Disclosure: This post and giveaway has been sponsored by NEUTROGENA® CoolDry Sport Sunscreen but the content and opinions expressed below are 1oo% my own.
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A few weeks ago NEUTROGENA® invited me to workout with Landon Donovan, one of the best professional soccer players produced by the United States. I was more than thrilled at the opportunity but I was nervous to risk any recovery progress I’d achieved in the last 4 months of physical therapy.
Even though my body was aching for a physical challenge, I wasn’t sure I could reign in my fitness mind to prevent any physical setbacks. The delicate balance of regaining strength and stamina while being mindful of vulnerabilities isn’t a task easily mastered. After some contemplation (and a talk with my physical therapist), I decided to take the risk and give myself this unique chance to be inspired to #PushFurther in my recovery.
I may not know a lot about sports (I’m learning from the 8 year old) but it was inspiring just to walk into the Stub Hub Center, the home of the L.A. Galaxy.
It isn’t every day that you get the chance to the Major League Soccer Cup up close either. I was sufficiently motivated and ready to go.
Before getting on the field to workout, we were given a sneak peek at the NEUTROGENA® CoolDry Sport Sunscreen collection. The new spray and lotion options feature Micromesh™ Technology that stays in place, even during rigorous exercise and provides breathable protection so sweat can evaporate off of skin without compromising the SPF (available in SPF 30 and SPF 70), allowing for more time to be actively engaged in fitness activities.
As someone who is very health conscious, I’m embarrassed to admit that sun damage and skin protection has been far from a top health priority. I’m fair skinned and even after moving to California with their 360 days of sunshine per year, I don’t often remember to put sunscreen on my (aging) face and body. It’s awful but true. The opportunity to try this new NEUTROGENA® product line served as a reminder of just how important (and easy) sun protection can (and should) be.
According to the American Cancer Society, skin cancer is the most common of all cancers. Landon Donovan let us know that protecting skin against the damaging rays of the sun is of paramount importance to him not only as an athlete who spends much of his time outdoors but also as a son whose father is a basal cell carcinoma survivor.
After applying some surprisingly light (and fresh smelling) NEUTROGENA® CoolDry Sport Sunscreen SPF 70 spray, it was workout time! Even though I was supposed to be focusing on warming up my body during our run on the pitch (pitch means field – I’ve learned one soccer term, OK? ), I was mesmerized by Landon Donovan’s calves. I have some well developed calves but Landon’s are unbelievable!
Our workout consisted of some soccer drills that included juggling, heading, passing and goal scoring attempts. I’ve never played soccer so some of these moves were very awkward for me. I was lucky to watch my friend Lindsay (and Landon Donovan) show me how it should be done.
After our workout, Donovan shared that it was more than physical prowess that sustained him as a long-term elite athlete. A professional since the age of 17, Donovan told us that making good choices (not partying, dedication to training), fueling his body with nutritious foods, participating in cross training (running, Pilates and yoga), getting adequate rest and having an excellent team of bodyworkers (such as physical therapists and massage therapists) were some of the keys that kept him free from major injury during his entire professional career.
The chronically injured and the never injured. Maybe some of Landon Donovan’s juju will rub off on me!
As a cerebral fitness enthusiast myself, it was enlightening to learn that taking risks are what makes an athlete unique but being mindful is what keeps them healthy and at the top of their game. The desire to #PushFurther isn’t always purely physical. The fitness mind is in everyone, professional athlete or not.
This John Wooden quote is found inside the StubHub Center and is visible to athletes before they emerge onto the field.
My fitness mind was inspired by this event and I’m planning to incorporate NEUTROGENA® CoolDry Sport Sunscreen to protect my skin from the sun and to help me #PushFurther as I work toward a possible half marathon this Fall. I may be injured but I’m not done with fitness quite yet.
Tell me how you #PushFurther and you can enter to win 1 of 2 gift bags:
each featuring the NEUTROGENA® CoolDry Sport Sunscreen collection and a MisFit Shine Fitness & Sleep Monitor
Disclosure: Compensation and giveaways were provided by NEUTROGENA®. The opinions expressed here are my own and not the opinions or positions of NEUTROGENA®. Color of the MisFit Shine is subject to change. Giveaway details can be found above on the Rafflecopter entry mechanism.
