Coach Jen B

I ended 2012 on a high note.  I ran 1600 miles and had some pretty awesome PRs.  2013 started off rather strong.  I had quite a few great months in the beginning.   I even ran a 200+ mile month!   December is actually now 96!!!   I ran my 3rd marathon and had a pretty fantastic PR.   Izzy completed her first ever fun run!   And Tucker took off like a rocket!   I completed my first Dirty Girl with my bff.   And then I injured myself.  It was series of issues that probably all stemmed back to overtraining.  I hit my foot on a rock while trying stand up paddle boarding.  Because I was training for GCI, I continued to run on it.  Which lead to some major arch pain and then a morton's neuroma.  A trip to a sports trainer who hooked me up with a great analysis of my foot and made me a quick insole, several visits to the physical therapist and chiropractor and I fe...

Marathon #3 is done!   Yesterday was the Sugarloaf Marathon and it was an amazing experience.   If I could register for next year, I would have definitely registered by now.  It was that good! isn't this the best marathon sign ever? The Day Before On Saturday, Jill, Wade, Izzy, Tucker, and myself headed up to Sugarloaf for packet pickup and to meet Stacy and her family. The skies didn't look too happy for most of the ride up there and we hit quite a few downpours.  It wasn't supposed to rain at all!   I was quite happy with this year's shirt.  Don't you just love the sleeve? Stacy knew someone with a house on the lake 15 minutes from the starting line.  This place had tons of space - a loft on the third floor with 5 beds, the second floor had 4 bedrooms, and the 1st floor had a bedroom.  Needless to say, we had tons of space and everyone had place to sleep.  Awesome!  Considering our crew had ...

May is here and it's hard to believe that I only have 27 more days of school left this year!  Very exciting! What's even more exciting is that my mileage was an all time high for me for April!  I ended the month with 202 miles.  That's huge for me - considering my highest month for my fall marathon was 180 miles. In terms of marathon training, the Hanson Method has been one ass-kicking plan and quite intensive.  The speed workouts have been challenging but doable, and the weekly mileage is definitely higher than I've done before.  I have made some minor tweaks to the plan, but nothing super major.  Or at least I hope not!    Ward also used the Hanson Method to train for Boston.  After his race, he suggested to Wade and I that we add in a few higher mileage runs - like an 18 or 20.  So, a few weeks ago, Wade and I ran 20 miles together.  It was tough, but definitely a great boost in the mental capacity.  I...

As I was running yesterday with the birds chirping, smell of spring, blue skies, and perfect temperatures - I started thinking about Sugarloaf, which is a little over 5 weeks away.  My mind wandered to the what the weather will be like. Will it be like today?  Yes please! Will it be hot like last year?  Soaring into the high 80s.  Oh god no! Then it dawned on me.  Why was I even thinking about the weather?  It's a marathon.   I'm running it .     It's going to rain.   It's going to pour.   So there you have it.  You don't have to weather watch for Sugarloaf my dear fellow runners.  You will have a rainy day whether or not you are running the 15k or the full marathon - just dress for rain. 

This past week was week #5 of my marathon plan.  I've been using the Hansons Marathon Method, and I'm feeling great!  I am quite pleased that I'm following the plan and doing the speed workouts in the plan and I'm really taking it easy for my easy days.  I'm looking forward to the next 11 weeks of this plan and to see how I perform at Sugarloaf on May 19th.   Here's a quick look at my week in training: MONDAY 6 "easy" miles + 20 min of Best Body Bootcamp TUESDAY Scheduled rest day - so I took an hour to try out cathe's Cardio Leg Blast.  Wow!  This workout was tough and I was exhausted afterwards.  It truly gave me a great workout.  If you are looking for a fabulous workout that concentrates on your legs, this is the one for you.  I am quite partial to this one as I know adding more strength to my legs will only help me as a runner.   WEDNESDAY 5 miles of intervals on the treadmill at school t...

13 more weeks until Sugarloaf!  At times I feel like "bring it!" and other moments I'm thinking "oh crap, why am I doing another marathon?" So how is training going?  Well, I'm only 3 weeks into my Hanson plan and I'm feeling pretty good.  I was a bit nervous that I wasn't going to be able to handle this intense plan, but somehow I'm doing it (so far!).   This week has been a weird weather week - but then again, it's winter, in Maine, so all weeks are weird.  Last weekend we had more than 2 feet dumped on us, then we had a few days of 40F+ days, and then more snow yesterday and today.  I did get outside three times this week for some great running with Pepper and in my new Saucony Virratas.   Review coming soon - but I can tell you after 4 runs in them, they are feeling awesome! 6 miles on a glorious sunny, spring-like day in my new Virratas What was I nervous about with Hanson plan?  1.  Running 6 days a week.  I know, a lo...

Not me, Ward, Wade & Joe!  They have spent so many months training for this day and they did it! Thank goodness for this man.  Mark, a marathoner himself and an incredible friend, offered to be the guys support person.  Because the road does not get closed for the race, Mark was able to drive the course of the marathon today to provide the supports the guys needed along the way – water, Sportbeans, Shot bloks, taking articles of clothing, running with the guys and providing me with updates (via texts and phone calls) of their progress.  Isn’t he just awesome?  Today was the BIG day at the Loaf.  Too bad the weather wasn’t cooperating, it rained the entire time.  Yuck for the runners and yuck for the spectators.   Here’s the cheering squad.  We decided to spend our time at a market under the cover of their roof.   Around 10 am we decided to go to the side of the road and prepare for cheering.  Whe...