Coach Jen B

Happy Snow Day from Maine!   The Weather!   It's been a crazy winter so far...with far below average snowfall and incredibly warmer temps.  I'm not complaining at all.  Winter is my least favorite season.  But I DO love snow days!  We started out this week with 50 days.  Which made for great running in shorts weather...and a chance for me to run outside in my *custom* Spandits shorts with ProCompression Marathon socks.  I'm addicted to this look.... fun Spandits prints and knee high ProCompression socks... LOVE!   New Spandits!  The later in the week, my newest *custom* Spandits arrived.    That is some serious fun!  I love how the ladies at Spandits added black to their spandex choices - black with a fun print really spices things up.  Have I told you I love Spandits?  Perhaps once or twice.   Tasc Performance Ambassador I recently was selected to be a Tasc Pe...

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 stre...

Disclaimer: This post is sponsored by FitFluential on behalf of ASICS. I was provided a product in exchange for a review but as always, all opinions are my own. As part of my spring marathon training, I have committed to more strength training.  I've had far too many injuries in the past couple of years due to lack of strength training.  I would rather not repeat those silly mistakes.   I've tried strength training before.  Weights at the gym, PiYo, T25, various pinterest workouts.  All have been fantastic.  But I was lacking one very important piece of equipment - shoes.  My cushy running shoes are not appropriate for mountain climbers, lunges, planks.  They just slip around and make the workout awkward.  I needed something for my feet, that would keep my feet from slipping.  Something that would hug my awful bunions and give my feet the freedom they need in uppers.   Now, I must ...

How's the week going for you so far?  We're closing in on Christmas and things couldn't be any crazier!  I don't know how people with more than 2 children handle things, because I'm barely staying afloat right now.  I've feeling incredibly overwhelmed with the list of things that need to get done and our commitments.  I keep reminding myself....just 2 more days of work and we're home-free.  I think I can.  I think I can.   if I can do this in the wet snow, on a rock wall - I can survive the rest of the week! Today, I had a little bit of a break because about 10am, my classroom phone rang...and it was the middle school nurse.  I had a very sick son sitting in her office.  Sadly, I was in the middle of a class.  However, as luck has it, my assistant principal was walking past my room at that exact time.  She said she would take care of me and notified the office so they could find coverage for me.  I am incredi...

Happy Veteran's Day everyone!  A day to honor all veterans across the nation and thank them for our freedom.  With both of my parents being veterans, it's definitely a day I hold dearly.   With the day off from school, the kids and I had a great day at home - the kids playing and being kids.  I caught up on things around the house. Then I packed up the kids and brought them to the high school.  They played basketball and ran around while I got in 6 miles on the track.   It was a gorgeous fall day and I was happy to see the kids playing outside while I was able to do something that I love to do.   Then I came home and did something I don't love doing.  I am trying to love it.  Strength and core work.   Sigh.   Maybe someday.  I'm hoping my newest book will help me love it.  I used my Gymboss to help with the intervals and to keep me honest.  Have you ever tried one of those?   A very impo...

Hooray for summer!  Although the official 1st day of summer doesn't arrive until next week, the temperatures are up there and school is just about over!   More than ever I want to be outside working out.   Running.  Biking.  Strength Training.  Stretching.  Resting.   In honor of June 21st - I created my  21 Workout .     One of my main goals is to strengthen my legs and core.  And I don't have to be inside for this.  I can be outside - just about anywhere - doing this.  What's even better is I have a rock wall that is just about the height of a box.  So I have an outdoor box jumping station too.   Do you bring your workouts outside more often as the weather improves?  

I am obsessed with running shoes.  Hmmm...shocker.  I know.  It's really the first thing I notice about runners.  Their shoes.  Next....since they are attached to the shoes....legs.  Specifically the muscles.   Like RunEmz's legs.  Awesome.  If you don't follow this rockstar on instagram , you are missing out.   (I want her abs too by the way) I've also been quite inspired and impressed with Jody , who at the age of 56, is a freaking power house and her legs look amazing.  I've been slow to come around to this, but I'm getting there.  I want powerful looking legs.   I want more definition.  So..... I'm going to do something about it.  I AM doing something about it.   not really revealing of my progress.....next time I'll wear shorts! I started focusing more, consistently, about 2 weeks.  Doing lunges and squats, as I have been doing, on top of leg curls and leg presses at the gym. ...

The other day I was asked what my spring races were.  Hmmm..  I paused.  For a long time.  I don't know.  What DO I want to do?   I know for sure there will not be any full marathons in my schedule.  I really do not have any interest in training for a marathon at this time.  So, what do I want to do?   All I know for sure is that I'm going to be doing the MidWinter Classic 10 miler in February.  But, that's not spring.   There are a lot of races I'd love to do, I just haven't committed to them yet.  Maybe I'll focus on half marathons.  There's one in York I'd like to try, then there's my favorite KRRT 1/2 which I didn't do last year - so I have to do it this year!  I'd also love to check a triathlon off my list.  Do I do it this spring or wait until August?  Decisions, decisions! Then there is the Sugarloaf 15k.  I did the full last year and loved it.  I've never don...