Coach Jen B

Breathe Easy. It's really that Easy.

2019-04-22T17:53:00.000-04:00

Disclaimer: I have partnered with Breathe Easy Maine. All opinions expressed in my post are my own.

Several years ago, well, 12 years, 6 months and 8 days ago, my life changed forever and left a gaping whole in my heart. My mom died from small cell lung cancer. The type of cancer one gets from years of smoking and damaging their body. As a child, I feared that day would come. I hated thinking about it... losing my mom to smoking. I would push those thoughts down way deep with hopes that my greatest fears would never come true.

Only 3 months before my mom died.

Then it came, September 15th. My dad called me at work to let me know that they had been to a doctor and that the pneumonia the doctors thought she had was actually lung cancer. The doctor had given her three to six months to live. In actuality, she died less than a month after diagnosis.

My mom and dad welcoming the only grandchild she would meet.

Smoking tore apart my family. It stole my mom, my son's grandmother, the grandmother my daughter would never meet, my husband's mother-in-law. It stole my dad's best friend, the woman he was supposed to spend the rest of his life with. It shredded my relationship with my sister.

Those she left behind my sister, dad, and myself.

As you can tell, I'm still rather bitter about what smoking did to my family... and rightfully so. What's even worse is that it continues to tear apart families. It continues to hurt people and their loved ones over and over again. Smoking even impacts your pets. They love their owners unconditionally, and in return, when you smoke in the home, their lungs are exposed to the harmful chemicals and impacts of secondhand smoke.

Secondhand smoke impacts more than you know. Kids are exposed to secondhand smoke in their homes and cars. It makes me angry to see children in cars with adults who are smoking. This is illegal in the State of Maine. Yet it is challenging to enforce. The best way to enforce this law is for the adults in charge to make the vow to have their cars and homes smoke-free zones. If the adults must smoke, I completely understand addiction, then please have the impacts of the nicotine affect themselves and not their loved ones, children, and pets.

We have taken the pledge to have a smoke-free home. We actually made this pledge years ago. Our entire property is considered a smoke-free zone. I do not want any kind of secondhand smoke impacting my kids, pets, or family. A great way to show your commitment to a smoke-free home that is to take the Breathe Easy Maine Smoke-Free Homes Pledge.

Above I spoke about my mom smoking for all those years. I love my mom very much. I know she didn't mean to do any harm to me as a child. However, I strongly feel that her smoking had a lot to do with my asthma. It has taken me many years to learn how to manage it, but I have. Asthma doesn't go away. It sticks around with you forever. It can improve, but it doesn't really go away. Asthma can definitely get worse and it can cause death. I don't think people who smoke are really intending for the people around them taking in their secondhand smoke to die, but it is a definite possibility.

So, please, if you smoke, or know of someone who does smoke, please take the pledge
to make your home a smoke-free zone and encourage others to do the same. Think
about your loved ones.

It's a Wonderful Time of the Year

2018-11-06T21:40:00.000-05:00

I received the following products through my affiliation with prAna. I was not required to post a positive review. As always all opinions expressed on my blog are 100% my own.

Another summer gone and the start of year 18 in teaching. As I grow older, I find I am having a hard time finding what is professional attire for school without making me feel frumpy. I'm no longer a "spring chicken" but I'm definitely not near retirement either. I'm somewhere in between.

What I wear is important to me because I need to feel confident and comfortable in what I choose to wear. Knowing that the clothing I choose to wear is made from sustainable materials is most definitely a confidence booster. If I feel good in what I wear, I am definitely feel like I look good.

I think one of the things people think about hemp clothing is that it's rough. That is far from the truth. My prAna clothing that is made from hemp are some of the most soft and comfortable pieces of clothing anyone can imagine. Not only are these pieces soft and comfortable, they look amazing. They are versatile and I feel like I can wear them in just about any season. Another benefit of hemp is that it feels cool against your skin. I do not enjoy clothing that makes me sweat. No way. No how. I want clothing that makes me feel comfortable and not a hot sweaty mess.

I do realize that I am a teacher, and maybe, perhaps I'm in the wrong profession. However, I am a germaphobe. I sanitize things all of the time. I am definitely drawn to antimicrobial products. I was shocked to learn that hemp is naturally antimicrobial and it actually kills bacteria. That's pretty amazing to think that perhaps I am cleaner after wearing my prAna hemp dress or top!

Did you know that when you wear clothing made from hemp, you are helping the environment? Hemp has a short life cycle and the entire plant is used in some form or another. If you want in on the prAna action or to check out the other amazing products prAna has, please use my code PHJB18.

Yours in running - Jen

(re) Learning How to Manage My Anxiety

2018-08-20T17:25:00.000-04:00

I received the following products through my affiliation with Quick Silver Scientific. I was not required to post a positive review. As always all opinions expressed on my blog are 100% my own.

It's no secret. Anxiety consumes me. At times I'm pretty good at putting on the mask to fool everyone into thinking that I'm doing well, but at the same time, I'm having internal meltdowns.

Running saved me. And running was enough for a long time. Then some other issues came along in my life and running wasn't enough. I wanted to find some kind of supplement that could hopefully help ease my anxiety. I came across an opportunity to try out Quick Silver Scientific and I jumped on it.

There were a variety of packages to choose from, and all felt appropriate for my life, but the one that I felt I needed the most was the stress management/relaxation package.

This package contained:

* Liposomal Ultra-Vitamin

* H2 Elite

* Colorado Hemp Oil

* Quintonic Isotonic

I felt it would be best to share my experience in trying out the Quick Silver Scientific products if I could demonstrate the way I felt on a scale of 1-10. 1 being an all time low (crazy anxious) and 10 being feeling great (with no anxious feelings) and I felt like a 2 week trial would be ample to see how I liked the products I was sent.

Day 1

Feeling like a 3. I felt like my life was starting to get a bit crazy. It seemed as though everything at school was piling higher and higher - creating exams, keys, lesson planning, planning for next year and then track season was starting! Oh jeez! Everything is incredibly overwhelming.

Day 4

I was feeling a bit more like a 5. A little more balanced. Not quite to what I would call "normal" but getting there. I was feeling like I was able to manage life a little better.

Day 7

Half way there! I felt like a 7. I was getting a ton of work done and feeling quite productive and a lot more calm.

Day 10

I didn't notice a lot of difference from day 7. Still at a level 7. Feeling like I could continue at this level as long as I kept running. I was feeling like I could manage life and get through the demands of the day without having a meltdown.

Day 14

The end of the 2 week trial. I felt like an 8. A far cry from the beginning at a 3. Not 100%, but definitely a huge improvement from when I started the trial. I can definitely get through life at an 8. I would like it higher. Wouldn't we all?! But an 8 is manageable. My anxiety wasn't causing me to get stuck on projects I needed to get done. I was able to concentrate throughout the day and into the night when my kids needed me to be "on".

Anxiety will always be part of my life. A supplement, counseling, exercise or medication will not "cure" me. Making sure I eat healthy, get plenty of rest and take care of me are the most important pieces in learning how to manage anxiety. It's about learning how to manage the anxiety and not let anxiety manage me. For a little while there, I let anxiety manage me and that was not okay.

Here's a quick run down on the products I tried.

The Liposomal Ultra-Vitamin is a liquid concentrate with a powerful pack of vitamins. I regularly take vitamins and felt like the Liposomal Ultra-Vitamin is among the top runners of my vitamin supplements I will choose in the future, when it's gone.

The H2 Elite is actually a pill that you put into water and in less than 2 minutes, it's dissolved. I think this video does a much better job at describing what it does for you.

The Colorado Hemp Oil had me intrigued. I've tried hemp protein powders and wear clothing made from hemp, so why not try a supplement made from hemp? I've read quite a bit about the benefits of hemp oils helping in relieving anxiety. Watch this video for a better description of what Colorado Hemp Oil is all about!

The final piece to the package is Quinton Isotonic, with small glass vials filled with sea water electrolytes. I was intrigued by those little vials. It took me a little bit to figure out how to open them. Snap one side of the vial and put it directly over your glass. With the already snapped side on the bottom, snap the top part of the vial. And there you go! The vial empties into your glass. The benefits:

* gently detoxifies the body

* restores optimal mineral and trace element levels

* supports sleep and relaxation

* supports normal digestion

* keeps immune system alert

* balances cellular nutrition

If you use the code JB5, you will receive 5% off your order. You can use this code as much as you want and share it with family and friends who you think would benefit from what Quick Silver Scientific has to offer.

And remember, if you suffer from anxiety, don't let is manage you! Learn to manage it.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

July Recap

2018-07-31T20:30:00.002-04:00

Every year we get to July 31st and I sit here and wonder where the hell did summer go? In less than 2 weeks preseason begins for fall sports. For my family that means double sessions of soccer for Tucker and 1 session for me with coaching cross country.

This month I only raced 1 time. I had signed up for the Bradbury Series in April. It's been on my bucket list for a long time because after you complete all three races (And I will complete them. Even if I have to crawl to complete them) you get a Badass Hoodie. It's seriously all about the hoodie.

Well, the people behind the race are freaking awesome too. And I did love racing on the trails for the snowshoe series, so of course I would love racing on the trails without snow.

