Welcome to the RDM Blog
Thanks for taking a break from your run and being here!
I enjoy writing about my own personal running journey, bragging about my clients, sharing tips, writing race reports and sharing product reviews for active families. I have worked with close to 300 different brands and events to review and share their products and services.
Earlier blog posts, race reports and product reviews are available on my old blog (2009-2018)
Trailheads Trailblazer Ponytail Hat for Women Review
I had worked with Trailheads several years ago and STILL enjoy running around in my fleece beanie during the colder months. I have received so many compliments on the fun, bright pattern. But I secretly also like it so much because it is so incredibly comfortable and warm. I have had that hat for years and wash-after-wash it's still going strong. I was recently sent a Trailblazer Ponytail Hat that was specifically designed for women. This one is neutral in color, but the fit and functionality far-exceeded my expectations. The coverage over the ears has already been amazing, as the wind and cooler weather has picked up in October and November. I also absolutely can't say enough about the brim of the hat.
Lake Geneva Lakeshore Path — 22 mile Loop Review
Mid-September, my husband and I enjoyed our first adult-only camping trip. We did a quick, over-nighter at Bigfoot Beach State Park in Lake Geneva. The park was only a couple of miles to downtown, with lots of good restaurants and shopping. After camping on Saturday night, we got up at a leisurely pace and enjoyed some cinnamon rolls, blueberries and coffee over the campfire. I had always wanted to run or walk the 22(ish) mile loop around Lake Geneva. I had heard so many great things about it. I had been on only a mile of the path towards the downtown area previously. I had also tried biking on the roads around Lake Geneva previously. But a bee sting and a flat tire prevented
An Announcement from Running Diva Mom
You guys! I have been keeping a little secret for the last couple of months. I can finally EXPLODE from excitement! Running Diva Mom will be moving back to downtown Sun Prairie after the first of the year! In January, I look forward to taking my small boutique fitness studio to the next level. I will be enhancing my client's experience and expanding my program offerings -- with four times the space. You'll have the same, bright, comfortable space -- just with more room to get your sweat on! There will also be a cardio room with select equipment for my personal training clients to use during our sessions together. I have also found extreme comfort and passion through group fitness instruction during the
Sun Prairie Neighbors Feature
This month our crazy crew and Running Diva Mom were featured in Sun Prairie Neighbors Magazine! This was also a great reason to get some new family photos taken. I really wanted to have our photos represent us as we are and in our space. So we didn't worry too much about matching outfits or formal poses. We met in our neighborhood park and running trails in our athleisure wear.
Dapple Baby products — great for a family on-the-go
We have used a variety of Dapple Baby products around our busy household (And we don't even technically have a "baby" anymore. Although, she'll always be my baby!). I have really enjoyed using the disinfecting spray around the kitchen and bathroom. It's great for our busy, on-the-go lifestyle and allows me to quickly and safely clean up any mess we have. I feel like the surfaces are thoroughly cleaned after we spot-clean counter tops and appliances. This also worked well in the marathon mommy minivan. Hey, and it really kills 99.9% of germs! Good thing we still have some left in the bottle, because this will be great to disinfect surfaces and toys during the upcoming cold and flu season. Ugh. The Dapple Baby
BIZ Stain & Odor Eliminator ELIMINATED blood stains
No, this is not a crime scene. This is a toddler scene. A dry nose + one restless toddler = one bloody mess. And to top it off ... this beautiful sweatshirt was new. Yup. And to add to the pile of laundry, this all started in bed, so there was an extra load of bloody sheets to wash along with it. It's okay ... because I had my bottle of Biz Liquid Stain Fighter on hand in the laundry room. And, as advertised, this stuff worked like a charm ... yet again. An absolute charm. I had previously used BIZ Liquid to do some spring cleaning around the house, including making this fabric chair like new again. I have been happy with this
Pirates Cove Adventure Golf Wisconsin Dells Review 2021
Last weekend, we decided to head out of town for the afternoon. We drove up north of Madison to Wisconsin Dells. The past several times we have visited the Dells, I had every intention of enjoying miniature golf with my family at Pirate's Cove Adventure Golf. But, we always added too many items to our agenda for the day -- and mini golf never happened. We made this the purpose of last weekend's agenda, and built our Saturday itinerary around that. After a quick lunch somewhere new, we stopped by to the cloud-covered miniature golf course. It was overcast when we arrived, but the courses were just as beautiful and well-maintained as I remembered from playing mini golf in the Dells as a teenager.
Processing this …
As part of my monthly routine, I just added up my monthly mileage for July. I walked and hiked a total of 113.5 miles. I ran 219 miles. 219 miles. In the past sixteen years since I took up running, I have only ran 200 miles ONCE in those sixteen years. This was last year when I was training for my forty miler for my 40th birthday. Which makes a lot of sense. Right now I am just training for life. What I don't quite understand is how ... or most importantly WHY ... these 219 miles were logged. Usually when I run many miles in a week or during a month's time, I'm going through something in my life. Like a big scary
A mid-year check-in.
