Jenny on the Run

As I ran an “easy” 8 this morning around a loop at Stony Creek park, I also witnessed my teammates in their first workout of their segment prepping for the Olympic Marathon Trials in Houston, a little more than 10 weeks out from race day. I couldn’t help but feel a little bit strange/little bit nerdy excitement for each of them, finally officially starting up training for something all of us have been dreaming about really since we started running, and maybe if it wasn’t on our mind then, certainly since arriving to train under the Hansons in Michigan.

Having been here for almost 10 months (already!), I have seen how hard each and every one of my teammates works, day in and day out, and gotten a brand new appreciation of true long distance running. And, yes, I’ve made mistakes, I’ve gotten dropped on runs, I’ve pushed too hard, I’ve had tough workouts… but I’ve gained supportive teammates, coaches, and friends,  nailed some workouts I didn’t know I could, and been inspired more than ever before. It hasn’t been the smoothest transition in the world, but let’s face it, change is never easy. A lot has indeed changed in a year’s time. But I feel alive. I get up each morning and run with a group of women who are chasing the same dream that I am. Some are closer to it than others, but it doesn’t matter. For that one hour (or so!) every morning, we get to do what makes us feel alive. It’s tough, especially with someone as impatient as myself, because with distance running, it takes time to see results. Improvement comes from the “trial of miles; miles of trials.”

Back to that word. Trials. That nerdy excitement for each of my teammates prepping for the Olympic Trials is because I have seen how hard each one of them works, and I have no doubt that at least one among us will don the red, white, and blue in London next year.

At 23, I’m the second youngest member of the team. And a ways off the average age of the female U.S. Olympic marathon Trials qualifier– 31. (did some independent research on my own, slight margin of error, but I have all the data on Excel spreadsheets- 31.2 = average age out of 187 qualifiers as of 11/1; get at me if you’d like to see any of it!)

I’ve still got so much left to learn, but I’m so grateful for all the eye-openers I’ve already had since moving here. Grateful for the opportunity to renew, reassess, and redefine what makes me feel alive. I’ve got a lot to prove in the distance running world, but I can’t think of much better of a place and program to, as the famous quote says, continue working hard day after day, like a stonecutter; “hammering away at his rock perhaps a hundred times without as much as a crack showing in it. Yet at the hundred and first blow it splits in two, and he knows it was not that blow that did it – but all that had gone before.”

I know I have seemingly touched a lot on passion in this blog. But isn’t that what life’s truly about anyways? “Don’t ask yourself what the world needs, ask yourself what makes you come alive. And then go and do that. Because what the world needs is more people who are truly alive.”

“Passion, it lies in all of us, sleeping… waiting… and though unwanted… unbidden… it will stir… open its jaws and howl. It speaks to us… guides us… passion rules us all, and we obey. What other choice do we have? Passion is the source of our finest moments. The joy of love… the clarity of hatred… and the ecstasy of grief. It hurts sometimes more than we can bear. If we could live without passion maybe we’d know some kind of peace… but we would be hollow… Empty rooms shuttered and dank. Without passion we’d be truly dead.”

Can’t wait to be in Houston on January 14th to watch America’s finest long distance runners battle it out for the three slots in London. Sure to be a day that evokes plenty of passion for all involved.

Racing next sometime in mid-December for a short rust-buster and then back to Disney on January 8th to defend my 2010 half marathon title! Continuing to build strength.

For more info on the Olympic Trials, visit http://www.houston2012.com.

Wishing all my Hansons-Brooks teammates…Desi, Dot, Mel, Erin, Lavenna, Mike, Luke, Sage, Drew, Paul, Robert, Tim, & Chad… the best as the Olympic Trials build-up officially heats up!

(For a video intro of all the Hansons-Brooks OTQ’s, click here! (courtesy of Sage & Vo2 Max Productions!)

Do what you love, love what you do.

-Jenny

I’m about 12 days out from the Rock n’ Roll San Jose half marathon. Training has gone pretty well, gotten some consistent mileage (3+ weeks in the 90′s) and workouts in, and in that span of time have been very inspired by performances on the track and roads by my fellow Hansons-Brooks teammates and Team USA in Daegu as well as summer road races/U.S. Road Championship races.

This past weekend at the Rock n’ Roll Philly half marathon, Kim Smith re-set her own U.S. all-comers half marathon record. I was lucky enough to have a chance to meet and cool down with her following her previously set record in February at the Mardi Gras Half. She was incredibly down-to-earth and wasn’t too surprised she bounced back from her injury in Boston to cruise in Philly. She’ll certainly be a force to be reckoned with in London.