I didn't have anything to base my performance on which means automatic PR. Right? The first race was a 6 mile trail race at Bradbury State Park. It's called the Bradbury Scuffle. I love the names!
I finished in 58:52. Not a bad time at all for me. I'll take it. The next one is in 2 weeks and we apparently run up the mountain 2x. If I tackled Mount Washington, I can tackle this one.

In addition to running Bradbury, I've been amping my training up quite a bit for the upcoming ultra in September. Running when it's toasty and when it's super humid has had it's challenges. BUT I'll take it over snow and ice any day of the week.

I am seriously loving that Izzy is wanting to ride her bike with me while I run. Does anyone else have their kids ride their bikes while they run? I tried it a few years back and she tried taking me out several times on a run so we took a bit of a break. Now that she's 9, I think she's much better on the bike. And she's learning to speak louder so I can actually hear her... so there's that.

lots of running and lots of ice cream breaks too,
because we're earning them!

I'm also super happy with my mileage this month. For the first time in a super long time, I'm back up to 160. Actually my mileage was 160.75.

How did your July go? What are you training for? Do you run while your kiddo bikes?

I've Got Goals!

2018-07-17T15:31:00.003-04:00

I've been super quiet lately. For many reasons. Anxiety was getting the best of me. I needed to take care of me and adding anything else to my plate would definitely push me over the edge. After a lot of soul searching and a ton of support from my family, I feel like the anxiety piece is becoming better managed. (a future post on that)

I'm definitely going to take the plunge and run my first ultra. There's a 50k this fall that works perfectly with my schedule - meaning, I can do a bulk of the training this summer. It's the Firebird 50k. Check it out here!

I was waiting to make sure I had a few solid weeks of ultra training under my belt and a good feeling about them to make the announcement. So here it is. It's not going to be fast. It's going to take a long time. But it's only about getting it done and completing my first 50k!

This past weekend I had 10 and 12 mile runs back-to-back. I was a little nervous about them going into the weekend, but I was like oh heck no, I've got this!!!

And you know what? I did it! And my legs feel great! Could I really be back on my training track? I sure hope so!

And I know there will be much more of this in my future as the mileage keeps creeping up and up.

What goals do you have right now? I'd like to hear!!!

Mount Washington Road Race Recap 2018

2018-06-19T02:30:00.000-04:00

The third time is a charm. Right? Well. Sometimes.

On the way to Mount Washington. I was the crazy, chatty self that I am. And Ward was focused a quiet. I drive him absolutely crazy. And Tucker is sleeping in the back trying to block me out.

PR dinner right here!!!! Nothing says run fast like a huge burger with an onion ring and fries! I remember eating something similar just before I ran the MDI Marathon.

Parking lot yoga on a beautiful day. I wasn't the only one. But maybe I was the only one propping my phone against my water bottle to document it.

Leading up to the 2018 Mount Washington Road Race, I had severe doubts. I wasn't sure what to expect with this race. There are so many factors that go into this race. The training and time I put into the prep work, my fitness level, mental/stress levels, and the weather.

The first time I ran this race was in 2015. I had just run two marathons back-to-back, which were complete flops. Super rainy cold Boston Marathon and then crazy hot Maine Coast Marathon. I had done mostly endurance training with a few hills. My time was 1:59:39, 24 in my age group, 634 overall. I was pumped with this. Sub 2 hours was a huge goal and I did it!

The following year, I ran that rock pile again! My training was up to half marathon distance and a little more treadmill time. My time in 2016 was exactly 2:00, 39th in my division, and 635 overall.

selfies with Allyn last year.... definitely made the day better!

Both 2015 & 2016 weather conditions were excellent. Well. I mean, warm at the start and warm until I hit tree line and then much cooler as you neared the summit. I do remember 2016 not being awesome and feeling rather dehydrated at the top.

Going into this year's race, I wasn't sure what to expect. Sugarloaf 15k was not the race I wanted, but Pineland 25k a week later resulted in a 3.5 minute PR.

all smiles before the race!

I had worked my distance up to 16 miles for long runs with a lot of back-to-back workouts. I also really hit the treadmill incline hard. There were a ton of days when I would crank the incline to 12% and "run" for as long as I could, then increase the incline to 15% and power walk. I would go back and forth between those two inclines and then mix in 13%, 14% here and there. The week before MWRR, I actually decided to do 3 treadmill days in a row, mimicking that workout. Maybe that helped? I am not sure.

The weather looked like it would be hot at the base and then super windy at the summit. I was well aware of how cold one gets at the top after running 7.6 miles. I was also well aware of how my body reacted when I didn't hydrate as much in 2016. This year I brought my Orange Mud pack and forced myself to take sips of water often, stop at every single water stop, and fill up the water bottle at least one time on the way up. I also packed 2 packages of Honey Stingers. I would take one or two gummies out and suck on them slowly. I trick I picked up from Ward and Wade.

My race plan also included "walk early and often". Don't run as far as I could until I was absolutely exhausted and couldn't push myself anymore. I had made that mistake 2x before. This year I started walking before the race even hit the trees. I just cranked the music on my trusty little iPod Shuffle and pushed onward and upward, passing people and feeling rather confident.

Ohhhhhh..... I'm half way there, ooohhhhh, livin' on a prayer - I do LOVE Bon Jovi!

A friend asked me how much did I really run. I'm not really sure. I definitely didn't run 1/2 of the race. Perhaps closer to 1/3 of it? And when I walked, I hustled. I was an arm cranking, power walking fool busting out to my favorite tunes. And when I passed people walking, it made me feel better and better.

the dirt part did not feel as bad this year.... I actually seriously enjoyed this part!!!

Another plus? My Apple Watch battery died just moments before the race. I didn't want to use Strava on my phone because I knew it would drain the battery in such a low cell reception area and I wanted to take photos! Priorities people. So I relied on the mile markers and the time on my phone for each mile. I didn't even try to do stopwatch because I didn't want to be fumbling with that and messing it up. I just knew the race started at 9, so when I hit mile marker 1 and it was 9:12. I knew I was somewhere in that range. Could have been a high 12 or a low 12. But a good enough estimate.

wayyyyy down there is the parking lot

I think this helped me focus more on how I felt, the temperature, fueling, hydrating, and the terrain rather than focusing on my average pace. That mental piece really gets to me. A friend suggested a long time ago to ditch the watch when I race. She's a smart lady.

Another thing, I ran in the newest Altra Vanish. Super light weight. Almost no cushioning. And Ward did as well. Twinning with the husband. How cute!!!!

And look!!!! Snow. There were lots of this drift sections of snow. Crazy. And then it happened. Mile 7 came. I looked at my phone and was beyond pumped!!!

I hadn't lost THAT much time in walking those super steep parts. This smile says it all. I'm almost there and unless I fall of the mountain I'm going to PR baby!!!!

And then I saw my friend Allyn. And I started yelling for him. I knew he was going to the race, but was still super surprised to see him where I did. He captured this kick butt photo of me. Showing off my newest Spandits boardies and my Right, Left, Right, Repeat shirt I picked up to support my friend Sarah's Tri for A Cure fundraising because she's a freaking rockstar breast cancer survivor!

Then I saw Ward and shouted out something about an *&#&#$ huge PR and tried to sprint to the finish line, up that 22% incline. Okay. I walked. And I'm sure this photographers caught me. But I did run across the finish line and let the volunteers wrap me in the best purple MWRR blanket ever.

I knew I had pushed hard because it definitely took me a few minutes of standing in one spot to regain my breathing. I stood in one spot hoping Ward would just come to me because I didn't know which way to go to get to him. And sure enough, he did. We were both freezing by this point and set out to find our driver's car. Thankfully I had learned a few things about the driver down. Know what the car looks like! We thankfully found it quickly and they left the doors unlocked. We didn't know them too well so I wasn't sure if we just open it. But we did and found our warm stuff.

There was no way I was going to wait in that long ass line to get a Mount Washington Summit photo.... so we went to the side and held onto each other so the wind wouldn't toss us off the mountain for this cute one! Lots of layers here!!!! I went from Spandits Boardies to Spandits Icelandics (the fleece lined) and a down jacket covered by a wind breaker from LL Bean. But I still have on my Altra Vanish's! Love them.

We finally made our way back down the mountain, which to me is tougher than going up! So nerve-racking! The turkey dinner was delicious. And my son, Tucker, was my Maine Track Club volunteer. He was in charge of handing out the plates. I was a nervous mom at the top of the mountain hoping he would show up on time. And he did!!! Anyway, we sat down and spent a long time with this guy up here. Allyn. The nicest guy you'll ever meet. We are lucky to have Allyn in our lives. He is always so positive and happy and such an easy person to talk to. Thank you, Allyn!

I still had my PR smile going on. Oh wait! I never told you what my time was!!! My official time was 1:51:36. An 8 minute PR! Hell yes! 426 overall and 9th in my age group!

Perhaps a little teary after that huge PR!

And I was bummed I had gotten a super huge, will never fit me shirt. But that's okay. I don't like tech race shirts that much anyway. I was a fan of the previous cotton ones. But they always ran small. So I ordered an XL this time and I failed because the XL tech shirt is like a dress. Oh well. I bought the hat to make up for it. And it rocks. So there's that.

Getaway with prAna

2018-05-16T19:06:00.000-04:00

I received the tankini top and bottom through my affiliation with prAna. I was not required to post a positive review. As always all opinions expressed on my blog are 100% my own.

