Stay Strong - Run Long

As a part of the Active Endeavors Ambassador program I was given the opportunity to test out a fairly new jacket from Mountain Hardwear called the Superconductor and I must say that I am really impressed. ***Disclaimer: I received this jacket as a gift to review with no anticipation of a positive review. All comments below are my true thoughts behind the use of the product*** MH is a brand that I've known about for many years. I was originally exposed to the brand as they were sponsors of some very high profile ultra runners in the past. The brand has since scaled back their appetite in the running world, but continue to be a leader in the hiking/climbing/skiing world. Their products are a mainstay on ski slopes and trails all over the world. I'll be very honest that I've been pretty brand loyal when it comes to winter jackets in years past to another outdoor giant. I've always been satisfied with the products but when given the opportunity I felt like this w

Source It's a pretty simple question and one I get asked a lot. It's a question of testing my mental state. It's a question of curiosity. It's a question of helping the person asking to understand the drive behind doing something as stupid as the event itself. Why? I won't go into my history again. I've gone through it at length. If you'd like to know what got me to the point of punishing my body and mind for nearly 30 hours at a time, click here to read all about it. It's been a few years since I wrote that piece so the number of miles and races has changed pretty significantly, but the concept remains the same. Why do I do these events? Why do I love to go to the darkest parts of my brain and pay money for it? Why do I continue to run in events with no prize money, no notoriety, very little possibility of ever winning an event? The answer is pretty simple...I love to show people that no matter what your history or background, we are capable

Working at a specialty running shop, I'm lucky to be gifted shoes from time to time to test and give feedback. Some feedback for the shoes has been good and some feedback has been REALLY bad. This time around I was gifted a pair of shoes that actually are a new venture for Saucony. This review below is a review of the Saucony KOA TR .  I am a big fan though of trail shoes as I like a shoe that is light but with a firm/stiff sole. These are considered a road/trail hybrid shoe, so these were going to be fun. Below you will find the good, the bad and for whom I would recommend these shoes.  ***Disclaimer: I was given these shoes to try and review with no anticipation of a good review. The review is my own opinion and not that of Fitness Sports *** Looks: Right out of the box, this was a beautiful shoe. The navy blue and orange is a really nice departure form the traditionally dark gray or black color of most trail shoes. I'm not usually a f

This picture...this picture will forever be the reminder for me of determination and grit. I'm not going to sit here and say that this was my finest moment in my running career, but this moment was the one where the chips were stacked against me and I decided to take on the dealer...this moment... I have to admit off the bat that I am super invested in this race. Having lived in Iowa my whole life, I am proud of this state and what it has to offer and this race just makes living here, for me, that much more special. Steve Cannon, the race director, has given me an unbelievable opportunity to be involved and help him with the pre-race "stuff" and I am so thankful to be a part of it. Leading into the 2017 Booneville Backroads 100 mile I had a level of confidence in me that bordered on the cocky spectrum. After my terrible race at Rocky Raccoon, I came into this race hungry for something more. I was putting more and more time into climbing hills, speed work and long