I spend a lot of time check-in on my clients. So, this week, I spent some time checking-in on myself. I am really enjoying not racing and "RUNNING FOR FUN" for the past several years. I love the consistency that my runs provide in my day and do not miss the pressure of racing and filled-up weekends. I will race again. But right now, I just adore the feeling of my own two feet hitting the pavement regularly -- running the distances that I want to, the speed that I crave and the routes that I want to meander while wandering and learning about my surroundings. This really gives my heart so much joy. With my fancy new watch, I've also been able to
Sick kiddo; messy puppy; both saved by Kids ‘N’ Pets Stain & Odor Remover
This puppy isn't a puppy anymore. He sure is cute, isn't he!? Good thing! He sure makes a lot of trouble around the house. And messes. Eating things he shouldn't. Tracking muddy paws on our off-white carpet throughout the house. The poor guy gets nauseous from medication. He is spoiled and goes on far too many walks around the neighborhood and eats grass that he shouldn't. Our poor carpet. And he's this little girl's protector. She gets sick or gets hurt and he protects her. Watches over her. Feels her pain. On Christmas morning, she wasn't feeling the best. The "bucket" came out. Paper towels. Lots of blankets. And a pacing puppy. More stained carpet. Merry Christmas to us! Luckily, the upset tummy passed
Dapple Baby Foaming Hand Soap Review
Our family has had the opportunity to try the Dapple Baby Foaming Hand Soap. I was going to keep it in the kids' bathroom. But I wanted to personally try it a lot and give the whole family a shot at it. So, it has been used in our kitchen. I'm not much for foaming hand soap, but this worked just fine for us with frequent handwashing with cooking, cleaning, coming in from playing outside and general hand-washing. I loved the lavender scent. The delicious scent is made from essential oils and aloe. There are no dyes or fragrances in this bottle. A full list of fragrances is listed below. It sure left that hands feeling soft, even after so much hand-washing and disinfecting
That number does NOT tell your whole story.
I know that I've said this before -- and you've probably heard it elsewhere -- but, you really ARE more than that number on the scale! The photo on the left is a whopping 14 lbs lighter than the photo on the right. I am heavier now -- but am the fittest that I have been. I felt FIT, SUCCESSFUL and HAPPY in both photos. The same clothes still fit, but they fit differently now. I had never lifted a weight in the photo on the left. I was not fueling my workouts properly on the left and became extremely injured. I was a strong runner, but not fit overall. I now feel even better in my clothes. And then I step on that
Stretchmarked, chaffed and earned.
Strong girls can have thick thighs and imperfections too. My body is marked with stretch marks from years of fluctuating body weight changes and three pregnancies and natural childbirths. My legs can run ultramarathons. But my thick thighs still rub together, which forced me to give up running skirts years ago as my distances increased. And during this weekend’s sweaty twenty miler, there was no amount of Body Glide that could keep my arms from chaffing against my sweat-stained tank. Be proud of those badges ladies! Just like those medals ... you e earned them!!
Crystal Magnesium Deodorant Stick Review
I have struggled FOREVER to find a deodorant that will work well for me. I am naturally a sweaty betty. I use to sweat through suit jackets. I have tried all sorts of deodorant sticks, sprays and creams on the market as well as homemade varieties. There was an all natural deodorant that worked pretty well for me for many years. But that has slowly stopped working too. Not to mention that I have trouble finding it at the store. So, when I was given the opportunity to pick out a Crystal Magnesium Deodorant Stick of my choosing -- I jumped at the chance. What a no brainer. I was really excited to see if this would be "the one". They offer five different
Dapple Baby Laundry Detergent Review
Have you heard about baby-friendly and child-friendly detergents and household cleaning products from Dapple Baby? You may have seen their products during your last Target run or while browsing the aisles of Walmart or searching for baby products on Amazon. Their products are natural and have plant-based formulas that work on even the toughest (and most disgusting!) baby and toddler messes and spills. The natural products remove the stains and odors that your little one leaves behind on surfaces and clothing. The products are cruelty-free and made in the USA (yeah!). The Dapple Baby products are also great for little ones (and family members) who have sensitive skins. No dyes and artificial fragrances or additives mean that these products are soft and gentle on even
Anakeesta Review – Spring Break 2021
I was personally most thrilled to visit Anakeesta during our second trip to the Smokies. The Gatlinburg theme park is located on the top of a small mountain, overlooking the city. The mini "village" is filled with a mountain coaster, various rope courses and bridges, treehouses, gift shops, food carts and restaurants -- and unbelievable views of the Smokies. They also recently added a lookout tower. We saved our Anakeesta visit until our last day in Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg. We ended up driving a bit in the National Park that morning -- to the North Carolina border, so that the kids could say that they had been to another state on this visit. This meant that we arrived at downtown Gatlinburg about an
Titanic Museum Pigeon Forge Review
When our family visited Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg, Tennessee for spring break last month - I knew that the Titanic Museum would absolutely be on our list to visit. My 17 year old was especially excited to visit the attraction, which calls itself the world's largest museum attraction. My 13 year old was looking forward to joining us too. We ultimately decided that my husband would take our 5 year old on go-karts and play arcade games elsewhere, so that the big kids could fully enjoy the experience of the tour and we could take our time. We were all really happy with our decision. It was a nice stress-free stroll through the quiet museum and we could read what we wanted and look
Dollywood 2021 Review
We first visited and reviewed Dollywood in November 2019 - over Thanksgiving. I was told after our visit that it was one of the (if not THE) busiest day of the year. This was prior to the pandemic and it was really busy, but I didn't think it was terrible. We only brought our toddler on that Thanksgiving visit. When we wanted to return to the Smokies this spring, the main purpose was to share the experience with our older children - including Dollywood. Instead of taking the tram to the front entrance, we walked it. I told the kids it would be a good warm-up for getting all the steps in for the day. I could also tell by the parking lot that
RDM featured in Healthy Living feature – Finding Balance
Running Diva Mom was featured in this Healthy Living feature earlier this month. Here, other professionals and I provide advice about FINDING BALANCE with reaching goals and being kind to yourself during these challenging times.
