Marathon Month

October is a busy time for marathoners. You can find a marathon every week of the month, anywhere in the world. The long summer days allow for a perfect training season and the cool fall mornings set the stage for perfect marathon weather.

Today is the last long run for the LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon group I coach in Chicago (Chicago Endurance Sports). Their bodies are fit and their minds anxious. It has been rewarding watching them progress and grow stronger through the season. They are ready to rumble...

The week before a marathon is a special time in a runners life. Pre-race week is a time when nerves set in no matter how many you've run and when you begin to question what to wear, what to eat and whether you've trained hard enough. I always have nightmares the week before a marathon. I get lost on the course, end up on the fifth floor of Macy's and have to cab it back to the marathon course.

Nerves, nightmares and anxious thoughts are all part of the journey folks. Especially for first timers because you are about to set sail on a journey you've never known. Like many firsts, it is the fear of the unknown that really fuels the energy. Whenever I get nervous pre-race, I think of time when I was really nervous and how it turned out in the end. Like racing Eco-Challenge, Borneo. It was my first expedition length adventure race (8-10 days) and it was being held in the jungles of Malaysia where "leeches" and "snakes" vacation. I heard so many stories about leeches I was a basket-case pre-race. But in the end, the fear of the leech was much worse than the reality.

You know you can run a long way because you did it in training. You know you are prepared because you witnessed your body adapt to the training week to week. And you know you are going to look good in that finish line photo!

It helps to take a look at the marathon course and break the distance up into smaller, more digestible pieces. Get familiar with where you will run. Go with what you know this week. Stick to similar meals, hydration and race day habits.

Race day is about celebration. Whether you are going for a better finish time or reaching for your first marathon medal, enjoy the journey because it will be over before you know it.

Run strong...

Coach Jenny

Garmin Forerunner GPS Watch

Holy cow I love my life. I was recently asked to test drive the new Garmin Forerunner GPS watch. It is the coolest running toy and a great motivator. Especially if you are into numbers.

The Garmin Forerunner links to the satellites and measures your speed and distance from above. No more driving in the car and measuring how far you went. No more pacing problems. The Forerunner gives you your pace while you run so there is no way to run too fast. Well, unless you just run too fast!

There is also a feature that is allows you to train against a "buddy". You set the pace for the buddy and keep up to it while you run. A great way to motivate yourself on those grueling gray days.

It is very easy to use and even downloads your data to your computer. For those that are into mapping features, you can even see your course on a satellite map!

It is on the top of my favorite things list and a great present for a runner or walker.

Happy Trails,

Coach Jenny

What Shall I Wear?

What to wear on those cool fall runs? I go through this every fall. In fact, it is my favorite time of year. The leaves show their brilliant colors, the crisp, cool days and the quest for the perfect caramel apple.

I have been running for years. You would think I would have this process down. Not true. Every fall, I have to figure out what to wear, how much or too little to wear on those crisp fall runs. I typically start out with too many layers fearing I will be cold then spend the entire run shedding layers. By the time I am finished, I have so many layers of clothing wrapped around my body I can't even move! I typically get it down to an outfit by the fourth or fifth cool run.

I try to follow these tips when figuring out what to wear on those cool fall runs...

-You should feel "chilled" at the start of your run. If you are toasty warm, you have too many layers on and will over heat.

-Dress for 15-20F degrees warmer than it is. If it is 40 degrees, dress for 55-60 degrees. That will allow for your increase in body temperature when running.

-Fall running clothes are cute and fun to shop for. When you buy something new, give an old piece away. Otherwise, you will end up spending all your time deciding which shirt or tights to wear rather than running in them!

Happy Trails,

Coach Jenny

Two Out of Three Ain't Bad...

Well, just arrived home from Toronto. John and I were in town for the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon. I spoke at the Expo Friday and Saturday and had plans to run the half marathon Sunday.

One of my goals this season was to run three half marathons instead of one marathon. I thought that would be realistic since my base is not very strong this fall. I ran the Disneyland Half last weekend. I was going for the Scotiabank this weekend and conclude with the new Rock n Roll San Jose in October.

I woke up Sunday morning feeling as if I got hit by a semi-truck. So, needless to say I did not run. I've learned the hard way in life that running through illness does not turn out very well in the end. Plus, my photo finish always looks awful...

San Jose is the next stop. Keeping my head high and putting one foot in front of the other.

Coach Jenny

The Happiest Race on Earth...

I have very fond memories of Disneyworld. My mom and dad would load the three kids in the van at 2am and drive straight through from Chicago to Orlando. We called it Disney or BUST! We wouldn't be three miles down the road when one of us would ask "how much farther is it?" I am sure we drove our parents crazy with the Sound of Music eight-track playing over and over. We could NOT wait to explore the wonderful world of Disney.