Sometimes you just need to getaway. Self care is a lovely thing. And it seriously doesn't take much. Being able to make the call that you need a break might be the hardest part. But after that, and you are where you need to be, the world seems like a much happier place.

To be honest, it doesn't take much to getaway. You don't need a fancy job with a lot of money and vacation time. All you need is a place to go. That's really it. Now, when you have that place to go in mind. What will you be wearing? I hope you say "something that makes me feel and look good". Because, let's be honest again. When you feel good and look good AND you are somewhere that makes you happy, all is right with the world. It's that simple!

This Mother's Day I didn't ask for any gifts. I seriously just wanted time with my family, on the beach on a sunny day. And my wish came true. This getaway was exactly what I needed and what my family needed. A perfect time to explore a family favorite. Time to watch the harbor and gray seals hanging out. Time to walk along the beach and to find cool treasures that may have washed up this winter. My happy place is Fort Popham.

I couldn't have asked for more. The day was perfect. And in the midst of the perfect family time, I tried out my newest prAna swimwear. The Merrow Tankini top and Ramba bottoms. Both pieces are from the newest prAna spring line. My debut wearing my new swimwear made me feel happy and confident. The design is absolutely gorgeous and simple. The product is sustainable, which is 100% awesome in my book. prAna did an amazing job with this line. I cannot wait for warmer weather more consistently because I'm going to live in this prAna suit all summer long! And the back to my new tankini???? Oh my word! It's gorgeous!

I think it's time to take care of yourself and plan some kind of getaway. Remember, it doesn't have to be expensive. It doesn't have to be exotic. You just need to find the place that makes you happy. Where would you go? And what/whom would you take? If you want to get something special and sustainable, check out prAna and pick up something special for you. Use the code TRRWS18 for 15% off.

Get Outside!

2018-04-22T20:37:00.002-04:00

I was sent coupons to sample noosa yoghurt and a La Sportiva Hail jacket as part of this campaign. I was not required to give a positive review. As always, all opinions expressed on my blog are 100% my own.

Personally, I think the best way to celebrate Earth Day is to get outside and show the Earth just how much you love it. Sounds kind of cheesy but really, it's super simple. Get outside and do something you love while taking in the natural beauty Earthy has to offer us.

Today was one of those days in Maine, when we were finally able to pop those windows open to air out the stale winter smells and gets some fresh air in our homes or to put the windows down in the car as you let your hair fly around and simply smile. It's been a long, hard winter and today was an amazing gift.

In our house, we strive to do our best and purchase items that are considered to be friendly to the earth. A recent discovery and new family favorite is noosa yoghurt. A fun fact about noosa yoghurt is that it is made in small batches on a family farm in Colorado with all natural whole milk from happy cows and fresh fruit purees using the juiciest and ripest fruits and a touch of wildflower honey. Another amazing fact is that there are no GMO's in noosa yoghurt! And the taste? It's out of this world amazing. Check out more information and stay in the loop with noosa here.

I'm also learning more and more about Bluesign approved fabrics and cottons and companies that use them. A new-to-me company is La Sportiva who is committed to providing the best technical products while protecting and preserving the places they love. I recently received the Hail jacket. It would have been amazing to have while I volunteered at the water stop at mile 14 on Monday at the Boston Marathon in the downpours, but sadly it arrived while we were out of town. But it's all good because it's still rather early in the season and I know I'll have a few rainy track meets where my new Hail Jacket will come in handy. It's super lightweight, waterproof and breathable. I see lots of rainy miles in my future with this amazing new jacket!

These are just a few of my newest favorite, Earth friendly products. How about you? What products do you love that are good for the Earth? And how did you celebrate Earth Day?

Run More, Worry Less

2018-04-08T13:05:00.001-04:00

I cannot remember if I have shared on here, ever, that I have anxiety. So much. It went undiagnosed for many years. I always knew something was off, but couldn't explain it. Then I remember having a conversation with my primary care a few years back. Okay, like, 15 years ago. About these feelings I was experiencing and she suggested that perhaps I had anxiety.

sometimes looking at the world through rose colored glasses helps lighten the anxious feelings

I went through a few years of counseling and took medication for a few years. I loved the counseling. Hated the medication. Having my own person to listen to me and let me reflect was one of the most positive experiences. Honestly, I'm not really sure why I stopped. I mean, I'm not "cured". I don't know if I stopped going or if I was discharged. The medication though. Ugh. I remember taking Paxil. While I feel it helped me cope, I did not like the way it made me feel. I didn't like the decreased sex drive.

I wish I could relax like this dog.

This was all before I started running. A LONG time ago! In the early years of marriage. When I started running, I only did it because I knew it was going to burn calories faster and I would lose that baby weight I put on while I was pregnant with Tucker. The plus was that running also helped easy my anxiety. Anxiety did not disappear. It just helped ease it. From time to time, anxiety does creep up and takes over. I'm not always able to tell that it's anxiety. I'll know that things are off. It usually takes a few days for me of trying to figure out what in the world is driving me so nuts and why I'm acting the way I am before I realize it.

This Momentum Bracelet speaks to me on so many levels.

But what I've realized is that I tend to build walls with relationships. I don't love who I am when I am anxious. And I'm super embarrassed in regards to how I act sometimes due to the anxiety. I know it's bad, but I have found that it's definitely easier for me to put up those walls. I'm torn about this. Am I protecting myself or the poor potential friend from hurt? It just works for me. That's what I do. I battle with myself on a regular basis. Should I allow myself to open up to friends more? Do I really want super close friends, again? I don't know. I miss the close relationships. But I don't miss the hurt. I just don't know.

What I do know is I am married to one of the least anxious people in the world. Somehow he gets me. But he doesn't always *get* anxiety. But that's okay. He has helped me push through many challenges in my life that I would never have attempted due to my anxious tendencies. Am I thankful for that? Absolutely. I don't want to not live avoiding experiences due to my anxiety. Which I would if it weren't for Ward.

Running definitely helps me my issues with anxiety. Somedays I just don't know what to do with myself, I feel out of sorts with no idea which way is what. Then I run. Then life seems much more manageable.

Living Mindfully

2018-02-20T18:23:00.000-05:00

I was sent a pair of Pillar Capris and the Korneli Tank as part of this campaign for prAna. I was not required to give a positive review. As always, all opinions expressed on my blog are 100% my own.

Life is too short to live in uncomfortable clothing. That annoying seam that goes down your leg and rubs you every time you get into pigeon pose. Or the waist band that rolls down each time you sit down. Or, even better, showing off your bum and other nether regions each time you down dog. prAna nailed it with their newest line of pants this spring.

The creators behind the Pillar pant are active women, just like you and I, who design the clothing they wear. Keeping us in mind. This is what it's like to create a product mindfully.

As a fan of supporting companies who actually wear the clothing they design and put thought into about what their costumers want, I adore prAna for taking this stance. I'm a longtime lover of prAna - their message, the feel of the clothing, the quality, and their promise to create sustainable products makes me love them even more.

When I pull on the Pillar Capri, I actually feel the overwhelming sense of fabulousness. That's a word, right? Not only do they *look* buttery soft, they actually ARE buttery soft. And they are thick. No see through here. Bye bye see through leggings! My leggings draw just got a lot emptier because there's no going back now. I mentioned the waist band above. This high waist band is comfortable and flattering. It doesn't roll over like some other waist bands that leave you readjusting every single time you sit or stand.

There are some brands that when I think of them, I think of only running, or only work. Not prAna. This is a brand that is perfect for your everyday, every move you make.

My Pilar Capris and Kornelie Tank have proven to be some of the most versatile pieces of clothing a girl can have. They've gone to yogalates and hot yoga with me.

They were the comfiest travel clothes ever in our 1600 mile travels from Maine to South Beach Miami.

To being the perfect outfit for beach strolling this morning.

And you guessed it. I AM obsessed with the newest prAna spring line. Definitely check it out and if you do fall in love, use the code MPJBS18 for 15% off all regularly priced clothing from 2/20/18 through 3/20/18.

4 Ingredient No Bake Cheesecake #LifeWithGLG

2018-02-15T20:18:00.002-05:00

This post is sponsored by Great Lakes Gelatin in partnership with Fit Approach and the #SweatPink community. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Winter dry skin is no joke! Every year, about November/December, my face absolutely feels dry and uncomfortable. Of course I put on lotion the moment I step out of the shower! And I use Rodan & Fields on my face. But it doesn't make the dryness of my face go away. I've done some research on this before and found that collagen produces great results with skin health.

I've tried collagen products before, but didn't really understand all of the benefits at the time. I think I have a better understand and a HUGE appreciation for collagen now. Especially given that I am getting OLDER! Eek! I'll be 41 in less than 2 weeks.

Collagen benefits:
*improves gut health and digestion
*protects joints and lowers joint pain
*helps improve quality of sleep
*lifts mood and improves cognitive abilities
*improves skin health
*helps heart health
*maintains strong bones
*helps you feel full

I've mentioned it time and time again. I am a stress eater. I have stopped buying chips because I will down a bag of chips in no time. My gut will hate me for it. But I cannot stop once that bag is open. I am also a huge fan of sweets. I LOVE cheesecake. Oh my cheesecake. Although, I do not enjoy making it. I've been participating in a challenge with my local run group and cutting out sweets, focusing on more vegetables and drinking lots of water. I was already pretty good with the vegetables and water. But sweets! Oh I love them. I did pretty good cutting out sugar. That's fine. But I simply could not cut out the stevia I put into my green tea each morning.

