Coach Jen B

This morning a group of us ran the Richmond Area Health Center 5k:  Ward, Jessie, Joe, Stacy, and myself.  It was the first year of this 5k and was a fun little run and can only get better. leaders of the pack - I think the police truck was totally slowing them down The good: - The course - it wasn't as hilly as I thought it was going to be.  Richmond definitely has some nice sized hills.  I know!   - The after race food - great selections!   - The prizes - Joe won an hour massage, Jessie won 45 days of power yoga, Ward won 1 session with a personal training and I won (through the raffle) a tote bag - Course markings - pretty good.  I didn't get lost at all, but then again, I always have people leading the way.   Ward said he did get a bit confused in one part, but his thoughts were that it was well marked overall.   - There was a water stop - which I was completely surprised by.  But I gladly took that cup of water and poured it ov...

Tonight Ward and treated ourselves to some new shoes.  Ward got the Merrell Trail Gloves and I got the Pace Gloves.  They feel like absolute heaven on my feet and I cannot wait to try them out for a run.  Part of me (okay - a lot of me) wants to wear them tomorrow for the 5k BUT I know I shouldn't.  I shouldn't, right?  I knew I was going to get these some day (remember my birthday post - only 5 months ago?)  

Okay running friends, if you were going to co-organize a small, local 5k, how would one start the process? What types of things do you look for in a 5k?  What kinds of prizes? How much should registration be?  What kinds of items do you like in the goody bag? Let me explain.  I was asked to co-organize a 5k in Gardiner next spring.  Of course I said yes, but I haven't the foggiest idea how to put together a 5k.  I've run enough of them that I have ideas of what runners like me like in small, community races. Please comment (or email at jenniferb at roadrunner dot com) with your ideas! On the running front - tonight Ward, Izzy and I went for an easy 3 miler.  Ward and I don't get a lot of opportunities to run together, but with Tucker sleeping over at his cousins house tonight, we saw the chance and took it.

Today I went to Border's looking for some great deals and to use my gift certificate my BJHS co-workers gave me as a going away gift.  Unfortunately, the sale is only 10% at this time, but the selection in the running section was already pretty slim, so instead of waiting for a better deal, I opted to buy a book today anyway.  I chose Kara Goucher's Running for Women and I cannot wait to read it.  When I got back from Border's, I saw that I had an email from the Gardiner Public Library - that Hal Higdon's Marathon: The Ultimate Training and Racing Guide book was on hold for me at the desk.  But before I read these two great books, I need to finish Sage Rountree's The Athlete's Guide to Recovery: Rest, Relax and Restore for Peak Performance.   So far, I am liking Sage's book.  It has been recommended by Terry and Jen of the Yoga to Run marathon training group I am participating in.  I see a couple of book reviews coming.  Maybe.  If I ...

Okay, it's no secret, but it's hot here in Maine.  Yesterday it hit 100 degrees here.  I grew up in Pennsylvania so I am not a stranger to the heat. But I was much younger then and I did not run.  I think the only thing I did was swim or lay on a float in the pool. I was scheduled for a 4 mile run on Thursday but couldn't get my act together and get the run done before heading off to teach summer school and I had zero intention of running it at noon again (I had done 5 miles the day before at noon).  I opted to take Thursday off and just plan my run for 1st thing Friday morning.  Friday morning came and the thermometer read 78 degrees and 75% humidity.  I was hot getting ready for the run, so I made some "beat the heat" decisions just before heading out the door.  The first thing I did was soak my hair in ice cold water.  Not sure if it did anything, but it felt awesome!  The second thing I did was take the shirt off and run in just my spor...

I'm still in shock.  How in the world can I have an 8 year old son?  I know, it IS possible for me to have a high schooler - thank goodness I don't.  Tucker is my 1st child and my only boy. I love this boy more than words can describe. We spent an awesome day at Peacock Beach with great friends.  Good thing because it hit 100 degrees (at least) in the Richmond/Gardiner area.  When we got home (after a quick trip to our CSA pick up), I fired up the grill and made pizzas on the grill (because it was too hot inside to turn on the oven) and prepped for a birthday sleepover.  They had a blast running through the sprinkler and eating ice cream cake.  What a day for that!!! This is NOT from today!  We had a party for him last weekend at the cottage!   As I write this post, the boys are in the living room unwinding (I hope) by watching a movie.  Izzy even insisted that I bring her mattress in there and put it on the floor so she could...