My teammates Dot and Melissa continue to run extremely well gearing up for the Trials, and Desi will be amongst a “ridiculous” field at the Lisbon Half in Portugal this coming weekend. ( Portugal Half start list ) I’ve enjoyed having the chance to run with all three of them.

It’s been fun having a new face around our house as I also have gained a new teammate/roommate from the University of Illinois, Elizabeth Boyle. Erin, Elizabeth, and myself have pushed each other through quite a few workouts in the past few weeks. It’s been fun. Tough, but fun!

Heading in to the race, I’m going to keep a simple mentality/outlook: to give it all I have. I’ve always been a fan of the quote, “Everything you’ve got, every chance you get.” I’m thankful to have stayed healthy over this segment of training and while it’s been more difficult than I anticipated coming back from injury, I’ve gotten consistent training in and know I’ll be ready to race hard on October 2nd. I’m looking forward to seeing a part of California I’ve never been to and am truly just grateful for another opportunity to put on the Hansons-Brooks red and yellow and give it another go at the 13.1 distance.

It’s also been great chatting with customers at the stores gearing up for fall marathons. (The Detroit Marathon is a BIG deal around here!) Makes me excited for the future. I get people asking me all the time when I’m going to “finally” run a marathon. I generally respond that I want to be fully committed to the distance, that I make the conscious decision to be ready to tackle the intense training that leads up to it, and to be ready to race, not run the distance just to be able to say I did. Two things I know for sure: I enjoy putting in miles, and the marathon isn’t going anywhere. Sure doesn’t hurt to keep working at lowering PR’s in the shorter distances first! (I know some pretty fantastic runners who managed to do just that )

Well, time to head off for a second run before work.

Thanks for reading…Always love to hear how your training is going. Drop me a tweet or a question/comment below if you would like, please!

Remember patience: “Good things come slow – especially in distance running.” –Bill Dellinger

Happy Running!

~Jenny

I’m back! That statement is true in several different forms! Back running injury/pain-free for a solid month or so now, and finally back here, to my blog, to share some more valuable information I’ve been lucky enough to collect since I last wrote!

Working my way back to running was… a challenge, as many of you who have faced injuries before surely already know. My heart and mind wanted to just go out and run 8 or 10 miles since it had been so long since I’d been able to do so, but my legs quickly told me NO! I cross trained a pretty good amount through my injury, but as I found out, nothing compared to running– with biking, ellipticalling, and aqua jogging, my legs weren’t used to impact, and so, I was forced to make it a very gradual transition back to running. Luckily we have a great system of trails here in Michigan, so for about 2-3 weeks, I walked and ran exclusively on those trails to sort of lessen the impact on my legs and again, work back in to things gradually. I have now been doing workouts for about 3 weeks and even did a very early “rust buster” 10K back in my college hometown of Green Bay – the Bellin Run. I was indeed very rusty, but it was a blast to get a chance to go back to my old “stomping grounds.” I reunited with a lot of very special people, as well as met some amazing runners– warmed up with Joan Benoit Samuelson, talked with Bill Rodgers & Frank Shorter, as well as chatted with Australian Olympian Benita Willis and several other former Bellin champs! (See some fun press I got for being back in Green Bay here (Fox News Interview), here (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel interview), & here (interview with Green Bay Press Gazette). For a full recap of the race, see this Milwaukee Journal Sentinel article.

I did my longest run since February (before my stress fracture) today. It’s funny how even a month ago I wasn’t sure how I’d ever feel good running long again. I love that every little progression means that much more to me now. I am really enjoying running right now, so inspired by the recent performances of my teammates Desi (PRing like crazy on the track now too!), Dot (PR’d by 4 minutes at Grandma’s Marathon with a 2:31!) & Melissa (near PR 2:33 at San Diego RnR marathon!)– just plain grateful to be where I’m at, here in Michigan, ready to turn the ripe old age of 23 in less than a month!

My target race has been set– the Philadelphia Rock n’ Roll Half on September 18th– one last shot at sub-1:15. My focus is simply on getting stronger each and every day.