I still wanted a little sweet treat every so often. But something that wouldn't send me in to a frenzy looking for all of the chocolate. The other day I had an absolute craving for cheesecake. Not necessarily the crust. While I do love graham crackers, I just really wanted the sweetness of the cheesecake with blueberries. So I experimented. Because I love experimenting.

And you know what? It worked! I put together a 4 ingredient No Bake Cheesecake (without the crust) and I hope you love it!

Depending on how much you want, you'll need to adjust the recipe to fit your needs.

* I put a large dollop of cream cheese into a bowl (I've been using Arla cream cheese because of the simple ingredients)

* 2 Tbsp of Great Lakes Gelatin

* 1 or 2 squirts (so technical I know) of Stevia

Mix the ingredients in a bowl. Then top your delicious mixture with your favorite fruit. Lately I've been on a blueberry kick. So my fruit of choice is blueberries. Feel free to have fun with this one. Add more than one fruit if you so desire.

Then kick back and enjoy your sweet treat. SO easy. Which is perfect because I just don't have time for anything else right now.

I was also intrigued by the Collagen Endurance Plus packs. Just add to 16 ox. bottle of water. Easy enough. This has been a game changer with my energy level at school! I am no longer a coffee drinker. Coffee makes me sick. 2 years ago I started feeling sick after drinking coffee, even cold brew! I thought my life would come to an end. But I fell in love with green tea. And that has gotten me by. I still struggle with energy levels midday at school. A quick fix for me is to always have these packets with me. Add to water and boom! I get a great dosage of vitamin c, antioxidants and ENERGY!

And it tastes absolutely amazing! You can definitely try out Great Lakes Gelatin with this sweet deal! 20% off with the code GLGLife20. Hurry! The code expires 3/15/18.

Tell me, what sweet treat do you think you could use Great Lakes Gelatin in it to add in that healthy boost? Have you used Great Lakes Gelatin before?

Bradbury White Out Recap

2018-02-11T19:38:00.003-05:00

Today I ran my 2nd Bradbury snowshoe race for the 2018 season, which was my 2nd time completing the White Out (4 mile) race. Earlier this week, Maine got dumped on (again) with some fluffy white snow about midweek and then another smaller storm yesterday, which was making for perfect snowshoe conditions. But then another storm moved in and this time it brought rain. It rained a bit yesterday and the forecast was calling for rain during the race. But luckily it did NOT rain during the race. The weather gods nicely waited until the race was over until the rain started.

Getting back to what makes me feel awesome before a race,
a vinyasa flow and some pigeon.

But the little rain we did get made the snow super slushy, which definitely created a super challenging (and very fun!) course today. Today I felt great. I felt ready to take on the trails at Bradbury. Which was so different than last Sunday's MidWinter Classic. Today just felt right. Ward and I got there early, which gave me plenty of time to visit the outhouse a few times and enough time to get in a warm up run.

Ryan gives the BEST updates on FB

I finally tried my Altra Superiors out in some rather tough conditions - a sheet of ice covered by snow/slush. Walking was a challenge but when I went out for the warm up, the Superiors did NOT disappoint! I felt super confident in their ability to take on the conditions we were faced with. I did head onto the road for a bit of the warm up and the Superiors were great there too. The versatility of the Superiors are definitely top notch.

finally Ward listened to me and put on his badass Spandits! 16 miles yesterday, today 6th place overall.
Photo Credit Meraki Photography

I came back to the car to grab my snowshoes and Ward and I headed over to the starting area. I took a few striders in the snowshoes to make sure they were on securely then found my spot in the lineup --- about middle of the pack.

I'm in the back....here I come! Photo credit: Meraki Photography

When the race started I went out hard, but not as hard, knowing I had an extra mile to do today and it was slushy as all get out! I wanted a good pace before we turned onto the single track. Today I did get myself stuck behind a woman. But I think I am finally figuring out the passing thing on snowshoes and when the opportunity presented itself, I took it. Passing could mean taking a step or two into some unknown territory and possibly lead to me pulling something... which wouldn't surprise me at all. But today, I didn't let myself stay stuck with the fear. Kinda a nice self victory for me.

Photo credit: Meraki Photography

I felt great the entire time. I was happy AND I had a much better grip on layers today. I DID NOT wear my Icelandics. I took off the heavy top and put on a thinner top - my Joules Suzanne Hoodie - was the perfect weight for. today. I did wear my Spandits Thermals and a Spandits Bandit, which I did pull down to put around my neck about half way through. This system works better for me with winter racing when the temps are in the 30s. I need to stay away from the beanies and hats. I

overheat!

post race selfie with Jasmine - fellow and kickass Spandits ambassador
- she earned herself 1st in her age group -- see my Joules top? link is above

The single track was super narrow today and I kept hitting my ankles with the snowshoes.... over and over again. I definitely beat up my feet and ankles today, but that makes me more badass, right? After the race, a friend suggested metatarsal pads. I am definitely going to check that out.

looks small here... but feels like it's huge!
Not to mention I must have tightened my snowshoes too much and
I have purple bruises on my feet. Fun times.

When I saw Ward, I had those feelings of "UGH, why are you so darn fast" and "Oh yay! I'm almost there!!" again. I took off and worked on closing the gap even more with the woman in front of me. Which I did. I was hot on her trail. I didn't catch her... but I definitely closed that gap.

big winners here! Jean & I both won the random drawing of the Adirondack
chairs! Yay!

The one thing that makes the Trail Monster Races way different than any other race is the the race director runs the course a day or two ahead of time (perhaps a few times) to break trail, check conditions, and to put out the flags and signs. Then he races it as well. After all of this, he has a bunch of fabulous prizes from Baxter Beer, the Frontier, Lamey Wellehan and Adirondack chairs from Prospect Moutain Ski Chairs. After all of the overall winners and age group winners are done, Ryan draws some random numbers for prizes. Today I won big! I won a handmade Adirondack chair! Thank you, Bob! I love it!

love my big car! I got BOTH chairs in my car because
Jean drove down with friends and they didn't have room.

Last year I placed 37 out of 88, with a time of 37:23. This year, 34th out of 84, with a time of 36:24. 59 seconds better than last year and in my opinion, tougher conditions. I'm seriously already looking forward to the 5 miler --- The Bradbury Blizzard, on March 4th. I cannot wait!

MidWinter Classic 2018 Race Recap

2018-02-10T18:27:00.001-05:00

It is THE winter road race in Maine. I've looked forward to this race every year since I started running it. The MidWinter Classic is a 10 mile race in Cape Elizabeth held on Super Bowl Sunday and it just seems normal to get up and run 10 or more miles, swing by Trader Joes and buy all of the food for the game, then come home and eat/drink and watch some football. It's just what we do!

photo credit: Maine Running Photos

This year was absolutely no exception. I didn't know what to think of what my race would be like going into this year's MidWinter Classic. My mileage was WAY down. I was down and out from a back strain which sidelined me for over a week. To add to it, I've be sick several times since the start of 2018. Ugh. It wasn't looking good for this years race. But I was registered and I was going to run, so I just ran.

photo credit: Allyn Genest

If you live and run in Maine, you KNOW you are a lucky lady if you get a selfie with Allyn Genest at a race. He's only Maine's sweetest guy ever. (well, next to my husband, of course) And then he took a pic of the early crew - Laura, Gretchen, Ward & myself. This is OUR SPOT pre-race every year.

photo credit: Allyn Genest

Usually, Ward will give me a good luck kiss before a race starts. This year, I couldn't find him before the start. He was off somewhere running with his brother. This definitely threw me off. You have to keep your routines in check!

last year with Emilie, a fellow Altra Ambassador

Anyway. It was windy as heck on Sunday morning. I made the mistake and overdressed. I actually showed up to the race in one pair of Spandits, my thermals to be exact. But the wind had me nervous and I second guessed myself and changed into my Spandits Icelandics. I also decided to wear a super warm knit hat. Yeah. I could have tossed it the hat. But poor planning on my part.... I didn't want to have to mess with my hair mid-race. So I just left it and suffered. You would think I was newbie to running. Gah!

wayyyy back in the beginning - when we brought the kids
and made them stand outside and cheer us on

We lined up for the race start. The race directors went through their details about staying to the left and be careful. I heard the warning for the cannon about to go off.... but I don't actually remember the cannon actually firing? Perhaps I was messing around with my watch at the time and just didn't realize it happened? Oh well.

can't forget the year I ran with a fever and then landed myself
on the couch for a week with pneumonia

The crow started off and I so did I. From the start I wasn't feeling it. I thought if I just kept my pace in the 8:30s and I would be okay. Nothing near a great performance but still an okay run. I've been doing this race for a number of years. Honestly, at this moment, without looking it up, I don't know how many. 7? 8? It doesn't matter. I love it anyway.

and the year it was 40 and gorgeous ---
well, gorgeous for February in Maine

Mile 5 came and there was David Colby on the ladder taking photos for Maine Running Photos as usual. I love those constants at a Maine race!

