Articles by Nikki Mueller

About Nikki Mueller (411 Articles)

I'm the owner of Healthy Girl Fitness and I'm a personal trainer, certified AFAA group exercise instructor, and an RRCA certified running coach in SW Portland. I am also the mother of two young boys and am on the board at my youngest son's school. I led a relatively inactive life throughout my 20's until I discovered the world of fitness and running. I ran my first marathon in 2006 and haven't looked back since.

Oregon Coast Small July 4th Races: 2019 Mayor’s Firecracker 4k & 2019 Neskowin 5k Runabout

June 16, 2019 // 0 Comments

Come out to beautiful Mingus Park in Coos Bay on July 4th for the 2019 Mayor’s Firecracker Run. This race is a great option for families with a free kid’s run and a 4k for the grown ups. This summer holiday race, hosted by South Coast Running [read more...]

Race Recap: 2019 Helvetia Half Marathon

June 14, 2019 // 0 Comments

When I first started doing races, I did the big ones because I didn’t know any better. The smaller races never claimed the spotlight and I honestly didn’t think about searching for them. As I got older and started doing more and more races, I [read more...]

Race Preview: 2019 Foot Traffic Flat Marathon/Half Marathon/10k/5k (Sauvie Island)

June 13, 2019 // 0 Comments

I’ve done well over a hundred races over the last 15 or so years, but I’ve yet to do the Foot Traffic Flat. It’s on my list to do someday, when the timing is right, and I’ve heard more and more about it every year. What I hear about [read more...]

Greater Portland Small Race Preview: 2019 Love Rocks 5k & 2019 Race Against Child Abuse 5k/10k

June 9, 2019 // 0 Comments

What the world needs now is love, sweet love. Is that song in your head yet? Well, this is the message of the 4th annual Love Rocks Run which is going to be held on June 29th in Forest Grove. This race focuses on “love and joy one mile at a [read more...]

What Run Oregon is Wearing: Affordable running apparel from Decathlon

May 31, 2019 // 0 Comments

I’m a multitasker in pretty much every way, and I love it when my clothes follow the same philosophy. Decathlon makes clothes that are comfortable, functional, and have some valuable “built-in” features. You’ll get several options in one [read more...]

Race Preview: 2019 ECEC Butterfly 5k Run/Walk (Elkton)

May 29, 2019 // 0 Comments

Fly like a butterfly on Saturday June 22nd for the 2019 ECEC Butterfly 5k Run/Walk. This will be a beautiful run (or walk if you prefer!) along the Umpqua River in Elkton, OR. Get the kiddos involved too, as there’s a FREE kids race for little [read more...]

Race Preview: 2019 Pacific Crest Endurance Sports Festival (Sunriver)

May 27, 2019 // 0 Comments

It’s been close to two decades since I ran the Pacific Crest Half Marathon, and it still stands out in my mind as a memorable event. As I struggled through the heat and questioned my abilities that day, I looked around at several others and [read more...]

What Run Oregon is Trying: MojiHeat Heated Massage Roller

May 27, 2019 // 0 Comments

Runners are used to a little pain and suffering if they’ve been at it long enough, and there’s always been the age-old question in regards to injuries, aches, and pains.. Heat or Ice? Which is more effective? Moji, a company that makes [read more...]

Race Preview: 2019 Timberline Marathon & Half Marathon (Timothy Lake)

May 24, 2019 // 0 Comments

My family went camping at Timothy Lake last summer, and I managed to get away for a couple of hours to run around the entire lake. It was really beautiful and unlike many trails in Oregon, relatively flat. It’s a great backdrop for a race and the [read more...]

Race Preview: 2019 Heart of the Country 5k/10k/1 Mile Fun Run/Walk (Helix, OR)

May 21, 2019 // 0 Comments

Helix, OR is hosting the 2019 Heart of the Country Fun Run/Walk on June 8th this year, and this race will help fund improvements to Helix Park after an unfortunate flood ruined much of it. This is a great way to celebrate the community and to offer [read more...]

What Run Oregon is Wearing: BUFF USA

May 20, 2019 // 0 Comments

You know a company is tried and true when you find their name is not only a noun to describe the company name but also a noun to describe what it is. There are lots of headwear options out on the market for running, hiking, cycling, and lots [read more...]

Race Preview: 2019 WillaMutt Strut 5k & 1k Fun Run/Walk (Salem)

May 19, 2019 // 0 Comments

I’ve always had a soft spot for animals because they can’t speak up for themselves when they are placed in a bad situation. Raising money for organizations like the Willamette Humane Society is important and well deserved, and doing the 2019 [read more...]

Run Oregon Test Kitchen: Good Grains StaySteady & Love Grown Cereal

May 17, 2019 // 1 Comment

I can’t remember the actual statistics now, but I read an article in a health magazine a few years back that said most cereals, even those that claim to be “healthy,” are no better for you than eating a donut. By and large, they are loaded [read more...]