How might I ensure I can continue to get stronger day by day? Well, one huge piece of the training puzzle is nutrition. I was fortunate enough to be put in contact with a nutritionist who has worked at the Olympic Training Centers in both Colorado Springs and Chula Vista, is one of the official nutritionists of  the 2012 London Olympic Games, and also just so happens to be head nutritionist for the Detroit Red Wings! She took time out of her crazy busy schedule to meet with me, point out my flaws in nutrition, and give me advice on improving to maximize my potential as a runner! It was certainly an eye-opening experience. I realized that through most of college, I was pretty clueless on fueling my body for optimum performance. I got by on the bare essentials, but I lacked anything that would ever give me extra benefits. I was so pleased to have the opportunity to meet with her, learn from her, and take away so much valuable information to continue my commitment to “renovating” my lifestyle a bit so I can stay a part of this sport for many, many years to come!

So now, I want to share a bit of what I learned with you. Even if you’re not really a runner, there’s still plenty of useful information to be absorbed!

- Protein is a MUST. A lot of distance runners think protein and think bulk. Wrong. Especially after hard efforts. Protein is the primary aid in repairing the broken down muscle tissues that running induces. Running 90-120 miles per week as I do, I’m recommended to eat 80 grams of protein a day. When I first took my nutrition logs in to the nutritionist to take a look at, I was eating around 20-40 a day! For runners, the best sources of protein are lean meats such as chicken, turkey, and fish, nuts/peanut butter, dairy (especially milk, eggs, and yogurt) and if you have trouble stomaching food right after a workout, get in liquid protein by mixing protein powder with water. (I now use GENUCAN , unfortunately remained oblivious to “protein shakes” all through college!) The other piece I neglected through college was getting a good source of protein in within 30 minutes of finishing an intense effort. Timing is crucial to replenish the glycogen stores.

- You really can’t ever OVER hydrate. Especially during the warm summer months.

- Long distance runners, marathoners in particular, need to have some fat to stay injury free/ sustain a high level of success. One thing the nutritionist emphasized is to learn to have perspective about being “lean.” Omega-3 fatty acids are the best source of fat and have been proven to aid in not only physical performance, but mental concentration, too! I have learned to have at least a handful of nuts every day- put them on top of my oatmeal or yogurt. I now use more olive oil when I’m cooking, and try to have salmon once a week. Avocadoes and hummus are great to add to any sandwich, and well, peanut butter is an always tasty additive to just about anything. Who honestly doesn’t like a good peanut butter and jelly sandwich?

- Caffeine is best for runners in moderation. The most advantageous use of caffeine is prior to a race or hard effort, but only if your body isn’t already accustomed to it. The nutritionist even recommended weaning yourself off of it prior to a big race if you really want to see the benefits of consuming it. I’m not sure I’ll be able to follow this piece of advice as I’ve truly become a coffee (& caffeine) addict!

- Most runners can benefit from taking vitamins/supplements. Dairy doesn’t exactly agree with my stomach, so I have to be creative on finding ways to get enough calcium and vitamin D. I now take a Vitamin D and Calcium supplement daily to ensure healthy bone density. The last thing I want is another stress fracture! I also take an Omega-3 supplement daily, along with Bone-Up, which provides iron, magnesium and zinc to support healthy bone/joint function.

- Load up on “super” foods, some of which I have already mentioned: beans/lentils (black beans, pinto beans, chickpeas to name a few), berries (especially blueberries, raspberries, and strawberries!), broccoli, dark chocolate (in moderation of course ), oats (gotta love whole grain oatmeal!),  nuts (especially walnuts, almonds, sunflower seeds, pecans, and cashews), spinach (and other dark leafy greens!), oranges, and oily fish (salmon and trout). Several of these foods I neglected to even try all through college and have now found them to live up to their super name!

- Eat every 3 hours or so. Never allow yourself to feel “starved.” I’ve learned to develop “go to” snacks such as pretzels and hummus, a fruit smoothie, and homemade trail mix that keep me from getting “hangry” as some of my teammates have so cleverly phrased it– that awful time when you’re so overly hungry you take it out on every one else around you. Learn to avoid getting “hangry”!

- Do your best to eat “real” food. In the past, I would try TV dinners, live on energy bars, and just about anything I could find that seemed healthy but quick/convenient. Most of those “lean cuisine” type dinners and energy bars contained so many unnatural ingredients that just aren’t good to put in your body on a regular basis AND they never really leave you feeling satiated. Thanks to the reminding of the nutritionist, I have tried to cut down on the number of energy bars I eat, keeping a supply for when I’m short on time, but doing my best to prepare snacks/meals ahead of time and remember those “go-to” snacks I listed above.