Then came the final hills. Before the race, my friend Andy reminded me that he was going to pass me at mile 7 like he does every year. I get to mile 7 and no Andy. Then I was mad at him because I thought he was ahead of me the entire time. For the last 3 miles I kept thinking, okay, he's going to pass me now. No, now he's going to pass me. Okay, where is he? But no. He never passed me. He had a bad day too and finished about 8 minutes behind me. Thank you, Andy for making me feel way better about my race. That's what friends are for.

I finished the race about 8 minutes slower than my PR. But oh well! Somedays running is easy and other days it's tough. Today was a tough one. There's always next year! Or the next 10 miler. Either one. Thank you to the Maine Track Club for putting on another amazing MidWinter Classic. You give me something to look forward to in the winter (this and there's the snowshoe races). Other than that, I really cannot stand winter. I'm so done with this snow and ice and freezing rain.

What races have you done lately?

Bradbury Squall Race Report

2018-02-08T20:07:00.002-05:00

I'm not a winter person. I've never learned how to ski, ice skate or snowboard. They never appealed to me. BUT the one thing I DO love about winter is snowshoeing.

Add snowshoeing and running together and I'm in love! For me, snowshoe running is a fun way to break up the year of running. Last year I completed the Bradbury Snowshoe Series and had an absolute blast. Signing up for the series this year was an absolute no brainer. I'm pumped I got in. While it's no surprise, I don't really enjoy running outside in the winter. I DO love to strap on my snowshoes and go for a run in those.

trail cam caught my leg! ;)

A couple of weeks ago the 1st race of the season took place at Bradbury. This one was the Squall, which is the 3 miler. I'm not very good at memorizing races on trails. All of the twists and turns just blur together to me. Thankfully I'm not going to be in the lead so I don't really have to worry about it too much. I usually try to make sure I have someone in front of me to give me the visual as to where I'm going.... that strategy works great for me. Most of the time. Unless the person in front of me takes the wrong turn. Then, that's my mistake for just following along and not paying attention.

If I remember correctly, last year, the race director and his crew of awesome folks who help out in prepping the course had to actually shovel snow onto the course. I was nervous that my first snowshoe race was going to be a winter trail race. BUT.... we did it in snowshoes and it was so much fun. My time last year with so little snow was 42.13.

Fast forward to this year. A year that I've said "nope, no way, I'll just stay inside and enjoy this Netflix series" instead of getting my butt outside..... and then a back injury that had me laid up for nearly a week. I broke out onto the snowshoes for a mile prior to the race a couple of weeks ago and felt like I would be "okay".

We got some new fluffy snow just before the Squall this year and the facebook video preview said race conditions were going to be "perfect". Which was exciting and nerve-racking at the same time. The pressure! What if I fell apart with perfection conditions? I would be so hard on myself!

Race day came. Ward and I headed down to Pownal for the race. The day was absolutely perfect. Mid 30's. Sunny. Seriously. In Maine in January, you can't ask for better weather.

The race started off well. I knew that if I didn't get myself out of the pack I would get stuck on the single track.... so I went out too fast. Like usual. But when I got to the single track I was able to settle my breathing and take in the beauty. I do love running at Bradbury.

Nearly a mile in, some people in front of me made some loud noises and I looked up just in time to see a FREAKING DEER run across the trail. And then of course I let out a yell which was then followed by looking for more deer to come out of the woods. I didn't see any and prayed there were none, so then I proceeded. Holy crap!

I looked at my pace several times on my watch... and was never happy with it. 12:20, 13:10, 11:45,..... ugh. I thought I was sucking. But then I reminded myself that I've been INSIDE on a treadmill most of the winter AND I was just recovering from a back injury.... so it was going to be my fastest race ever and to just enjoy. Once I was able to get over that, I relaxed a little and just had fun.

When I finally came out of the last part of single track, I saw Ward standing there. Which partially made me mad because he's so damn fast and had probably been standing there for a long time..... but mostly made me happy because I do LOVE seeing him and I knew I was almost done. From there I pushed hard to the finish and boom I was done!

I hit stop on my Apple Watch and never bothered to go check where I was in the results. I knew I didn't place and just wanted to enjoy the fact that I was running pain free and had a great time!

I met up with Alicia at the end and we finally got a selfie! She's a fun one on Instagram.

Then Ward and I headed over to the food area to get some delicious butternut squash soup and to hang by the fire. Ward had finished 1st in his age group so we had to stick around for his prize. He's a smart guy and picked out the six pack of Baxter and a pair of socks. I don't have to run fast if he will take care of me like that.

As soon as we could, we took off to get home and shower because it was Izzy's birthday party day and we had to host a party! Why not hold a birthday party on race day? After the party I was able to bring myself to look at the results. 39:13. Which was exactly 3 minutes faster than my time last year (42:13). I'll take it! And I'm definitely looking forward to the Bradbury Whiteout 4 miler THIS Sunday (and we just had another storm... so I am hoping for a great run again!).

2018 Goals #BeBraveAndGrow

2017-12-26T20:47:00.001-05:00

As 2017 comes to an end (thank god!), I'm looking forward to 2018 with much excitement.

In terms of my training, 2017 started off fabulous. I was hitting the mileage I needed to get 1700 miles in 2017. BUT, then stupid bronchitis hit me like a Mac truck several times. And then a badly sprained ankle. Both tried to keep me down, but I got back up again. I focused on gaining more strength.

Then I added in a lot more yoga. With regular yoga classes, yogalates, and aerial yoga, I'm feeling that I have the yoga bug back and I'm loving it.

I'm focusing on a strong 2018 and would absolutely be thrilled if I could build my mileage back up to a 1600+ year. To keep me motivated I've already gone and signed up for several races:

MidWinter Classic

You never know what the day will bring. A Sunday morning race in early February can mean 40+ degrees or negative temps with brutal winds. Who knows! But I do know that I'll be there tearing up the course again in Cape Elizabeth. This is a fun 10 mile race that sells out quickly in Maine and I cannot wait! If the weather gods are with us, I'm hoping for a killer race. If not, it will at least be fun!

Bradbury Snowshoe Series

I signed up for all 3 races in this series. Again. I had such a blast last year, I know I couldn't miss out this year! And when I mentioned it to Ward, he said "sign me up too!"

Lake Auburn Half Marathon

I've never done this one before. And I'm excited by it!

MDI Half Marathon

Only on the prettiest marathon and half marathon in Maine. This race is the held during the beautiful peak foliage times in Maine and runs along the rocky coast of Downeast Maine.

Sugarloaf 15k

The 15k distance is so much fun!

When the time comes, I will be signing up for the next few races.

Bond Brooks Trail Series

This series kicks my butt each time. To be honest, this race is at the worst time for me. Thursday evenings after I have stood in the hot sun all day long at track meets. BUT, I have had super race envy every time my husband goes to run and I don't. I'll definitely getting in a few, if not all, of these races this summer!

LL Bean 10k

Registration for this one is in March. Doing this 10k is a tradition. It was my first 10k and I love it.

Mount Washington Road Race

Yes! I'm going to put my name in the lottery again and I have my fingers crossed that the 3rd time is a charm.

Pineland Farms 25K

I haven't 100% committed to this one yet because I may change my distance. If my big goal of the year doesn't work out. We will see!!!

Bradbury Trail Mountain Series

Last year I wanted to do it so bad but somehow missed the sign up. I signed up for the Breaker, but had sprained my ankle the week before. Which means 2018 is the year!

Eastern States 20 miler

This one would be the perfect final tune up for my big goal of the year. It's been on my "to do" list for years, but I never make it happen.

and drumroll please......

I'm finally going to do it! I've been inspired to follow my big dreams and go for it. I have my eyes set on my first Ultra!

TARC Spring Classic 50k.

I don't know a ton about this one except that it's a loop course. Registration isn't even open yet. But I do know that the timing of it works out almost perfectly with track. A bulk of my training will be done before track season begins.

and we will see........

Tri For A Cure

I put my name in the lottery. We will see! I'm doing this one in honor of all of the women in my life impacted by cancer. Or if that one doesn't work out, then the Dempsey Challenge.

There will be more. I am sure. I want to add more trail races into the mix and I will! Perhaps there will be a 6 hour race in there somewhere? Who knows!!!!

prAna is where it's at! #giftedprAna

2017-12-04T19:28:00.002-05:00

I was sent a pair of Kara Jeans and the Rockaway Jacket as part of this campaign for prAna. I was not required to give a positive review. As always, all opinions expressed on my blog are 100% my own.

On my (very short) list of must-have clothing, prAna is at the top. Not only does prAna stand for amazing quality they are a company that prides themselves for their sustainability. prAna's clothing line includes many pieces that are Fair Trade, recycled clothing, and hemp clothing. That very fact that prAna is conscientious about the materials they use to create their gorgeous and amazingly comfortable clothing makes prAna a company I will always go to when I want to add more to my daily collection.

In addition to the sustainability of prAna, they also make the most comfortable workout and day-wear clothing I've ever worn! A little backstory for me, many of you know I'm a teacher. I absolutely hated wearing "school clothes" to work. I would long to wear leggings and dresses and anything running related I could. But the problem was, I am not a PE teacher. It doesn't really look professional to wear leggings and a hoodie - which is what I would prefer.

Then I found prAna. Specifically, the Kara Jean. In my honest opinion, the best jeans ever made. They come in a huge range of colors and prints. What I lover about them is I can wear all of the colors, a comfy prAna top, add in some fun flats or boots and boom! I look and feel great!

