have added affiliate links, meaning if you purchase any product through a direct link in this post, I will receive a small percentage of the purchase price from Amazon. This will not change the cost to you at all, but it can help support the ongoing costs of maintenance and upkeep of this blog. With Thanksgiving and all its trimmings now a thing of the past, it’s time to start thinking about your end ofRead More →

This is a sponsored post. I was given paid compensation and a pair of Zelus Olympus insoles in exchange for my honest review.  All opinions are my own and should not be taken as health care advice. Always consult your health care provider with questions or concerns about your health and well-being. Hey, did you hear the one about the elite runner who ran the 2015 BMW Berlin Marathon with his insoles hanging out of his shoes throughout most of the race? Ha! I wonder what the punch line is to that one! Oh yeah, there isn’t one. It actually happened. In 2015, Kenya’s Eliud KipchogeRead More →

I was given the opportunity to preview a new app called The Breathing App in exchange for my honest review.  All opinions are my own and should not be taken as health care advice. Always consult your health care provider with questions or concerns about your health and well-being. Feeling stressed? Overwhelmed? Anxious? Who doesn’t?! Most of us live stressful, fast-paced lives and if you are like me, you sometimes feel like you are barely keeping your head above water. Back when I was raising small kids, working, starting a business, studying for my PhD, and just dealing with anything else life would throw at me,Read More →

In the fall of 2013, just after completing my first marathon (and apparently declaring myself a “runner”), I came across the SPI (Small Personal Item) belt in an airport shop. New to running, I had never seen something like that, and just made the comment that I thought it was a cool idea. That Christmas, my husband bought one for me along with some other running gear. I absolutely love my SPIbelt! I have the smallest version, whose pocket, according to their website, expands to 6.5″ x 3″ x 2″. This is more than enough room for my iPhone 6S (in its somewhat bulky case)Read More →