Coach Jen B

Day 2 of the Winter Blues Giveaway Week!  Today was a rather chilly day.  I was finally able to run in my newest thermal Spandits and I've got to say they are the absolute best.  Not only is the name of the print the best ever "Fowl Play", the soft fabric is incredibly comfortable and cozy to run in on a 10F day!   and here is a closer look at "Fowl Play"!  Remember, all thermal tights are 10% off for the month of January!  (tell them Jen sent you!)  Now, onto the giveaway part of  today's post!   I'm quite excited to be part of this campaign!  When Undiscovered Kitchen asked me to participate, I jumped for joy.  We are only a couple of weeks into the New Year...and if you have kick started your goals for 2015, there is no time like the present!  I'm part of the NEW YEAR NEW YOU! Ultimate Fitness Shopping Spree & Giveaway.  Seriously?  Who doesn't want to win $500 worth of new fit...

The germs took over my household the past two weeks.  Last week the awfulness took down Tucker and then myself.  Tucker went to school 1 day and I made it 2.   I kept watching Izzy all week, just waiting for it to take her down.  Her recital was this past weekend and I kept thinking "ohh noo..... she's going to get sick Saturday or Sunday morning".  To my surprise, it didn't hit her either of those days.   Instead, it hit her this morning.  I convinced my husband to stay home for a couple of hours this morning until I was through teaching my first two classes of the day (because I had prep the rest of the day today) and then I'd come home and stay with her.   I love 5 year old spelling...  With the germs and sickness, I haven't run since last Monday.  Fingers crossed that today will be the day I get some mileage in.  Honestly, I don't care how many miles, I just want to RUN!   Home early on a snowy day to cuddle with m...

It's taken me a long time to get to a place in my fitness life and training cycles to realize that recovery is just as important to running and strength training.  I define recovery as replenishing the body - whether it come in the form of rest/refueling/rehydrating/stretching.  It's all important and you really cannot disregard recovery at all. I was offered the opportunity to review the Teeter Hang Ups .  My kids love to call it the teeter totter, but it is definitely not that.  This is far cooler and has many more benefits than a teeter totter.  Plus you can hang out (upside down) on the Teeter alone and do not have to rely on anyone to be on the other side.   It's great for back pain, increasing blood flow in the legs.  Hello long run recovery! The Teeter Hang Ups is an inversion table and it's rather simple to put together and to use.  I put the Teeter together by myself - and I'm not very good at putting things together....

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 ...

Welcome to 2015!   I ended 2014 on a happy note....75 more miles than my previous high mileage of 1600!   that is a 6.15.  the 6 is a little faded on the light Spandits pants! I'm not a resolution kind of person.  I've posted before that I believe in setting goals for myself and a new year is a great timeframe in which to set specific goals.   My 2015 Goals are:  Fitness.... - Continue with PiYo and other strength training  - Stay injury free (oh please!!!)   - Drop a couple more pounds  - PR in the 10 mile (only a month from today!) at MidWinter Classic.   - Complete Maine Coast Marathon --- which will be marathon #4.   - Complete either half marathon or marathon at the Inaugural Black Bear Marathon in June - Depending on how I feel - complete De Mar Marathon in September.   This is a soft goal.  I'd rather not hurt myself.   looking at this photo...maybe a goal shoul...

I finally did it and I'm nervous as heck.  Every little ache or pain is going to send me into a tizzy.  And believe me, that's easy.  I finally registered for my spring marathon - Maine Coast Marathon .  I talked about it, created my plan, but didn't truly commit until last week when I finally officially registered.     I will not be doing the 39.3 Challenge.  While it sounds enticing, to me it sounds like paying for another injury.  I'd like to get through this marathon without injury as I have some pretty big plans for the rest of 2015.   Last Sunday was the official kick off for training - with a 12 miler with Carrie, my fellow Mainer Team Spandits training partner.  We even did something that doesn't happen a lot in December - we ran on the Kennebec River Rail Trail!  Usually by now I've sworn off the rail trail as it's not maintained very well during the winter and it is plowed, then the melting/reicing actio...

It would be an understatement to say we are a busy family.  This year seems to be a new level of crazy - basketball for both children, dance for Izzy, marathon training, track practices, and many more work commitments. I am always thankful for a healthy snack I can toss in my bag for those times we are constantly on the go, so I know I have something healthy for myself and the kids. What's equally nice is having an assortment of snacks the kids can grab from on the way out of the door in the morning for their snacks at school!   Special K has recently released a new line of snack bars -  Special K Chewy Snack Bars - made in four delicious flavors: Berry Medley, Blueberry Bliss, Salted Caramel Chocolate, and Salted Pretzel Chocolate.  Each snack bar only contains 100 calories and each box of 6 bars costs $2.69.    In our house, the Salted Pretzel Chocolate was the first to disappear.  Next in line was the Salted Caram...