I feel that if I can do yoga in a pair of jeans, then that company is doing something pretty freaking amazing. prAna - you are amazing!

I also feel that when I actually choose a pair of Kara jeans for a 9 hour drive from Pennsylvania to Maine, then prAna is doing something very right. Before I would put on a pair of yoga pants or sweatpants for the ride. But the Kara jeans are the perfect jeans for anyone with any body type. Can you tell I freaking love them?

I've loved my prAna tops very much over the years as well. The newest addition, my Rockaway Jacket, tops them all. Somedays I wear it as a top and somedays I wear it as a layering hoodie. Either way, I'm winning at life when I wear this comfy and stylish, woman cut hoodie.

To be honest, my classroom is freezing! Not just in the winter. But all year long. When it's hot outside, the A/C nearly blasts me out of my room. I'm the person who brings her down jacket to school on a super warm fall day because I know that A/C is going to freeze me! The Rockaway Jacket not only looks a lot nicer than the down jacket, but it's amazingly comfortable and super cute. Everyone needs one of these!

Are you looking for the perfect gift for the guy or gal in your life? Let me introduce you to prAna. You’ve GOT to check out prAna’s holiday gifts for under $50 for women and men! If you are looking to get someone the best gift you could possibly give this season (or yourself - I won't tell!) - use my code CMRG17 for 15% off (non sale items) and free shipping until 12/15. Don't wait! This deal won't last forever. Let's go shopping!

The Must-Have Sports Massager..... MYO Buddy

2017-12-03T19:29:00.001-05:00

I received a MYOBuddy as part of a campaign with FitApproach. All opinions in expressed in my blog are 100% my own.

If you haven't started your holiday shopping, it's probably time to start now. But better yet, if you haven't started your shopping, I have a the best gift idea for you! This gift can be for ANYBODY!

Young, old, man, woman - whomever, whatever! It doesn't matter. The MYOBuddy fits just right for everybody on your shopping list. If you or someone you know suffers from chronic pain, then you need to get them a MYOBuddy. If you know someone who suffers from insomnia or chronic stress, then they need a MYOBuddy! Or what about the forever athlete? Yep! They need one!

Living in a house full of runners, I can attest that all runners NEED MYOBuddy! Ward and I brought the MYOBuddy along on our road trip to Pennsylvania over Thanksgiving. After sitting in a car for over 9 hours, we were definitely right and sore. Knowing we had a race to run on Thursday, I knew we needed to massage those tight muscles. It felt heavenly to have a massage on the floor of my dad and Barb's house.

MYOBuddy has 3 speeds, is heated, and offers a professional grade deep massage. If you don't have somebody to give you the massage, you can actually massage yourself if you want to!

There are many nights I sit here on the sofa, watching TV and massaging my quads and IT band. It feels SO good. It's like having my own personal masseuse living with me. On call, whenever I need a good massage.

If you use the code SPJEN by the end 12/4/17 -you will get $100 off this fabulous must have tool!

Running in PA

2017-11-29T19:22:00.001-05:00

Happy Hump Day everyone! I'm finally feeling recovered from the whirlwind Thanksgiving Break we had. I swear, the older I get, the longer it takes to mentally and physically recover from a long road trip!

This year, we switched things up and make the trek to PA to celebrate Thanksgiving with my side of the family. To sum it up - the entire trip was glorious. It made me miss and long for my family even more. Of course our trips are always so short, there is never enough time to squeeze in a trip with everyone and I always leave feeling guilty for not getting the chance to see everyone.

Aside from the incredible time we had with family over the break, I had the chance to run with Ward 4 days in a row! I don't usually get excited by this, because, well, the chance to run with him doesn't exactly happen a whole lot at home.

Wednesday

I wanted to run part of the course for the Pie Gobbler 10k we were going to run on Thanksgiving. The race started on City Island in Harrisburg and started out going over a metal walking bridge. After I registered, I watched a video of the race. I immediately felt sick to my stomach knowing I HAD to run over THAT bridge. gulp. Which led me to urge Ward to head down to the course and run over the bridge without a couple hundred people - so I could get over that fear.

It was a crazy windy day along the Susquehanna River.... but running along the river was a great new experience for us. We run along the Kennebec River in Maine. But there was something about running along a river I used to look at all of the time as a kid thinking it was a biggest river ever!

We managed to get in a nice shakeout of 4 miles in and got in a nice preview for the course.

Thursday

On Thanksgiving, Ward and I headed over to City Island early to get in a warm up run. It was a bit cold, but nothing a Maine Girl can't handle!

I had two goals going into the race. Run the 10k under 50 minutes and run the last mile fastest. I succeeded with both. I forgot my Apple Watch charger in Maine and by Thursday it was dead. Oh well. I loaded a running app onto my phone and had to rely on waiting for the mile marker (or somewhere near them) to find out my pace (because I didn't want to mess with the phone while I was running.... it was nice an snug in my arm holder and that's where I wanted it to stay. I only caught a couple of my splits, so I didn't really know *how* I was doing. It drove me crazy, but at the same time it felt liberating.

I focused on running hard, pushing through, my breathing. It all seemed to click for once. When I was on my return trip and saw that walking bridge and knew it was time for a final push.... I went. for it. But of course, there were TONS of obstacles with this final mile. I mean, all of the 5k walkers. I seriously had to should "runner on the left" at least a 100 times. But in all, that was the only thing that drove me nuts.

The rest of the course we awesome. Flat, flat, flat with the exception of 2 inclines.... and they were nothing. And racing over the bridge? So much fun!

The result? My fastest 10k in the last 5 or so years (not a PR) by at least 3 minutes.... with 47:49. Woohoo! I felt strong.... and felt like I could have pushed more. Which is super exciting. Perhaps I have the racing bug back? Or I was just feeling spunky for being back in the state where I grew up.

That 47:49 earned me a 1st place in my age group. AND even better, none of the top 3 overall ladies were in the top three either... so this wasn't a "by default" age group winner prize either. I'm pumped! I have an engraved plate on the way and I cannot wait to share!

Ward didn't have a shabby race either. He actually snagged 3rd overall with a super solid race! I bet his engraved plate will look better than mine. ;).

Friday

Was our last day in Harrisburg. I had been wanting to run more of the Green Belt my dad had been raving about. Ward and I headed over to a section of it and got in a beautiful 6 miles full of brick homes and buildings on some windy trails. It never really felt like we were running Harrisburg.

Saturday

It was our last day in Pennsylvania and we knew we had to get in a final run on the farmlands where my Aunt Vic and Uncle Snooze lived. The rolling hills and pastures are among my top running places. The views never disappoint and I while I am always whipped after running out at the farm, I feel exhilarated.

Then like that, our time in Pennsylvania was over and we're back to reality. But running in Maine isn't all too bad. I actually pretty much love living here and love running here.

Did you travel over the break? Get in any awesome runs?

Must-Haves with Joules Athletics

2017-11-16T21:08:00.003-05:00

I received four items of clothes from Joules Athletics to review as part of my affiliation with FitApproach. All opinions expressed are my own.

The Holiday Season is approaching faster than ever. Can you believe it that next Thursday is Thanksgiving already? Where has the time gone?

What immediately drew me to Joules Athletics, was the moto:

I can. I will. Watch me.™

If you are shopping for a special someone in your life who loves athletic wear whether they are working out, shopping, running errands, or just hanging out. Joules Athletics has a huge assortment of beautiful clothing made for real people. You can read more about how Joules Athletics came to be here.

Stacy Vest

It's time for cozy clothes that keep you warm, look great and move with you. The Stacy Vest is longer than a regular vest, has a higher neck, has rouching on back for a nice fitted look. I love the pop of purple on the front as well. It stands out as a fun new, versatile vest that has already gotten a lot of wear.

Kristen Top

Hanging out at home on a dreary rainy (or soon to come snowy) day, is made better with the pop of colors of my Stacy Vest and my Kristen Top.

And damn I look good waiting for my chiropractic adjustment! The Kristen Top has zippers on both sides to unzip for a looser look or feel and runs a bit longer. It's a slim fitting, sweatshirt-like top that I wear to the chiropractor, to yoga, and just simply when I want to look good and feel good.

Felicia Legging

And it pairs beautifully with my Felicia Leggings. They are long and soft with a wide waist band for a flattering look. I'm 5'6" and have loads of extra length to the bottom of these leggings. I love the look. These leggings will get you through your day from yoga to running to chilling out on a Sunday afternoon watching football. Or whatever you choose to do!

Stacey Capris

Let's talk about the basic, but not-so-basic, black capris but with a the slightest rouching to add a certain flair to them. Like the Felicia Leggings, these capris are incredibly soft and comfortable with the wide waistband. The mid-calf height and rouching make the Stacy Capris stand out as a spunky pair of capris you cannot live without. For the lady in your life, who needs a little twist on black capris, these are the ones you need to get!

A girly touch, yet badass to get you through a kettlebell workout. Yeah, you need them.

What are you waiting for? Head over to Joules Athletics and pick something out for yourself and your shopping list and save 15% with the code "sweatpinkroules". Joules Athletics has something for almost everyone - tweens, men and women. Check it out! Then tell me what you plan on buying!