When they created the first Walt Disney World Marathon in 1994, I think I was one of the first people to register! It is a great way for an adult to have as much fun as a kid for a weekend. That was more than 10 years ago and the Disney people keep creating wonderful races.

John and I were invited to speak at the Inaugural DisneyLAND Half Marathon this weekend in Anaheim, CA. I have been counting the days until this event, and although my training has been less than optimal, I ran it at an easy pace and had a ball on the course. It is the only race where you can dress up like a character for the weekend and not have people look at you funny. You can bet this running girl has a new pair of golden ears...

The Disneyland Half Marathon is a very well organized event with loads of music and entertainment. We ran through all the theme parks, down the Santa Ana Trail by the river, through the scenic streets of Anaheim with mountains in the distance and around the bases in the Anaheim Angels MLB Team. All that and a high-five from Mickey and Minnie and the finish.

What is better than that?

Coach Jenny

Back in the Saddle Again

Well, it was a tough run this morning. Although I have been running pretty regularly lately, I think the emotional turmoil is taking a toll. I felt like I was running with a 80-pound backpack on...

It confirms that when we run, we do so with our body, our mind and our spirit. All of which must work together to move us efficiently forward. I knew it would be a tough run, but by the end I felt much better. Sometimes the hardest runs are the most rewarding in the end.

Coach Jenny

A Girl's Best Friend

Saturday we had one last walk with BEAR, our 16-year old dog. Bear was an 8-pound black poodle-shitzu mix and loved to run and fetch. He earned his name because his spirit was as big as a Bear.



He had a great life and was my best buddy. He studied with me in college, rode in my backpack and cheered on runners, and even beat a greyhound dog in the local Bark in the Park 5K. He was even assistant Crew with John when I raced a 24-hour solo adventure race in the UP. He put in a lot of miles with a lot of friends and will be missed greatly.



I plan on hosting a Hike in Bear's memory in the fall. He use to be the herding dog for my Hike Like a Girl clinics and would always make sure everyone front to back of the pack was safe.

The timing on this couldn't have been any worse, but I believe my father is going for daily walks with Bear somewhere over the rainbow.

As for me, my running life has been on hold for awhile and been in what I refer to as "maintenance" mode. I feel a challenge coming on soon. I am not sure what that means, but I will keep you posted.

Happy Trails,

Coach Jenny

This Run is for You Dad

Many of you know my father has been struggling with an inoperable brain tumor for just under a year. I am torn in writing that his struggle is over and he is at peace. He passed away August 30th with his family at his side.

He was a courageous man who's spirit to live life to its fullest carries on in me every day. I have learned many lessons from my father but my favorite is to make the most out of today. There are no guarantees for a tomorrow.

Today I will run for him. He enjoyed hearing stories of where running took me and what I saw along the journey. This run is for you dad. Your life is your legacy...

Coach Jenny

Side Stitches

I was finishing up a long run with my marathon team yesterday when all of a sudden a painful side stitch developed. There are many theories as to why stitches develop from irregular, rapid breathing to spasms in the diaphram, the major muscle responsible for breathing. In either case, there is a secret to getting rid of side stitches quickly.

My stitch was located in my left side. While running, focus on exhaling when the right foot (or opposite foot from the stitch) hits the ground. Not every time the foot hits the ground, but when you do exhale do so when the opposite side foot strikes the ground. It is also helpful to slow down and get your breathing under control. This trick usually gets rid of that stitch in seconds. It is amazing. It allows the musculature (diaphram) on the stitch side to relax and release the spasm that is causing the stitch.

Happy Trails,

Coach Jenny

Run Like a Kenyan

I had the pleasure of running and coaching Daniel Cheruiyot, a Kenyan runner who races for John Bingham Racing. We were in Tucson preparing for the Arizona Distance Classic and he asked me to go for a run with him. At first I chuckled, thinking yea, right, I am going for a run with a Kenyan runner. No way... Then he explained to me that he was running SLOW. I chuckled again and thought, yea, slow for a Kenyan runner is still too fast for me. He assured me it would be okay and we headed out the door.

While on the run I asked him what his typical slow pace was and he replied 8:00 minute miles. I was shocked! He runs sub 5 minute per mile pace in races and his slow pace was 3 minutes slower. Wow! He also added that most American runners, especially new runners, train too hard and too fast. I've always known the benefits of truly training easy on easy days, but this was a true testament that it works.

