Articles by Nikki Mueller

About Nikki Mueller (373 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.

Race Preview: 2018/19 PRC Winter 5k Series (Race #1 completed; #2 & 3 coming up!)

December 27, 2018 // 0 Comments

Anyone in Portland who’s ever run a Run With Paula event knows how awesome the races are. Despite the fact that I’m typically a long distance runner, I was willing to get out of bed for not one but THREE short 5k’s in the winter for the [read more...]

Buy Local: Are Running Shoes Worth What You’re Paying?

December 23, 2018 // 0 Comments

Recently I was training one of my clients and he asked me for some advice on his Brooks running shoes. He had found a pair that he LOVED at his local running store, and he wanted to stock up on some more. However, he also wanted to try and save some [read more...]

Race Preview: 2019 Bristow Trail Runs 50k/25k/10m/5m (Dexter)

December 20, 2018 // 0 Comments

It’s time to dig out your trail shoes for the winter season, and the first event of the Run Big Trail Series in 2019 is coming up on February 2nd. The 2019 Bristow Trail Runs at Elijah Bristow State Park in Dexter (brought to you by Level 32 [read more...]

Race Preview: 2019 New Years Hangover Run (Salem)

December 13, 2018 // 0 Comments

The turning of a new year means different things to different people. For some, it is a time of celebration and throwing caution to the wind, for others it means a new chance to meet goals. No matter which, the New Year’s Hangover Run in Salem [read more...]

ORRC Race Preview: 2019 Y2K Half Marathon & 10k (Forest Grove)

December 7, 2018 // 0 Comments

With 2019 around the corner, I’m already carving out my race year, and the first race I’m planning is the 2019 ORRC Y2K Run. It’s the first race in the 2019 ORRC Half Marathon Series as well as the first of the 10k Series depending on what [read more...]

Race Preview: 2019 Deschutes River Half Marathon & Hangover 2.019 Mile Run/Walk (Maupin)

December 4, 2018 // 0 Comments

Whether you’re trying to start the new year fresh or you’re still recovering from the year before it, you’ll have options for the 2018 Deschutes River Half Marathon & Hangover 2.019 Mile Run/Walk in Maupin on January 1st, 2019. There are 2 [read more...]

Make a Weekend of it: The Salt Hotel & Pub (Ilwaco, WA)

November 30, 2018 // 0 Comments

Full disclosure here. When I was offered a chance to get away for a kid-free weekend, it probably could have been anywhere and I’d have said yes. I love my kids to pieces and I miss them when I’m away from them, but sometimes it’s nice to have [read more...]

Race Preview: 2018/19 PRC Winter 5k Series

November 29, 2018 // 0 Comments

This weekend, I was running with a group of people who were discussing the merits of different race distances. One runner said she didn’t really find 5k’s worth her while after she started running half and full marathons, and I told her I [read more...]

Race Recap: 2018 HTC Turkey Trot Relay & 5k (Portland International Raceway)

November 27, 2018 // 1 Comment

With so many Turkey Trots to choose from in Oregon, it’s nice to have an option that’s a little different than the typical race, and the 2018 HTC Turkey Trot Relay & 5k will offer you that. For one, this race occurs the evening BEFORE [read more...]

Washington Turkey Trot Race Previews: 2018 Clark County Turkey Trot 5k/10k (Vancouver) & 2018 Turkey Trot 5k (Longview)

November 24, 2018 // 0 Comments

Thanksgiving is the time of year where I feel most fortunate, and it’s also the best time of year to consider giving to people in need. The 2018 Clark County Turkey Trot 5k/10k began as a way for families to get in an early morning run before a [read more...]

Race Preview: 2018 Ugly Holiday Sweater 5k (Tualatin)

November 22, 2018 // 0 Comments

Looking for a fun and free holiday run? The 2018 7th Annual Ugly Holiday Sweater Run/Walk is at Road Runner Sports store in Tualatin again this year on December 22nd. You will have your choice between a 1 mile or a 5k race, and both are untimed. It [read more...]

Race Preview: 2018 Jingle Bells Run (Eugene)

November 21, 2018 // 0 Comments

Eclectic Edge Racing is bringing on the holiday cheer on December 22nd for the 2018 Jingle Bells Run 5k/15k in Eugene. If you’re a runner who’s also a mom like me, family-friendly holiday races are a really fun way to get in the spirit. This [read more...]

Race Preview: 2018 Medford Ugly Sweater 5k Run/Walk

November 20, 2018 // 0 Comments

Ugly holiday sweaters have become “a thing” in the last few years, and there’s no better way to embrace this trend than to participate in the 2018 Medford Ugly Sweater 5k Run/Walk. This race, hosted by West Orthodontics, is guaranteed to be a [read more...]