Race Preview: 2019 Gold Dust 5k/10k Run (Gold Hill)

May 12, 2019 // 0 Comments

If you need a good excuse to visit a vineyard as the summer kicks off, register for the 2019 Gold Dust Run, which occurs on June 1st. The 5k and 10k races will start and finish at the beautiful Del Rio Vineyards & Winery which is located in [read more...]

Race Recap: 2019 ORRC Hagg Lake Trail Run 25k

May 12, 2019 // 1 Comment

When most Oregon runners hear the words “Hagg Lake” and “run” in the same sentence, they immediately think of the ORRC Hagg Lake Mud Run, which is a very challenging run in February. It’s no wonder that the ORRC Hagg Lake Trail Run in May [read more...]

Small Mid Valley Race Previews: 2019 Strawberry 5k/1m Fun Run/Walk (Lebanon) & 2019 Santiam Hospital 3k/5k/10k Fun Run/Walk (Stayton)

May 11, 2019 // 0 Comments

Strawberries in June .. I can’t think of much better than this symbol of summer. The 33rd Annual Weyerhaeuser Strawberry 5k and 1 Mile Fun Run/Walk is coming up fast on June 1st in Lebanon, OR and it should be a fun one. Consider bringing the [read more...]

Race Preview: 2019 Silver Falls Challenge (3.5m/6m/1k Fun Run)

May 10, 2019 // 0 Comments

If you’ve never experienced running through Silver Falls State Park, you really should get out there. I ran in many beautiful places last year, but this was one of my favorite locations. Unfortunately, the 2019 Silver Falls Challenge, (which [read more...]

Run Oregon Test Kitchen: A blast from the past with Smart Tarts High Protein Toaster Pastries

May 8, 2019 // 0 Comments

My parents were never exactly health nuts, but they refused to buy a lot of the high sugar breakfast cereals that my friends got to eat. So as you can imagine, things like Pop Tarts were off the table of options unless I was lucky enough to have a [read more...]

What Run Oregon is Trying: Wildflower CBD Soap & Cool Stick

May 4, 2019 // 0 Comments

CBD. Those three little letters in the alphabet have been known to spark a bit of controversy. With the legalization of marijuana in Oregon, the use of CBD and cannabis is a hot button issue for some, and people have a lot of opinions about the [read more...]

Race Recap: 2019 Tillamook Burn Trail Run

May 2, 2019 // 0 Comments

I just ran the slowest race of my life. It was my fault. I didn’t train hard enough, didn’t sleep or rest enough, and I was battling a sore hip flexor. So it wasn’t exactly shocking to come in towards the back of the pack, but it still kind of [read more...]

Race Preview: 2019 Stumptown Trail Runs 50k & Half Marathon

May 2, 2019 // 0 Comments

If you live in Portland and you like running on trails, the chances that you’ve run in Forest Park are almost guaranteed. As I do more and more trail running myself, I am constantly amazed at the beauty that exists so close to home. The 2019 [read more...]

Race Preview: 2019 Grants Pass Freedom Run – 5k Run/Walk

April 26, 2019 // 0 Comments

Check out the Rogue River by running a fun 5k on May 25th in Grants Pass! The 2019 Grants Pass Freedom Run will have a “red, white, & blue” theme this year and it should be a great day to celebrate your strength!! The Boatnik Parade will be [read more...]

Race Preview: 2019 Run Mama Run PDX 5k/10k/Kids Run

April 23, 2019 // 0 Comments

Being a mom is a thankless job sometimes. Yes, that’s a cliché thing to say, but it doesn’t make it any less true. With Mother’s Day coming, there’s no better way to celebrate a mother’s strength than by participating in an event like the [read more...]

Small Oregon Coast Race Previews: 2019 TJHS Splash N Dash 5k/10k & 2019 Earth Day 5k/10k

April 21, 2019 // 0 Comments

Come to Tillamook on Saturday April 13th for the 2019 TJHS Splash & Dash, which offers a 5k, a 10k, and a .25 mile kid’s race. Many of the locals participate in this race every year, and it’s a great opportunity to raise funds for Bud’s [read more...]

What Run Oregon is Trying: Nuun Hydration

April 20, 2019 // 0 Comments

When I started running years ago, there weren’t a ton of different electrolyte replacement options that I knew about. I remember when I first heard about Nuun (and learned how to pronounce it, “noon,” in case you were wondering) I was [read more...]

Small Washington Race Previews: 2019 Annual Walk/Run for the Animals (Vancouver, WA) & Run the Path 5k (Longview)

April 16, 2019 // 0 Comments

I’ve always had a soft spot for organizations that benefit animals, and since we adopted our beloved mutt from the Humane Society 7 years ago, I can stand behind the 2019 Walk/Run for the Animals race on May 4th at Esther Short Park in Vancouver. [read more...]