So, on your next "easy" run, truly take it easy. Make sure you can have a conversation and aren't gasping for air. If you are using a heart rate monitor, hang around 65-70% of your max or at a pace that is very comfortable. Because running easy allows you to run hard.

Happy Trails,

Coach Jenny

Running Negative

It is August in Chicago and a time when all you see on the Lakefront path is runners training for the Chicago Marathon. Although I am not training for Chicago this year (Our team, Chicago Endurance Sports has over 400 this year so I will be coaching) I am training for a few great races this fall.

One of my favorite training runs is what I call a Negative Split Run or Running Negative. Although it sounds negative, it teaches you how to pace from the start and pick up the pace in the last half of the race.

If you try it, plug it in as a "hard run" on your schedule. Head on a out and back course and take the first half at an easy pace. At the turn around, run back at a comfortably hard pace or at a pace that is just outside your comfort zone. If you are in to heart rate monitors it would be 70-75% out and 80-85% back. Your second half time split should be 1-3 minutes faster than the first half of the run. That depends greatly on the total time and your running speed.

It sounds easy but is a very challenging run. It takes discipline to run easy in the first half of a training run and a race. This is one of the most important skills to learn for race day. Pacing yourself from the start will conserve yourself for the final miles. You will end up passing more people, feel better in the final miles and most importantly, look GOOD for the finish line photo. And that is what it is really about, isn't it:)

Happy Trails,

Coach Jenny

When you come across a turtle in the road...

help him out. I was finishing up a great run in northern Illinois this past weekend when I came across a turtle sitting in his shell next to the curb. There was no way he was getting over that curb by himself so I picked him up and moved him safely across the road to a nearby pond. I am not privy to turtle etiquette, but I walked away smiling and thinking it was a good thing to do.

It made me think of how he must have gotten there. He had to cross the road at some point and when he did, he was met with a huge obstacle and something he couldn't tackle on his own. Well, he could have crossed back over the road again... technically speaking. Still, he got himself into a tricky spot.

I began to think of all the times I have gotten myself into a tough spot in training or in a race. Particularly, in an adventure race I did solo and got lost in the middle of the night. At first, I sat, like the turtle with my head between my knees and cried (I AM a girl...). Then, I saw some headlamps in the distance and decided to head down the mountain and see if they were lost as well. Turns out that all I had to do was walk about 500 feet down the mountain to find the trail. The answer was right in front of me but I couldn't see it without help.

These days, when I find myself in a tricky spot, I embrace a little help from my friends.

Happy Trails,

Coach Jenny

Girls on the Move - Baltimore

What a weekend! I was visiting family in the DC area and had the chance to run with a great group of ladies who are part of Health Magazine's Girls on the Move Running Club. GOTM is a national running club that motivates new and seasoned runners to train together. Sue Hays, a GOTM leader has developed a great running club in the Baltimore area. Most of the club started as new runners and could never imagine running one mile, let alone a race. Last month, all of them ran their first 5K and have the stories to prove it. They will be featured in the November issue of Health Magazine.

We met at a women's fitness facility run by Lorraine Bibb called "Contours Express" and talked running, fitness and chafing (all the good stuff) and then headed off to a beautiful park for a 3 mile run. You know you are a real runner when the skies open up and the rain pours down and you think it feels good. GOTM - Baltimore, you're a great group of runners.

Happy Trails,

Coach Jenny

Great Alaskan Maritime Marathon

What a month it has been! We just returned from the Inaugural Great Alaskan Maritime Marathon. John and I hosted over 100 runners and their family on a week full of clinics, running races, great food and beautiful scenery. The idea was to challenge runners to complete the marathon distance 26.2 miles over the course of a few days. Sounds easy right? Wrong! They ran 2 miles on deck, a half marathon in Juneau, 5 miler in Sitka and 10K trails in Ketchikan. By the end of the week our legs were tired but we all were sporting shiny new marathon medals for the first and only staged marathon on a Cruise ship! The highlight was getting to know runners from all over the nation AND seeing a whale in the first mile of the half marathon. What a trip...

It was so successful we are planning another GAMM trip for 2007. Stay tuned for more details.

Happy Trails,

Coach Jenny

Post Race Recovery

I find post race recovery a bit challenging. In most cases, you are coming off a high from the race and want to keep going. Your body reminds you the day after just how hard you ran on race day. I encourage runners to take the week after a half or full marathon off running all together and do light cross-training. It helps speed the healing process by giving your muscles, tendons and joints a break from the impact of running and allows your mind to defrag after the long structured training season.

So, here I am at day four of my post race recovery and already I want to go for a run. I take that as a good sign that the recovery is going well physically and mentally. Until then I am cycling, strength training and focusing on flexibility.