Race Preview: 2018 Jingle Bell Jog 5k (Lincoln City)

November 17, 2018 // 0 Comments

Holiday Race season is here! If you are looking for a fun race at the coast this year, the 2018 Jingle Bell Jog 5k Run/Walk is coming up on December 15th for it’s 6th year. The race takes place at the Lincoln City Community Center and is hosted by [read more...]

Small Race Preview: 2018 Vernonia Ugly Sweater 5k Run/Walk

November 15, 2018 // 0 Comments

Do you have an ugly holiday sweater? Or do you maybe need a good excuse to wear one? How about for the 5th annual Vernonia Ugly Sweater Run on December 8th? It’s a 5k, so getting thru it should be relatively painless in the grander scheme of [read more...]

Race Preview: 2018 Operation Jack Northwest 6 Hr Run/Marathon & Half Marathon (Tigard)

November 14, 2018 // 0 Comments

The power of a parent’s love is never more evident than in events such as the Operation Jack Northwest Run. Sam Felsenfeld’s son Jack is autistic, and in 2010 Sam started running marathons to raise money for autism research and awareness. Sam [read more...]

Race Preview: 2018 Deception Pass 25k & 50k (Seattle)

November 12, 2018 // 0 Comments

Deception State Park in WA is a slice of rugged beauty named for a channel of water that separates Whidbey and Fidalgo Islands in the northern Puget Sound. The scenic forests and coastline, not to mention the steep cliffs, make for a memorable [read more...]

Race Recap: 2018 Silver Falls Half Marathon (Silverton)

November 11, 2018 // 0 Comments

The problem with running a lot is that you tend to take races for granted sometimes. After logging many miles in the last few months, I was looking at running the 2018 Silver Falls Half Marathon as “just” another race, nothing I couldn’t do [read more...]

Race Preview: 2018 Beat the Blerch 5k/10k (Seattle)

November 11, 2018 // 0 Comments

It’s that time of year where the skies get gloomier, the wind gets colder, and the streets get wetter. This is the perfect time to register for a race to help you find that motivation to get out the door and run. The 2018 Beat the Blerch 5k/10k in [read more...]

Race Recap: 2018 Oregon Brewery 5k Series – Basecamp Brewing

November 10, 2018 // 0 Comments

Have you tried one of the Oregon Brewery Running Series races yet? If not, why not? It’s a favorite in Portland, as you get a fun 5k(ish) run, great swag, and beer at the end, not to mention awesome people who don’t take things too seriously and [read more...]

What Run Oregon is Trying: FuelBelt Enduro & Waist Pack

November 7, 2018 // 0 Comments

When runners think of hydration on the go, they think of FuelBelt. The name has been known in the business for decades, and whether you prefer to strap your water to your hand or your waist, it’s a company you can trust to have your back when you [read more...]

Race Preview: 2018 Turkey on the Run 12k/5k/Kids Race (Wenatchee)

November 1, 2018 // 0 Comments

If your Thanksgiving plans involve anything near Wenatchee, WA, come run in the 2018 Turkey on the Run on their 10th anniversary! This family friendly race includes a 12k, a 5k, and a kids run, with all distances welcome to walkers as well as [read more...]

Turkey Trot Race Previews: 2018 Great Turkey Fumble (Portland & Newberg) & The Turkey Trot Fun Run (Mosier)

October 30, 2018 // 0 Comments

There are 2 things that people often associate Thanksgiving with .. Food and football. If you’re a runner, there might be a 3rd tradition, and that’s a morning Turkey Trot before you enjoy those other 2 things. The 2018 Great Turkey Fumble [read more...]

Race Preview: 2018 Race to Remember: Veteran’s Day Half/11k/5k/1k (Vancouver)

October 25, 2018 // 0 Comments

Our veterans and their families make so many sacrifices in their service to our country. This Veterans Day, if you are looking for a way to celebrate our veterans and support a good cause, the 2018 Race to Remember: Veterans Day [read more...]

The Other Side: What It’s Like to be a Race Director

October 25, 2018 // 0 Comments

Judging by the enormous rack my dad built me for all of my race medals, I’ve run somewhere in the neighborhood of 100 races. And while I’ve been able to carve out a little bit of time here and there to help and volunteer in the racing community, [read more...]

What Run Oregon is Wearing: Dæhlie Winter Tights & Spectrum 3.0 Jacket

October 23, 2018 // 0 Comments

Bjørn Dæhlie, if you’ve never heard of him, is a retired cross-country skiing champion who has won the Nordic World Cup 6 times. His name is the epitome of excellence, and he established the Dæhlie brand over 20 years ago. The company is [read more...]