It's taken me a few days to get to writing this, but it's summer and it's gorgeous out there!  That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it. Saturday was the OHD 5k and I did not run for a couple of reasons: - I think I should concentrate on my marathon training right now - weekend 5k's really mess with my long run schedule.  - It was my turn at kid duty.  Sometimes we ask the in-laws to take the kids, but we don't want to do it all of the time because really NEED them to take them for the Beach 2 Beacon 10K coming up in a couple of weeks and as I said before, Ward had a minor surgery the day before the race last year so he had to sit it out.   Ward and I have run the OHD 5K for a few years now.  My brother-in-law and sister-in-law actually ran the race when it was a 4-miler on the rail trail.  Now it's a 5K and the course has changed a few times.  It's still hilly, there's really no avoiding that unless they choose to reverse the run.  Ma...

I tried like hell to download the 2 videos of the Old Hallowell Day Fun Run last night.  Something is totally up with blogger and the download because I even left my laptop open to download all night while I slept and when I got up this morning the 30 second video wasn't downloaded.  Grrr. So I guess you get to enjoy the videos per plan B - You Tube! Video 1 - Fun Run Start Video 2 - Fun Run Finish

Tucker is in training to run his 1st 5k.  This is so exciting!  He and I will be running the Monmouth AppleFest 5K at the end of September.  He's been doing a lot of bike riding and some easy runs with me.  I don't want to push him too hard, but I want him to be ready for the 5k as well.   On Saturday, he ran the Kids Fun Run after the Old Hallowell Day 5k. Warming up for the fun run..... Tucker and his "best buddy" Jackson What a smile! I am one proud momma!   Also - for more pictures of the fun run, go here .  

This morning I went out for a ride along the hills of Richmond and Gardiner.  It was perfect conditions.  I got in 16.87 miles in 1:08:44.  Not bad.  I think.  I wish I had some pictures to share, but I totally forgot to stop and take some.  Next time, right?  I did get to see some cows, turkeys, blue heron, ducks, 1 eagle, and geese. Anyway, this was a fantastic follow up from yesterday's track workout.  I took Tucker to the track yesterday afternoon before we picked Izzy up from Miss Karen's.  Tucker, who is in training for his 1st 5k in September, ran the 1st two laps with me and then seemed more amused by the long jump pit and the bleachers. I did manage to get in 4 - 400's at 7:30 pace and 4- 200's at 7:15 pace - with easy laps between.  It's not much of a speed workout, but it's a start.  I need to do a little speed work in preparation for the B2B if I want to PR! Tomorrow is the Old Hallowell Day 5K.  I wish I was ...

I'm back!  The Boudreau family took a long weekend and went to Pennsylvania for a mini vacation to visit some friends and family.  We stayed at my Aunt Vic and Uncle Snooze's house in Lykens, Pennsylvania.  I actually grew up in a town very close to where they live so our annual trips are like going home for me.  Lykens is located in a valley along the Appalachian Mountains with tons of farm land and quite a few Amish.  It's a very pretty area.  We left Thursday afternoon and got back last night at 10.  It was rough getting up this morning for summer school, but knowing I was done teaching at 11:15 am, I knew I could handle it.  A trip to Starbucks really helped me out as well! This is the lane leading to my aunt & uncle's farm My scheduled long run for the past weekend was 8 miles.  Since I was was in Pennsylvania, I couldn't do the long run with the girls, which made me sad.  On the other hand, I was excited to run in a...

Sorry it's taken me so long to write this.  I started teaching summer school this week and it's been a bit crazy getting the summer program together. On Monday, we ran the LL Bean 4th of July 10K.  When I say we, I mean a whole big group of us!  The guys pushed the daughters in the joggers, while Jill, Jess, Stacy and I ran the race.  We also met up with some other great running friends: Dan and his daughters, Mark and Christine, Kari, and Karen.  I got to meet Carrie .  Way to go on your race, Carrie!  And I got to see Sarah.  Sarah is healing from surgery right now, but she and her cute family came to cheer on her friends!  What a trooper! As many of you know, Freeport is home to Joan Samuelson - just one of the greatest runners of all time! Naturally, she runs this race.  I normally don't get to see during the race but I did catch a glimpse of her during her warm up.  Here's a picture of her at about mile 1. She is a...

Yesterday was a perfect day at the cottage.   On the beach.... And in the water.... Jumping off the dock... And just hanging out...