Happy Trails,

Coach Jenny

Taking it to the streets...

What a week. I started my week in New York City with Health Magazine's Girls on the Move Running Club. It is an incredible Club that celebrates the power of women moving. The Online Club GirlsOnTheMove.org is motivating women throughout the nation to walk, run-walk and run together and have fun while getting fit. In the first month, they have over 4,000 members!

I also had the chance to run one of my favorite courses in the world...Central Park. I ran the loop around the Park which is a bout 6 miles and enjoyed every minute. There are tons of people riding, blading, running, walking, juggling... Not to mention the challenging rolling hills. Have I mentioned that I love running hills? It was a treat to say the least.

Today, I had the honor of running the 30th One America 500 Festival Indy Mini Marathon and had an absolutely magical day. The weather was perfect sunny and 45 degrees at the start 55 at the finish. You can't ask for much better than that. 35,000 participants towed the line in the town center of Indianapolis and ran 6 miles to the famous Indianapolis Motor Speedway and back! More than 2 miles running on a track where cars race over 200 miles per hour. It really put things into perspective as it took me a little over 16 minutes to run what race cars cover in seconds. The course wiggles through the Indy community with over 120 entertainment stations. It is a wonderful start to a month long celebration for the city of Indianapolis and a race that is highly recommended in my book. Register early for this one. It sells out in November!

From the Big Apple to the Indy Speedway, running is a gift that has taken me to some really fun places...

Happy Trails,

Coach Jenny

Running Music City

I am not a big fan of country music, but when in Rome...

We took a team of runners from Chicago Endurance Sports (half and full marathon training program) to Nashville for the Country Music Marathon yesterday. 23,000 runners and walkers and a country music band at every mile. It was a fantastic event!

The Music City race was a beautifully rolling course through the Nashville community and a fun journey with rockin' tunes even I enjoyed. The team was really challenged by the never ending hills, but they had trained all winter on the one hill we have in Chicago and treadmills too. Not exactly the same, but it helped them conquer hill after hill.

We met at a hip honky tonk "Tootsie's Orchid Lounge" later that night and all of them were surprised and excited about what they had accomplished. And to my surprise, we were even caught dancing to the country music.

Every now and then it pays to push your self outside your comfort zone physically and culturally. You realize just how much you can achieve and learn to enjoy different styles of life too...

Happy Trails Ya'All,

Coach Jenny

Earth Day Run...

I think I am one day off the official celebration of Earth Day, but nonetheless, I had a beautiful day to run my annual Earth Day Run. 10 miles, sunny and cool and it couldn't have been a better day. It is a run I started after I raced in Eco-Challenge out of respect for the terrain we live on day to day.

Eco-Challenge was a grueling race and also an opportunity to help the terrain and the community where we raced. In Borneo we planted new trees in a park. In New Zealand, we donated books to the school children and in Fiji, I adopted a family. We were cold, wet and tired and they invited us into their hut for hot tea. We took off our shoes and walked in the back door, out of respect for the chief of the village. We talked (they speak english), we celebrated life and shared stories of our cultures. It was truly one of the most magical experiences of my life. The fijian woman was my age and had a lovely family of children. We hit it off as soon as we met. No shoes, not much food and hardly any clothing, yet they were happy in their village and shared what little they had. A life lesson for me.

So as I run on Earth Day, I pick up what ever trash comes in my path and toss it in the garbage. That is quite a lot on the lakefront path in Chicago. I know, it is not exactly a huge contribution, but at this point in my life it is a way to remember the Fijian family and a small way of respecting this wonderful planet we call Earth.

Happy Trails,

Coach Jenny

Running on the wrong side of the lake...

I'm fortunate enough to be up in Toronto speaking to a great group of coaches for the Jeans Marines Training Program. Toronto is a great city, and there is nothing like running through the streets to get the feel of the town. It reminds me an awful lot of Chicago, only the lake is on the wrong side of the city! They have a nice running path along the lake, but boy am I turned around. I just might have to break out my adventure racing compass again.

Happy Trails...

Coach Jenny

Happy Birthday to Me...

Yes, today is my 39th birthday. One more year until I hit 40. I thought I would be upset about leaving my thirties, but I can't stop thinking of how great it will be to have another 5 minutes to qualify for the Boston Marathon. Life is good.

I ran my traditional birthday run on the lakefront path today. I am about one minute per mile slower than I was 10 years ago, but I still smile when I run. Running is the ultimate gift. That is what I try to remember when I get down on my times. I am still out there enjoying it!

Happy Trails...

Coach Jenny