B.A.A. Half {race recap}

2017-10-09T20:08:00.000-04:00

The B.A.A. Half has been on my radar for few years. I decided earlier this year that this year was going to be the year of the half marathon. So I put my name in the lottery. I had planned on mastering the half this year, so why not run a race I've been wanting to do?

Just before I found out I was running the B.A.A. Half, I had applied to be a Maine Marathon ambassador. I honestly didn't think I had a chance at getting that cool opportunity. Little did I know that one day I would find out I was doing the B.A.A. Half and shortly after that I would find out I was an ambassador for the Maine Marathon. I probably should have looked at the dates for each of them, but really, would I have changed my mind? Absolutely NOT! So, now I was running two half marathons in back-to-back weekends!

This weekend we decided to not drag the kids all over the place for another weekend, which meant this was just a Jen & Ward trip. Being the overly wild couple we are, we checked into the hotel around 7:30, and were asleep by 8:30pm. We are crazy like that.

The hotel was only 3.5 miles from Franklin Zoo, and after a lot of stressing and polling everyone I knew about the best race morning way to get there, we decided to just drive there and park where we could. I was so surprised we found a great parking spot less than a mile from the start! As soon as we got there, I check my bag and headed out to the porta potty line, with Ward by my side, on his bike. When I got into line, I had 20 minutes until the start.

And when I came out of the porta potty, I had a minute until the start. With nearly 7000 runners, I wasn't going to win (ha!!!) so I didn't feel the need to be in the front, but I didn't want to be in the back either. So after I gave Ward a kiss, I headed for somewhere in the middle of the pack. He told me he would see me around mile 3 and I couldn't wait to see him there!

As I neared the starting line, I started to get excited. But I also felt hot already. It was already 70F with 80% humidity (or at least that what my Apple Watch told me). I told myself I wasn't going to let the head or humidity get to me, and was going to have a fun day no matter what.

And with that, I went out like I normally start out a race. Feeling confident. Feeling happy. Dodging walkers, left and right.

The course was so much fun! I loved running through the Emerald Necklace. Only a few times did I really feel like I was running in the city. Most of the time we were running along the parks. There were hills. But they weren't horrible. The humidity was horrible. But the course was not!

The first 5 miles I felt great. Well, mostly. I was drenched in sweat. I was getting dizzy from time to time. But it wasn't horrible. And then BAM! I seriously hit the wall. But this wall hurt so bad. I was dizzy. So dizzy. I didn't know what was up. I had been drinking my SOS and hitting the water stops. By mile 10 I had to walk. I wasn't crushing any PRs today, I just needed to finish. So I walked. A lot. The dizziness stopped. So I started running again. Well, slogging. And then I felt dizzy again. So I walked again.

I didn't realize that we were going to run THROUGH the Franklin Zoo, and when we started to enter it, I did get a bit excited! When I saw some people peel off to the side, I looked to see where they were heading. A lady said "get your selfie with the giraffe! They weren't out last year!" So I did! It took a few minutes to defog my phone - through the sweat and drizzle the screen was foggy and I everything I was wearing was soaked with sweat, so I just took the fuzzy, foggy selfie and called it good.

Finally it started to rain. I usually love running in the rain. But this time I was a little pissed. I mean, where was this rain when I needed it at during mile 1 - 12? It was a little drizzle and I was already soaked with sweat, so really it just rinsed away some of the sweat. Right?

an accidental pic but I kind a like it!

As I came around the curve to enter White's Stadium I caught a glimpse of Ward off to the side. And before I knew it, I was on the track, heading toward the finish line.

After I finished, I walked through the long line to get my kick ass medal had a few photos taken and then had to take a selfie with my medal.

Ward tried calling me a few times but my soaked phone kept cutting out and when it worked, it sounded like he was underwater. I thought the iPhone 7 was water resistant? It didn't rain that hard.

Finally I found him. I got my BAA shirt, picked up my bag and headed to the car. Thankfully we made it to the car just in time before it really started raining. I took a few minutes to strip out of my soaked clothing, use a shower wipe to clean up a bit and put on some dry clothes. All that time I held back my tears from such a horrible race time and just feeling awful.

I looked happy to finish!
And see those pockets on my Spandits! hold my cell phone?

We went to the Shake Shack on Newbury Street for lunch. By that point, the tears started to roll. I felt like a complete failure. I was so upset with myself and my finishing time. I told Ward that I felt like something was really wrong with me. That I was dizzy for most of the race. The great guy that he is, reminded me about how bad the bronchitis hit me this time. A good friend then reminded me that "it is only running" and she was right. It is only running. There are more important things to worry about. So, I sipped on my black and white shake (by the way, is freaking amazing) and thought about the good things I have in my life.

But you know what? Thinking back. I was dehydrated. I didn't realize it but it took me hours to finally pee. Seriously. We were at Trader Joes in Portland. That's a long time. Especially for me. Who has to pee every hour or so.

And another thing. I finished two half marathons in two weeks. That's a pretty big deal for me. I've never challenged myself like that before. I know my race times were not very fast at all. But I did it!

Maine (1/2) Marathon Race Recap 2017

2017-10-04T20:01:00.003-04:00

There are runs where everything clicks and all is perfect. Either you crush you run and hit all of the paces you aimed at. Or the weather is simply perfect, and you don't care about your pace, and just take in the fresh air and gorgeous views. Then there are some runs when everything goes wrong. Your breathing is off, or the weather is absolute crap. Or you set out to hit specific paces and come no where near them!

post half marathon, easy run, smiles in my new awesome race shirt

Learning to embrace each run for what they are, and accept that even though that run sucked the big one, you had the opportunity to run. Not everyone has that chance. Not everyone has the ability to lace up their shoes and get out the door.

selfies mid race with Allyn!

When I think about the Maine Marathon course, a feeling of "home" comes to mind. This course is where it all began. Well, at least my love for half marathons!

Scott rocks! Post race happy faces.

In 2010, I ran my first half marathon on the Maine Marathon course. I remember it was an absolutely perfect day. A typical October morning in Maine. Chilly in the morning, crisp cool air throughout the day, and the sun shining. When I finished the race that day, I made the decision that I would be completing the full marathon the following year.

so old.... but way back in 2010 we did it! we finished out 1st half!

And that I did. However, it wasn't perfect conditions like I had experienced the year before. It was cold and wet. It poured almost the entire time. But I didn't care. The day was perfect. I completed that marathon and I was now a marathoner.

a year later, I completed the full, in the rain, with tears rolling down my cheeks with
the cutest boy cheering me on!

The following year, I ran along with my sister-in-law, Jill, and friend, Carrie, as they took on the 26.2 milestone. Again, it poured.

Fast forward to last spring. I decided I wanted to focus on the half distance. I have been lacking speed in a big way lately and wanted to take a break from running marathons. In talking with my coach, we decided that half's were the way to go. 'Half the distance, twice the fun!' I decided that I was going to train my butt off and kick butt at the half marathon and push to a new PR (which would be a sub 1:44).

flat jen was ready!

Sometime around mid-August, I came down with bronchitis. Again. This time it didn't go away as quickly as I wanted. That jerk stuck around and annoyed the crap out of me (and is STILL annoying the crap out of me). Some runs are perfect and I can breathe. Other runs, I get in a half mile and I have to stop and cough my lungs up and then take a few moments to regain the ability to breathe. It's frustrating and scary. (I am waiting to see my asthma specialist.... I've had an appointment made like forever ago) And then I sprained my ankle. That set me back again. BUT, in the midst of all that, I was not going to give up on the Maine half. I knew the PR probably wasn't in the cards, but a strong run could still be a possibility.

loved their Maine theme!

So, when I rolled out of bed at 5AM on Sunday morning, my breathing felt pretty darn good. The weather forecast looked amazing. I was excited and ready to go. In talking with Amy, she suggested I check in with myself at mile 3 and if I felt good, then go for it. Check in again around 5/6, and if I was still feeling it, then run hard to the end. If not, put on the breaks and enjoy the run.

Yes, I forgot to tell you why we had this game plan. The following weekend I was going to be running the BAA Half Marathon.

I set out around an 8:18ish pace and felt amazing. Then it crept down to 8:08, then 8:00. I was feeling really good. Then I ran an 8:05, then 8:19, then BOOM! The wheels came off. Just like that. I didn't feel sick or bad. My breathing didn't feel amazing, but it wasn't horrible either. I'm not sure what was going on, but I embraced whatever it was and put the breaks. Actually I decided I would just stop and chat with some friends on the side.

From that point, I decided I was definitely in the run very easy and enjoy the moment I was in. And I did. I decided it was a good idea to do some snaps while I ran on the bridge. Then I walked a few times, looking behind me for my friends Gretchen and Carrie. But I couldn't find them, so I kept running along. When I came up to the Runaways tent with only a little more than a mile left, I stopped again, took a selfie with the rockstar, Sarah, and then continued on my way.

Sarah is a rockstar!

As I came around the last bend along Baxter, I remembered the feelings I had before when I came around the curve. The feeling of pride and excitement, seeing families and friends of so many runners there to cheer them on. Remembering that 6 years ago, I completed my first marathon here and 7 years ago, I completed my first half marathon here.

David Colby, from Maine Running Photos, is amazing!
Thank you for the photos!

