Welcome to The Thrive Blog!

Follow along on our running adventures and take a deep dive into running related content with us!

Andrea Smiley Andrea Smiley

The Ultimate Guide to Stroller Running (From a Mom Who's Been There)

Running is such an important part of my life, I knew I not only wanted to continue running once I had children but that I wanted to be able to include them in my runs. Incorporating runs with my daughter has definitely had its challenges, but it has given us a way to spend time together, enjoy some fresh air, and lets me model the healthy lifestyle I hope she will strive for one day. Like any new mom, I had my concerns about how feasible using the jogging stroller would be and whether or not it would be worth the obvious hassles—safety, slower paces, a potentially cranky kiddo, etc. Knowing that it was something I at least wanted to try, I went for it! Now I’m here to share a few of the things I’ve learned along the way that I think other running moms should know in order to get the most out of stroller running!

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Andrea Smiley Andrea Smiley

Strength Training Principles For Runners

Ready to take your running to the next level? Being consistent and strategic about your strength training is crucial. By consistently incorporating strength exercises into your routine, you can significantly reduce injury risk and boost your performance. Maybe you are looking to get started with strength training to help you get past your recurrent running injuries or maybe you already are strength training but don’t feel like it’s making much of a difference on your runs. Most runners know they should be strength training, but may not know where to start or what strength training for running really looks like in our day to day lives. That’s where we come in! Whether you're a seasoned runner or just starting out, understanding the fundamental principles of strength training is key. This guide will break down the three most important principles to help you maximize your results and minimize your time in the gym.

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Andrea Smiley Andrea Smiley

Rest and Recovery: A Runner’s Guide

What does a typical rest day look like for you? Are you on the couch all day to give your body as much of a break as possible or are still logging miles at a “recovery” pace? While both of these can be appropriate for certain runners in certain scenarios, neither are likely the best approach to achieve optimal muscle recovery. How we recover plays a critical role in how our bodies adapt, or don’t adapt, to the demand of running. Prioritizing smart recovery helps you prevent injury, get stronger and foster your love for running. In this post, we will dive into some more details to help you maximize your rest and recovery.

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Andrea Smiley Andrea Smiley

Cross Training 101: Decoding Cross Training and its Essential Role in Healthy Race Training

Training for a race successfully and without injury, from a 5k up to a marathon and beyond, doesn’t just require running the allotted miles each day. It involves a mix of running, strength training, and oftentimes, cross training. Cross training is a buzzword in the running world that is often tossed around but not often explained. Hopefully I will be able to shed some light on this seemingly mysterious concept here.

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