I always want to make it a point to prove to myself I can do anything I set my mind to!
I push further daily now, knowing I’ve got a bambino on the way who’s going to need an ambitious and healthy mom 🙂
I’m hyper competitive with myself – so I always want to do better than the time before!
Positive reinforcement goes a long way!
I think it may be a little bit of personality type, I’ve always been one to #PushFurther!! Partly I can get so wrapped up in what I’m doing that I can go for many hours before I realize how much time has gone by. I like to challenge myself, it makes it more interesting! I don’t like to just go through the motions, just squeak by, I like challenge – whether rowing a boat, doing push ups, you name it!
I wish more people really understood that protection from the sun is the #1 best thing scuttle can do to keep their skin youthful. No surgical procedure, no fillers, no magical soon cream can correct sin over exposure. I love Neutrogena and I wanna win!
I push further so I can be proud of myself at the end of the day!
I #PushFurther for my kids and it makes me feel better. Some days it hard to get driven but just thinking of wanting to live a long life for them drives me.
I love this. I met Landon Donovan about 5 years ago at a dinner for some charity downtown and all I remember about him was that he had to get on the makeshift stage to speak and he hopped up there. Like he wasn’t even thinking about how to move and just sort of jumped instead of walked like a mere mortal. It must have been an amazing day.
For a race, it’s the finish line! You can’t go back; you have to move forward. For fitness, it’s to be better than yesterday.
My perfectionism! Haha. Seriously though, it would be all of my loved ones.
It seems that you are very good at manifesting things for yourself that you want to happen. I could use a little of that mojo/karma (or whatever you deem it) myself. However, I also know you work hard to achieve so I realize it isn’t only luck that brings you good things. I still love your “put it in the universe philosophy”, Xenia!
Pregnancy can make you push yourself further but also make you feel less than what you want to be sometimes. The road of pregnancy is a winding one but I know that little one is due to have some amazing parents to learn from.
I never knew you were so hyper competitive. We need to get you further on the running circuit, my friend! Thanks for entering and good luck!
Steph: Positive reinforcement definitely goes a long way but I find it’s hard to get give it to oneself often. Social media can be both inspiring and soul killing (depending upon one’s mood) but I like finding positive reinforcement from my virtual and real world when I can’t seem to give it to myself.
Rosie: I think I’m like you too. When I love something I can keep going without the need for motivation but sometimes, I need incentive. Thanks for stopping by and entering the giveaway. Good luck!
It’s true that sometimes things that are so simple (like sunscreen and eating healthy, for example) are the most difficult things to do because we don’t get that immediate feedback of benefit. I know I need to work harder to make sunscreen a daily thing for myself and my little one. Thanks for the reinforcement of that message to my dull brain.
Good luck and thanks for entering, Chloe!
Sounds like a good plan. Thanks for stopping by and entering.
Karrie: It’s amazing what little humans can inspire us to do! Great reason to #PushFurther for sure. Thanks for stopping by and entering. Good luck!
Jessica: It was a pretty amazing day. What I found interesting was the wisdom Landon developed as an athlete. Yes, he has talent (and it’s almost otherworldly) but his grounding about what is important about keeping himself healthy and consistently motivated to do more was really interesting. As an “old girl”, I was fascinated by this (and Landon’s calves) *almost* more than anything else.
Moving forward in every aspect of life is something that I think is key. It’s good to learn from the past but not to live there. Good wise words, my friend.
Ooooh, the perfectionist trait. I’m familiar with that one too. It can get you stuck, can’t it? It’s both blessing and a curse to want the best. Sometimes you need to be happy with your best effort not just the best result, right? Nice to see you here Melanie! Thanks and good luck with the giveaway!
my kids make me #PushFurther in life, I want to be able to keep up with them!
That sounds like a fabulous reason to #PushFurther, Stefanie.
I want to stay healthy and active for my kids.
Lauren:
That sounds like a pretty good reason to me. Thank you for stopping by!
From your lips….
Thanks for the support (as always).
Can’t wait to see you soon!
I don’t have any problem pushing myself…….I work hard every day, and have big goals that I try to shoot for!
Laurel: Glad that the idea to #PushFurther comes naturally to you. I definitely need motivation. Thanks for entering!