And then, just like that I was finished, with a time of 1:58. Way slower than I had expected, but seriously happy that I listened to whatever my body was telling me and slowed down to enjoy the day and the race that I love so much.

a gorgeous day for a race!

What I've taken away from Sunday's race is that I want to enjoy running for as long as I possibly can. If that means I'm as slow as mud, then so be it. At least I'll be running. If my time is fast, awesome. If it's not, oh well!

this girl has been an amazing friend! I love going to races with her.

This doesn't mean I'm going to give up on racing. I'm going to keep on working hard. Maybe someday I'll crush that PR again. Or maybe I won't.

A proud Maine Marathon ambassador right here sporting all of the Maine Marathon gear!

BUT, I will tell you, that I will definitely be lining up at the starting line for the Maine Half again, and again. This course means the world to me.

EverlyWell - Results from HOME!

2017-09-17T19:24:00.001-04:00

As I neared 40, I began noticing changes in my body. I was gaining weight regardless of my meal choices. It was frustrating. I began to dread turning 40. Never mind the eye creases that were beginning to appear as well. But that's another story!

I was super concerned about my metabolism. What on earth was wrong with me? I've heard some women say "my metabolism crapped out at 40". Ugh! NO! When I spoke with my doctor about it, she just said watch what you eat and exercise. Gee, thanks, doc. I already do that!

When I had the chance to try out an EverlyWell Metabolism test, I definitely raised my hand.

The test itself arrived super quickly to my house. I read the directions and I was supposed to do the test first thing in the morning after only being awake for a short amount of time, and only after drinking water.

This part maybe was the hardest part for me because I would get up, drink green tea, grab the box and smack my forehead! Ugh! I had to wait another day. Then I would repeat the same pattern again the next day.

Finally I got my act together. I did the blood test and saliva test. Both were super easy to do. I packaged up my samples and popped them into my mailbox. All I had to do was wait. And that wasn't hard either. A few days later I received an email letting me know my samples were received and my results would be available in a week. A week later, the email came. And........

1 out of range. I was intrigued. What was going on?

Digging a little further, I see this. My testosterone is WAY off the charts. Like crazy. So, of course, I clicked on it the yellow box to see why and to find out why testosterone is important.

Okay, infertility. At 40 and with two kids who are 14 and 8, I'm completely okay with this. Perhaps if I were younger and wanting more children, I may more concerned.

Then I needed to check out the other results, because of course I zeroed in on the "trouble" area!

Learning more about cortisol was pretty eye opening. I feel like I'm a super stressed out person and I worry ALL of the time. However, my cortisol levels appear to be low during the time of the test.

And my thyroid gland appears to be working within the expected range. Which definitely makes me feel relieved. I worry about diabetes as it runs in my family. I also realize this test alone isn't the only determination for diabetes. Under my husband's insurance, I'm required to have my blood sugar levels tested yearly. This past year, my levels were within normal but only 2 points away from pre-diabetes. I'll definitely be paying attention to this next year as well!

How do I feel about EverlyWell's results and explanations?

I feel like the results were shared in a very easy to understand way. It was informative and helped me to understand my body. While I completely understand it is not a substitute for a doctor, I fully intend to share these results with my physician when I have my next appointment.

A Discount for You!
If you use the code METABOLIZEME, you will receive 10% off your Metabolism Test order.

Other EverlyWell tests
Check out the EverlyWell link here for the other tests EveryWell have and also, read about how your HSA and FSA will cover these costs!

METABOLIZEME for your audiences to use to receive 10% off their Metabolism Test order.
Key words: health test, at-home health test, metabolism test, metabolism
Direct link on social channels to your blog post (Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram)
It is also required to properly tag EverlyWell on all social posts (@everly_well)

Goodbye Summer. Hello Fall! #prAna

2017-09-12T20:34:00.000-04:00

I received two items of clothing from prAna to review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Goodbye summer. Hello Fall!

A gorgeous beautiful time of year. The trees begin to change. Nights are cooler. I freaking love fall. I'm back to school. Structured days. Crazy busy. Teaching all day, coaching in the afternoon. Then getting my kids to where they need to be - soccer games, soccer practices, dance. But I absolutely love it.

In addition to the gorgeous clothing, prAna makes, they focus on making sustainable clothing. prAna makes clothing that is Fair Trade and uses recyclable materials and hemp. Doesn't that make you feel good? I know it makes me feel good about choosing prAna!

Penelope Pullover

I've always loved the name Penelope. It's a beautiful name that sounds inviting. The Penelope Pullover is definitely inviting. It's amazingly soft. The color is a warm cream. The cowl neck is my all time fave. I want to live in this shirt.

Sage Jogger

When I look in my closet, it's full of prAna. I have an assortment of Kara jeans, the best, stretchiest jeans I've ever worn. I had to expand my horizons this time around and chose to try out the Sage Jogger. I absolutely love the stretch of them. So comfy. I'll be honest. The first night I wore them, I fell asleep in them. I'm not one to fall asleep in my regular "day" clothing. But I didn't even notice. So much stretch. Incredibly comfortable. I love how versatile they are. I can wear them to school with some slip-ons and look professional and feel comfortable. Then I can slip some sneakers on and a hoodie and they rock the casual look too!

Discount Code (for you!)

It's time for you to update your fall collection with some beautiful, sustainable clothing from prAna. I have a 15% discount code for you MS15JB. The code expires October 12, 2017. So hurry!

Tell me, what prAna clothes are your must-haves?

You MUST HAVE the August PopSugar #MUSTHAVE box!

2017-08-16T21:27:00.000-04:00

How is it even possible that August is more than halfway through? Where did summer go? We've been busy finishing up summer track, starting preseason for soccer and cross country, school shopping. I'm positive I am no where near ready for the start of school. But that's fine with me. I have plenty of time for that.

This month PopSugar really put out an amazing Must Have Box. But of course they did! It's their 5th birthday! Happy Birthday, PopSugar!

When I opened up the box and saw those words, I thought about many people in my life that I am grateful for. First of all, my parents. My mom and dad have been my rocks. My dad continues to be my rock and I'm going to be forever grateful for him. My mom, while she is no longer with us, I know she is still with me everyday and I feel that presence. She continues to be my sounding ground. And yes, I have daily conversations with her. My husband, I don't know what I would do without him. I cannot believe he has put up with my craziness for 18 years. He must be some kind of saint. My kids. They are my everything.

When I opened up my August box, I knew this box was more a of tribute to the beautiful relationships in my life. But before I thought much more about them, I ripped into those cookies!

Perhaps I could have shared with someone, but they were so good. You could smell the chocolate when you opened the package and I couldn't stop with just 1 serving. Thankfully these GoodieGirl cookies package only had 2 servings in it. I'll be on the hunt for more of them!

I am envisioning a birthday coming up. Perhaps, Izzy's where I will load up that cute little Cheers! Tray with cupcakes and top them with the beautiful Gold Glitter Candles by Meri Meri. I cannot believe in just a few months my little girl will be 9! Then onto double digits.

The First Aid Beauty, 5 in 1 Bouncy Mask, came at a perfect time. I am definitely feeling my age and I'm going to fight against the aging. I need all of the help I can get and this little jar of heaven will help nourish my skin and definitely help with the firmness (or lack there of!).

My little free spirit eyed this journal up. I had to hide it from her. For now. I haven't used it yet. I'm torn. Do I keep it and pamper myself? Reflect on my days, live, loved ones? Or do I share it with my free spirit? I just don't know!

I have a code for you if you sign up for your FIRST Must Have Box! You'll get $10 off your first box if you following this link and use the code PARTY (before 8/31/17).

Life as a track coach!

2017-07-08T18:09:00.002-04:00

I was absolutely positive that coaching would not interfere with my blog. Wow! I was wrong.

I still blogged. In my head. I wrote amazing posts. But by the time I got home, made dinner, got in my own run, and prepped for the next day...... yeah, I didn't want to open up the computer again. All of those posts.... gone. Because, I'm old and can't remember shit!

Gotta love it when my Spandits match the school athletic cart!

Don't get me wrong. I seriously LOVED coaching track this spring. It was my first year as head coach and it was a blast. A steep learning curve and still loads more to learn. But it was fun.

He has work to do (get lower to the hurdle) but he made lots of progress this year too!

It makes the summer track program I started 4 years ago even more meaningful. I have a newfound love for summer track. A program I was starting to resent "giving up" my summer. But not so much. I see it in a different light. I see it as a way to hook so many awesome kids to do something fun, with hopes that even if they do not join my HS team when they get to me, they are hopefully heading toward a sport, active life that will keep them moving and happy for many years to come. I also see it as a way to foster my HS athletes and help develop leadership skills.

This boy in the orange became an incredible 800M runner this year.
He took nearly 30 seconds off throughout the course of the season.

How does this feel? Amazing.

Izzy's first year with summer track, rocking the race walk!

How did coaching impact my running? At first, it didn't. During preseason, I ran with my athletes. And then ran in the mornings before school as well. But as the season went on, I found myself more and more tired. My mileage dropped BIG time in May and June. Like 85ish miles each month. No wonder my race times have sucked. Do I regret it? No way!!!

Izzy over the years.... getting older and faster!

I feel like my body got a nice little recharge and I'm even more determined and motivated to push hard this summer! Look out friends!!!

I AM relentless. This tank is perfect for me! Thank you ShineAthletica!