Spring Cleaning with Enzyme Cleaners
We inherited this adorable over-stuffed chair from a friend. It was a perfect addition to our new playroom. Since the Big Brooke is now a teenager, this chair had a little cleaning up before it could be used by Little Brooke. I simply unzipped the slip cover and threw it in our washing machine with our normal laundry detergent, after applying Biz Liquid Stain and Odor Eliminator on the stained areas. I let the slipcover sit for five minutes before starting my load of laundry. Five minutes, just because I'm impatient! Biz recommends letting your items sit for five to ten minutes. After going through the normal wash cycle, the slip cover came out like new and Little Brooke has been able to enjoy
How I Wake-up at 3:30 am every day!
After several years of being a morning person, I have become even more of a morning person in the past couple of years. I use to open the office at 6:30 am and loved starting my day by getting the office and myself on the right foot. Now, as a personal trainer, my mornings have become even earlier - starting daily at 5:00 am. The early morning hours aren't always for me now. But, I love the quiet time. I love the control that I have over this part of my day. I love planning the night before and being ready for my day, as soon as my feet hit the floor. I love that I get things out of the way first thing
2 year self-employment update.
WOW, this month marks two years since I finally had the courage to venture out into the world of self-employment on a full time basis. Nothing like quitting your cushy-state job in the middle of a Polar Vortex to pursue your dream of becoming a full-time running coach and personal trainer for women in Wisconsin. Brrrrr, man was it ever freaking cold that winter!! After several months of trying to get up the courage say good-bye to something that wasn't lighting me up, I finally submitted my resignation in January 2019 and left that position after six weeks of transitioning away from my desk. I realized after twenty years, that I was not built to sit at a desk all day. And, two years
hold on …. I’m recharging ….
Today I made another great choice for my mental health. I embrace movement ... every. Single. Day. Yup, everyday. Movement motivates me. It’s just who I am. And when I don’t move, I am a wreck. Always feeling like I should be doing more. I am embracing a full 24 hours of rest. And my watch will be sitting here charging for the rest of the day. So that it doesn’t remind me of what I’m NOT doing today. (a clever suggestion from my hubby.) Instead ... I am going to focus on what I AM doing today: didn’t wake up at 3:50 — instead woke up at 6:00 to my husband cuddling with me. didn’t rush though my morning cup of coffee —
Cleaning up my mental health
Okay, I'm coming clean. If you ask any of my kids, they will tell you that I'm thrifty. Actually, they will probably tell you that I'm cheap. But I would like to think that they understand why I make thoughtful financial decisions for our family every single day. After having been in debt for a decade and getting out of that situation where I felt trapped and buried, I have chosen to live the last ten years without a credit card. Not once have I used a plastic card in my wallet for a purchase or to support my immediate wants, spending habits or impulse decisions. I was able to shift my financial mindset after transitioning through a pivotal moment of my life. And
Valentine’s Day Bean Bag Toss Workout
Grab a set of 5 pound dumbbells and a resistance band with handles and get ready for a great full body workout this month. Print out this workout and add some variety, fun and unpredictability to your workouts this week -- get your partner or the whole family involved! If you don't have a similar bean bag game handy you can also use dice, a deck of cards or a random number generator app on your phone. You could also have the kiddos make a similar bean bag toss with all of those art supplies you have laying around. You may also want to have a set of 8-10 pound bells available for lighter repetitions. Valentines Day Bean Bag Toss (PDF)
