Coach Jen B

This past weekend was my first big mileage weekend.  15 miles on Saturday and 8 miles on Sunday.  Challenging? Yes.  Impossible?  No way!    The plan says do it, so I did it.  Smiling the entire way.  Of course I have some tired legs.  But I've been treating them to some time propped up and wearing some of my favorite compression gear.  More on that later.   As I've said before, 1 day a week is dedicated to cycling.  I think this is going to be a leg saver.  Still a fantastic cardio workout and using some different leg muscles.  So far, I am really liking this addition to my training.   My last week in workouts:   Sunday:  12 miles. + plyos Monday:  19 miles on bike.   Tuesday:  5 miles.   Wednesday.  rest.  Thursday:  5k at Bond Brook (plus a short w/u and c/d) = 4 total.   Friday:  rest.   Saturday:  15 miles...

So, the LL Bean race didn't really work in the PR department.  BUT!  I have a new Bond Brook PR.  Oh yes.  Happy Dance!   see that?  31:58?  Oh yes. The last time I ran that race was in 2012 and my time was 32:16.    A little history - Ward always does well in this series.  If you place in the top 3, you win a prize.  I was never going to win any prize...so I always deferred to letting Ward run this race while I took race photos.  BUT!  This year, I decided to scrap that and run.  The entire series.  I already paid....so no backing out now!!!   And you see that PR above?  It was on a harder course.   So there!  AND, this was after spending 5 hours at a track meet earlier in the day.  But this time I was MUCH better. I delegated more.  I hydrated.  I only logged 5 miles on the fitbit during the meet.   And this was my first race in these new Starry N...

The LL Bean 10k is one of my most favorite 10ks.  It was actually my first 10k ever.  We were at a BBQ with friends and they were talking about it and how each runner gets a pair of New Balance shoes.  At first I was thinking "woah..... 6.2 miles?  that's SOOOO long!!!"  And then I was like...hmmm.. "free shoes, why not?" That was back in the day when the race was so small everyone got shoes.  Or maybe it was the first 500.  But it took longer than 5 minutes for the shoes spots to fill up....  because we definitely did not register for that race right away and we still got them! Now, LL Bean has changed it a little bit and if you register within a certain time frame, your name is put into a lottery.  And if you are one of the lucky ones, you get a pair of shoes. Guess what?  I won this year!  A new pair of New Balance 890v4.  And they are PURPLE!   #TEAMSPANDITS   I didn...

Happy Friday everyone!  Sharing my 5 for Friday today.  Hair Bands. As the school year was winding down, I was convinced I was going to cut my hair short for the summer.  I mean real short.  I've been looking for a change and my hair drives me crazy.  But then Active On-The-Go Hair Band Bracelets offered to send me some really cute and fantastic hair bands to try out and I'm happy I didn't cut my hair because I have a great new hair tie collection to hold my hair up in the constant summer time pony.  I chose the 26.2 style mostly because I thought they were appropriate for my summer of training for marathon #4.   Pros.   - Adorable - look great in your hair and on your wrist  - do not pull hair - stretchy - great tight hold in hair and pony tail doesn't fall out! - really affordable!  6 hair ties for only $7.99.   Cons.   - none.  nada.  nothing.     Find them on Amazo...

I have a surprise for you!  You CAN customize your compression!  With something you can find easily, at just about any pharmacy or anywhere ACE™ Brand products are sold.   ACE™ Brand  has created a new bandage called the  ACE™ Brand Elastic Bandage  that has a new and improved attachment system rather than the little metal clips that all snagged called the ACE Brand Clip.   ACE Brand Elastic Bandage with ACE Brand Clip benefits:  - easy to adjust  - prevents clothing snags  - provides customized compression - provides firm support and compression for sprains and strains - bandage retains elasticity after repeated  use and washings - great for injury prevention or injury care just push the little plastic clip up through the center and you have a clip that is going to hold!   You read that correctly....you CAN wash it!!!  That is crazy important with sweaty runners.  I know I...

Sadly, National Iced Tea Month is over.  BUT that doesn't mean you should stop drinking iced tea.  No way, no how!!!   Especially when there is a company called Teavana and they make the most delicious teas I've ever tasted before!  Oh my.  Seriously.  Their flavors have some serious punch and leave you knowing you are drinking a rather tasty beverage.   I was sent a rather gracious Iced Tea Collection - with four summer flavors (Dragon Fruit Devotion, Berry Kiwi Coloda, Pineapple Kona Pop, and Wild Orange Blossom) , rock sugar, and a tea infuser;  a Raspberry Limeade Tea ; and a container of Matcha Green Tea Powder to review. I immediately opened up the box and made some of the Raspberry Limeade Tea.  It had the perfect amount of sweetness and lime kick.  A perfect summer taste if you ask me.   If you could smell this...you would be amazed.  Oh so sweet.  So fresh. The ideal summer refreshmen...

Summer is just cruising by!  I start every summer thinking "how will I fill my time" and by now...I am believing "how in the world do I find time to work?"  Between gardening, chickens, track, marathon training, and my children - my day is full (and the house is an absolute mess).  FitFluential Push Up Challenge  The July challenge for FitFluential is 31 pushups/day.  I'm in.  I have completely slacked in the pushup department and my arms/core/back definitely look and feel like it.  Pushups are such a great workout and you don't need any equipment at all!   Are you in?   Friend Time As mentioned above, life is crazy and I've been super guilty of not taking time to sit back and relax with friends.  Yesterday that was changed.  Stacy and I got together at the local pond while our kids played in the pond.  It's been crazy humid and hot lately so this was absolutely perfect!  This needs to happen more!!!...