Coach Jen B

Happy Monday Morning!  I hope you had a great weekend!   As you know, I've been training for the Maine Coast Marathon on May 10th.  My training has been going well and last weekend, I ran my first 20 miler of this cycle with my marathon training pal - Carrie .   Of course we look awesome in our Spandits !   See those snow flakes?  Ugh.  Please stop snow.  I'm done with you.   Ignore the backward 20.... apparently, I have a hard time functioning after a 20 mile run!  In my defense, it was cold and for the last 10 miles, snow pellets were hitting me in the eyes.  I am pretty sure Carrie got tired of listening to me whine about the snow in the eyes.  Thank goodness she's a great friend!   The next morning it was even colder.... hello!  Where is spring!?  I would like for it to come to Maine and melt all of this snow!  I'm not asking for much.  Really.  I'm not!   So, I hit the ...

There is no question, I love to eat.  I love food.   I also have a hard time saying no to my favorites like pizza and chips.  When I came across the opportunity to try MealEnders lozenges, I had to give them a try.  Being a skeptic, I wasn't so sure anything could curb my overeating. When they first came, my first thoughts were "ohhh... a hard candy, I love candy!"   Mealenders is a lozenge that has two layers.  The outer layer is sweet like candy.  It's softer and melts in your mouth.  The inner layer is harder.  It still has a sweetish taste, but also has a tingling after-taste, which is supposed to be the part that tells your brain that meal is over.   Honestly, of me, Mealenders worked.  At night, when I want to go an binge on that bag of chips, I would grab some Mealenders and that craving would disappear.  I actually keep a handful of them in my school bag to suck on when I'm feeling snacky hu...

Happy First Day of Spring!  Now....if the warmer temps would just join us...and that snow would melt, all would be right with the world.   someday I'll get into Boston, but until then, I will do crazy ass photo contests on instagram trying to win entries!   But in the mean time,  I'll just going to keep putting on the layers while my marathon training miles pile up!  At least I have great winter gear, right?   While I'm speaking about marathon training, let's talk about something new I've been trying..... Salt Sticks .    During my past 3 marathons and throughout the training, I've gotten muscle cramps.  A lot of them.  One thing I read is that it may be due to low sodium levels.  I started increasing my electrolytes...and those cramps disappeared.  Awesome!   I also noticed that after long runs, I would get this salty paste on my face.  Did you know that salt on the face is a symptom o...

The countdown is on.....  53 days until Maine Coast Marathon.  Next weekend, Carrie and I have our first 20 miler.  No big deal, right?  We've been here before.  Many times.  I've even done two 18 milers over the past couple of weeks.... yet, 20 miles just seem so much longer.   This winter has been the worst winter yet in terms of training outdoors.  February was the coldest month on record and the snowiest.  Needless to say, I've been on the treadmill a lot lately.  Some people would want to poke their eye out  thinking about running on the treadmill, but I seriously have fallen in love with it.  This training cycle has been my strongest yet.  Thank goodness!   After all of these training miles, recovery is just as important.   Coming home after a long run, refueling and rehydrating are first.  Next, a nice hot shower.  Then I put on cozy clothing.  As I said, Februar...

I'm closing in on the big day - Marathon #4 - Maine Coast Marathon .  9 MORE WEEKS! Saturday was my first 18 miler.  It was a solo long run as my training BRF had to work.  Then I came to find out the husband was leaving for a 24 hour skiing - fundraiser event; which closed my window for running to "be done by 10am".   I looked at the hourly forecast on my phone and when I saw 1F at 7AM, I knew that my 18 miler was going to be at KVHC on the treadmill.  Over the last few years, I have come to really appreciate the comforts of doing long runs on the treadmill.   1.  I can wear shorts and a tank and sweat when it's 1F outside.   2.  I have two cup holder areas to put all of my training essentials - Honey Stinger, Nuun, Water, gum, inhaler, and epi-pen (and don't have to carry it!!!).   3.  I can watch movies on my phone while running.   4.  I can take advantage of the treadmill and rea...

Happy Sunny Sunday everyone!  There are definitely signs of spring on the way today and this makes me happier than you can even imagine.  I'm looking forward to the warmer temperatures, seeing the snow melt away, and soon seeing new signs of life in my garden. Today is International Women's Day - a day to bring awareness to all of us to celebrate the achievements of women while calling for greater equality.   Check out this video by GRACED BY GRIT - celebrating all woman athletes - pushing themselves and sweating.   What is my #SweatYourStory?  Just in case you haven't figured it out, I love to sweat.   There is nothing like finishing a run and being covered in sweat.  It really is a sign that I worked hard and I love it.   Running has become my outlet for the stressors in my life.   I cannot imagine my life without running.   If I'm having a hard time problem solving something, a couple of miles usually helps...

With two parents who are runners and are super picky about what we put on our feet, you better believe we are pickier when it comes to what we put on our kids' growing feet.  Which makes our kids quite lucky.   I think so, anyway.   I have two mini-me runners on my hands and I need them to have great shoes on their feet. Which brings me to the Reebok Zig Big N Fast EX .   As a parent, I really like the ZigTech features, which does provide energy the entire length of the shoe - from heal to toe, as well as: * SUPERSIZED ZIGTECH MIDSOLE - engineered for maximum cushioning in the heel and as well as providing responsive acceleration in the forefoot * TPU PROPULSION PLATE - which channels energy at impact for lightweight, accelerated mid foot transition * NANOBREEZE - a lightweight mesh upper which provides superior breathability and comfort Given the support, protection and cushioning in the design of the newest Reebok Zig Big N Fast EX , I know I fe...

You know I'm a shoe addict.  My husband has another word for this, but this is a family  blog and I don't like to use inappropriate language on here.... so we'll leave it at addict.   When I see the opportunity to win a YEAR'S WORTH OF FREE SHOES, I get super excited!   No one can ever have too many shoes - especially when they look as cool as this:   If you go to Main Line Men's Wear and enter for your chance to win, you are entering for a chance to win a pair of Adidas Original Trainers per month for a year.  12 pairs of Adidas!   Tell me, what colors would you choose?  I'd probably start with classic black and white first because they ooze cool.  From there, I just don't know!  Too many great colors/choices to choose from!

In February, I kicked off a Smoothie A Day routine.   My smoothies usually consist of a liquid (like almond, coconut or cashew milk), a green (like kale or spinach), a fruit (strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, bananas, etc), and a source of protein (protein powder or greek yogurt).  I had no idea that Hemp Hearts were a great source of protein until I had the opportunity to review a sample of Manitoba Harvest's Hemp Hearts .   Did you know that they have 10g of protein/30 g serving?  I was shocked!  After I read about their protein content, I had to experiment with them in my morning smoothie.....  and guess what?  SUCCESS!  So much success, I wanted to eat more Hemp Hearts and through together a salad for lunch and tossed the remainder of the sample onto my kale and tahini salad.  Again, SUCCESS!   I've been so sad about not having Hemp Hearts, and haven't been able to find it sold locally. ...