Training Tips

This post is sponsored by adidas, all thoughts and opinions are my own. I never used to be able to understand why people would blame kids for their inability to exercise. I have always (harshly) been of the mindset, “if there is a will, there is a way”, and I do still believe if something…

Many runners have been waiting for this day for months; when the humidity finally lifted, you can breathe again, and the mornings feel cool and refreshing. We have been using these cool mornings as our carrot all summer, motivation to keep going, trust that it will feel amazing when it arrives. And it does. After…

REAL runners run for miles, kilometers, distance. Running by time is for the inexperienced, right? Actually, no. Running by time instead of distance might be just what you need. I ran using distance over time for many years; throughout college and in my professional running years, I would obsessively analyze my Garmin data. I would…

I never thought I would become an “expert” on this topic, and although I do not have any qualifications surrounding it, as I did recently become the first EVER mother with a running stroller to grace the cover of a fitness magazine (I think, correct me if I am wrong) with my Women’s Running Magazine…

I have had an ultimate bucket list for about ten years now. In college, a good friend had purchased a journal for me, which I used as therapy during hard times or injury. I have talked many times about how important I believe journaling is, especially when you are struggling with something in your life…

Last Saturday I had my first progression run since I stopped running to get my period back and start a family. I am not gonna lie, I was a little nervous. I knew I was nowhere close to the shape I was in the last time I did a progression run, but it was more…

I get a lot of emails each week. Mostly from runners like you, who are looking for some advice, some REAL advice. Not sponsored, not biased, not judge-y. Some support for a runner from a runner without being looked at like a crazy person. As someone who owns a business called Running for Real, you…

There are endless articles out there giving runners advice on how to run well, race fast, train harder, be better. There is good advice, and there is bad advice. Unfortunately, the rules are constantly changing, and something we are told is good for us, can be found TERRIBLE for us the following year (without us…

It has been an honor to be considered someone a lot of new mothers look to for advice about life with a baby. That truly warms my heart to know that my opinion is important to you. It is yet another reason I am so happy I spoke out about my 9 year struggle with…

We are in England right now, so I wanted to make the most of the time with family and friends. Therefore, I do not have a blog post for you, but I do have an updated list of all my coupon codes to help you save a few pennies. Now, if you have been a…

When I was an elite runner, where I ran was really important. On important workout days I would travel up to 90 minutes to get a long run in along a flat path in Cincinnati. On long run days, I would drive 20 minutes to start my run at the beginning of a paved trail…

When I announced that I was going to stop running to overcome amenorrhea, I knew I was prepared to do whatever it took to get my body to a healthy place. I made that my focus; being the best period-get-backer there ever was. And like other things I had put my mind to, I did…

When you love running, and especially when you have a big goal in mind, you want to be committed to that goal. In fact, you don’t just want to be committed, you are, and its hard to even take it off your mind sometimes. Your days are based around it. We want to prove just…

Coping with injury is never easy for runners. We really love what we do. When you have a running injury, once you figure out a rough plan of how long you will need off, the anxiety from being unable to run quickly begins to build. Which is exactly why I previously gave you the 12…

Global running day 2018 is just two days away, and I am excited to announce for the first time ever, Running for Real has a team, a worldwide team for anyone to join. You can pledge one mile, one hundred mile, or 1/10 of a mile if that is all you can commit to right…

I am probably going to make a lot of people angry with that title, but it is something I hear some variation of over and over again. Especially in newer runners, runners who are falling for all the typical runner mistakes, and it ends up breaking their heart, often breaking their bodies, and breaking their…

I took a few days off running last week because of sore shins. When my shins hurt, not only is that a sign to me that I am overstriding (landing with my heel out in front, rather than under the rest of my body) and not running in a way that is good for my…

I am a driven person. By now, most people know that. I set goals, and go get them, that is just how I have always done things. Chances are, that is the way may of you have done things too. How would you possibly stay motivated to do something that requires effort without a goal,…

Tuesday 21st March 2017. The day my life changed forever. Although today is not that day, and I have not quite reached one year since my life took a drastic turn, this is the closest Monday to that day, and with Bailey turning two months old yesterday, it really has me thinking about just how…

March 21st 2017 I stopped running. At the time, I had no idea if I would ever start again. On that day, I was prepared to say bye to running for good. I had to commit to it, otherwise it would be too easy to beat myself up, let myself slip into old habits, allow…