Pugaloo_Adventures and Grumble & Grind

Motivation is often described as the internal or external driving force, reason, or desire that initiates, guides, and maintains goal-oriented behavior. In simple terms? It’s what gets you started. This absolutely applies to those of us trying to change our lives and get healthier. We imagine we’re supposed to feel motivated all the time—to show up for every workout, every run, every strength session like we’re living in a fitness commercial. But here’s the problem no one rea

Ah yes, getting older—the magical phase of life where you can injure yourself simply by sleeping. One minute you're fine, and the next you're wondering why your neck locked up because you dared to glance over your shoulder too enthusiastically. Pain, unfortunately, becomes one of those uninvited guests that tends to stick around as we age. And honestly? It’s one of the biggest reasons people hesitate to start exercising or focus on their health. I hear it all the time: “Exerc

Alright friends, buckle up—because this one is a two-for-one special: a little running, a little chaos, and a whole lot of “why did we sign up for this again?” energy. As most of you know, my family and I have a slight obsession with running—especially trail runs and anything in Reno. Why Reno? Because it’s close, it’s easy, and honestly… it keeps calling us back like a toxic ex with really good snacks. This year we’ve done two races hosted by the Reno Running Company, and le

Let’s have a real conversation—no judgment, just honesty. Why is it so easy for us to come up with reasons not to start? “I wish I had time.” “I wish I had your energy.” “My pain is just too bad.” I hear these all the time. And truthfully? I’ve said them too. Because life is busy. It’s overwhelming. It’s exhausting. When you’re juggling being a mom, wife, provider, daughter—and everything in between—it can feel impossible to add one more thing to your plate. So this isn’t abo

We once again went to Auburn, CA, for another amazing race. This race was so much fun. It was a little warmer than the last run, but the weather is great. We were able to run with tank tops and shorts, but in the last race, I was still in my coat. So, I was so excited. Trail Run 2026 The views for this race was gorgeous. We did not start in the same place as Formidable or Jan 1, but it did not disappoint. We did get to see some of the same places, like the bridge, but the vie

Let me just start by saying: I clearly did not understand what “formidable” meant when I signed up for this race. The sign created for the race - 2026 For reference, formidable means inspiring fear or respect through being impressively powerful, intense, or capable. Cool, cool… sounds fun, right? 🙃 Looking back now, I have to laugh because when I signed up for this race in Auburn, I thought, “No big deal. I’ve been on this trail before. I got this.” I saw the medal previe

I’m over 50 and taking up running and walking. I hear all the time how “cool” it is that we’re sharing our adventures. People tell me they wish they could do it too. And every single time I say the same thing: If I can do it, you absolutely can too. We’re all in different stages of life. Our why is different. Some of us want to lose weight. Some are recovering from addiction. Some want to be able to move at 80. Some of us are quietly trying to outrun our own mortality. Whate

We have all heard it before—the race itself is only 1% of the work , while the other 99% happens during training . Living in a colder part of California, training outside has been an adventure of its own. We regularly find ourselves running in 30-degree weather , and there are days when we’re training in rain or snow . Learning what to wear to stay warm, dry, and comfortable without overheating has been a process of trial and error. Shoes: Finding What Works for Your Feet For

We’ve officially completed our first run of the year —well, technically our second. We started 2026 strong with a New Year’s Day run on January 1st in Auburn, California , and followed it up with what felt like our first big race of the season: a 10K and a Half Marathon . After coming home, we took a well-earned recovery week. That doesn’t mean we stopped moving entirely—we still focused on stretching and light gym workouts—but we did step away from structured treadmill trai

As some may know, I have struggled with my weight my entire life. Even at a young age, I understood I would never be the “skinny girl.” I wasn’t built like a ballerina—I was built like an athlete. In high school, I was incredibly active: basketball, volleyball, track, and softball . But as adulthood rolled in, everything changed. Work, responsibilities, parenting, and exhaustion slowly edged out my fitness routines. 🔁 The Cycle of Diets, Successes, and Setbacks Like many peo

As some of you already know, our family has jumped headfirst into the magical (and sometimes exhausting!) world of RunDisney . From 5Ks to 10Ks and now even half marathons, this journey has transformed our health, our habits, and honestly—our lives. This is how we got here… and why we’re still going. 💍 From a Disney Wedding to Realizing We Needed Change The photo below is from our wedding day in February 2022. We celebrated in our favorite place—Disney, of course! We were ha