Coach Jen B

Happy Friday!  This week has been quite a nice week off from school.  I haven't done a single thing for school and will definitely regret this decision come Sunday night, but that's okay with me.   We all need a week to recharge. The kids and I have had a nice laid back week and that is exactly how I like it.  I want them to be well rested as well. Smoothies!  I decided at the beginning of February I needed to go back to my morning smoothies.  During the summer and fall, I was very good about them but then the cold weather returned to Maine and my desire to drink something cold in the mornings disappeared.  I noticed a huge lack of energy and some extra poundage coming on - perhaps too much pizza, chips and beer.  Then I remembered how many extra yummy, good for you ingredients go into my smoothies and I knew what I was going to do!  I keep my smoothies simple - I usually have coconut/almond milk (or cashew if my grocery store has it), a green, some fruit, sou

Good morning!   It's sunny and beautiful outside.  I even checked the hourly forecast for today and it is supposed to warm up today, so I may get outside for a run!  I am kind of excited by this.  Sunny skies, fresh air.  All of this sounds great, minus the snow. Yes.  We have another storm coming today.   I've lost track of the storms and snowfall.  All I know is it's cold and I cannot wait to run without all of the layers.   Although, I haven't really been running with lots of layers lately, because most of my running has been taking place on the treadmill at my gym.   Some people call it the dreadmill.  Honestly, I used to think it was horrible too.  But I've gotten quite used to it. I was just looking over my marathon training.  The long runs are getting longer and my weekly mileage is stacking up quite nicely.   January: 128 miles   February to date: 100.5 miles  My longest run was 16 miles a couple of weeks ago with Carrie.  I'm incorporati

During the winter months, when I'm usually wearing lots of layers, long tights, high socks, I don't pay a lot of attention to shaving.  I actually get quite lazy about it.  Sorry, Ward.  But this year, I actually had to make an honest effort to shave those legs of mine at least on Sunday nights because of indoor track on Monday.  I definitely didn't want to show off the hairy legs to my athletes. The weather in Maine, for the past couple of weeks has been rather cold and brutal as well.  Tons of snow.  Sub zero temps and then when the temperature did get about zero - the windchill was below zero.  Brrr...  which means I'm now running on the treadmill a lot more.  Since I do not have my own treadmill, I use one at the gym or school's fitness center.  Which then means - if they look, people will see my hairy legs!  So now that shaving routine has returned.     My focus with Running With The Girls is fitness, family, and healthy eating.  But once in a

Early on in this marathon training cycle I committed myself to incorporating more yoga into my daily life to help stretch my sore, tired marathon muscles and to add more strength into my daily routine.  When Prana and FitApproach launched their #TakeTheLeapChallenge, I was definitely up for joining in on the fun.   #TakeTheLeapChallenge is a 30 day challenge encouraging participants to do at least 5 minutes of yoga a day and share the pose of their choice on Instagram with #taketheleap #sweatpink #prana hashtags and tagging @prana and @fitapproach daily from 2/2 - 3/8, for a chance to win $500 for yourself and a friend at Prana.   Prior to this challenge and campaign, I never tried Prana apparel before.  Mostly because I don't see it a lot in the stores in my area.  As part of the campaign, I was a sent an outfit to wear.  Immediately, this outfit went straight to the top of my favorites rotation.  I chose something I could wear to work, hike in, or practice y

This weekend we braced for our second blizzard of the winter season.  After a long, slow flurry amounting in approximately 2 inches, the blizzard was cancelled and we had...wait for it.... sunshine! Ward was disappointed, but I was quite excited!  If all of that white stuff melted this week, I would be quite happy.  I know it won't.  I also realize I live in Maine and we have lots of time for a ton more snow.  I'm also convinced the kids will be playing in snowbanks while we spectate the Boston Marathon.  really, 82 days now.....  *&%# is getting real! Marathon training is in full swing right now and I'm not letting our weather get in my way.   I am stubborn like that.  However, I have taken quite a few of my runs to the treadmill lately.   We've had a long string of days with negative windchills, slick conditions, and a lack of shoulder because the snow is so high.  I have come to learn to love the treadmill.   Yesterday, Carrie

This time around, I have made it part of my plan to work on strength.  I tend to forget about the strength training component because I'm usually much more concerned with the mileage piece.  Which then leads to more injuries. The weather in Maine this winter has been absolutely crazy the last couple of weeks!  We've definitely been dumped on in terms of snow.  I am estimating we have received over 4 feet of snow since the end of January.   Due to the snow, I've been bringing my workouts inside a lot more lately and I especially do not feel like driving places when the roads are snow covered and slick!   sample of what the videos have to offer  One new piece of equipment I now have at my house is the ActivMotion Bar, thanks to an opportunity through FitApproach.  The ActivMotion bar is quite unique in it's construction.  It's a long bar filled with round weights that roll from side to side - which in turn engages your muscles by strengthening your core and

Well friends, last Sunday I ran a race.  With the 3+ feet of snow we've received in Maine in the week prior to the MidWinter Classic, having the race go on as planned seemed rather dim as the race directors were considering postponement/cancellation.  Which has happened before! But alas, the race went on!  Yay!  It is a favorite of mine.   Last year - 40+ degrees ..... this year 15 w/ real feel around 5? Same running partner (yay) and still rocking the ProCompression and Spandits!  As always, the girls and I planned a pre-race dinner, but Stacy wasn't running, Jill was sick; so it turned out to be my brother-in-law, husband, and Carrie and all of the kids (minus my sick niece).  I convinced Carrie that it should be a fun run and there would not be any stress of racing at all.  We didn't know what the road conditions were like in Cape Elizabeth and didn't know how cold it was really going to be.   decisions decisions decisions Given the forecast,

When I think about yoga, the first thought that comes to mind is strength . Yoga empowers me and makes me feel centered . That’s why I am SO excited to participate in prAna’s Take The Leap 30 days of Yoga Challenge with Sweat Pink . I plan to pigeon pose my way to a more fit and happier 2015! For me, the biggest challenge when it comes to yoga is taking the time . Taking the Leap with prAna and Sweat Pink is a great way for me to conquer this challenge. My favorite place to yoga is my living room because it is so convenient . Here’s a photo of me in my very best King Pigeon . Not only does it make me feel badass, it opens my hip flexors and feels so good! I tag Carrie at Maine Mom on the Run , Amy at Running Escapades , and Nancy at Living the Dream . I want these fabulous bloggers to share their very best yoga pose photos, this fun madlib and of course, I challenge them to join me on this fun 30 day yoga journey! Come on y’all, Take the Leap with me! J