- It all goes back to moderation. That strive for balance I’ve mentioned frequently applies to food and nutrition as it does in all other areas of a runner’s life. I had foods I used to completely avoid because in my mind they were deemed “unhealthy” and that was that. What I have come to learn is that depriving yourself of any one food is completely wrong. I’ve learned there’s no shame in allowing yourself treats like hamburgers, chocolate chip cookies, muffins, and chips once in a while. Especially when they’re home made.

One other piece of recovery I’m really going to focus on leading up to my goal race in September is SLEEP. The nutritionist I met with reminded me of all the studies done saying anything less than 8 hours for a runner ends up hindering performance. I am going to make it a huge point to try for 8 hours of sleep every single night. I think you should, too! Never forget as well that naps are highly under-rated!

Well, there you have it. Some tidbits of information I’ve gathered in the last few months that really opened my eyes to a whole new potential for success. The best of the best elite athletes find an equilibrium– that is, they know what foods work for them, they’re in tune with their body and know what it needs to keep them performing at a world-class level. I’m going to continue to work on getting in-tune with my body, and hope I can help others get there, too. It’s a process – but really what part of being a runner isn’t a process/progression? One thing I’ve learned, though, is that fun part of progression– being able to celebrate the little successes along the way!

I’d love to hear any other pieces of info you may have on nutrition– even recipe ideas! And please feel free to e-mail, tweet, or comment below if you have any other additional questions for me, or even for the wonderful Olympic Training Center nutritionist I am so lucky to have access to!

A link to the U.S. Olympic Committee Nutritionists’ Resources/Fact Sheets can be found here . I am so glad I finally decided to seek out information regarding nutrition, and hope that if you’re struggling with what to eat, when, or perhaps feeling sluggish and wondering why, that you’ll examine your own nutrition and read up, gain knowledge, and/or even go see a nutritionist near you. I’m already feeling stronger, both physically and mentally, and look forward to continuing to make PROGRESS in my quest to be the best I possibly can be!

Dream Big, Work Hard… Smile Often… and…Eat Well!

Till next time, Happy Running!

-Jenny (forever “KnightRunner”)

The following is a post I wrote in August of 2010. I’m not usually one to RE post things, but I thought it was appropriate as it’s officially National Running Day, and I think it’s important to get it out there why running means so much to me. I’d also really like to hear from YOU why running is continually a part of your life! The only thing I’d add to this post from last August is that running honestly means more to me now than it ever has, having just come off of a stress fracture injury that kept me away from it for well over 6 weeks! Spending countless hours on an elliptical and bike simply cannot even come close to even a 10 minute run in the great outdoors. And for me, it honestly took getting injured to recognize that the ability to run is a gift; and f you’re wise enough to strike a balance in all aspects of your life, running will reward you greatly. So there’s just one more reason why running is so great– it can help you discover more about yourself- give you a whole new perspective and even outlook on life.

Here’s a copy & paste of my post “Why” from August 2010. Would love to hear your comments/thoughts on it!

I was recently interviewed by Dave Tiefenthaler, the creator of a great running website, Tips4Running.com.

One question in particular really struck me, mostly because I hadn’t ever really stopped to think about it before: Why do you enjoy running so much?

I’m a big fan of asking why. I think understanding the reasoning behind what goes on in this crazy world of ours is crucial to developing as a human being – to gain knowledge and to be able to form your own views/ideas/opinions. I’ll never say no to a little kid who continues to ask, “why?” because I think that little kid represents an inquisitive way of life we all need to buy in to! One of my favorite quotes (yes, I know I have a lot of “favorites” ) is “it’s what you learn after you know it all that counts.” (John Wooden) The smartest people in this world simply never stop learning and acquiring new information… never stop asking “Why?”

So it is with this thought that I delve in to the question of WHY I love to run.

For the purpose of brevity, here’s what I told Dave in my interview: It’s the “runner’s high,” it’s the constant improvement and goal setting that can be made, it’s the connections made with other runners who share the same passion for the sport…. I think I could go on and on. Basically, I feel that running, along with God, family, and friends, fulfills me as a person!

However, never one to be short-winded, I couldn’t help but feel like my answer was incomplete.

With my passion for running, I can’t believe I’d never really thought about/addressed this question before. This was honestly the first time I’d straight up been asked that question! I can imagine with all the raised eyebrows and blank stares I’ve gotten from people (can’t count the number of times I’ve wanted to yell, “TAKE A PICTURE!”) just in my own hometown that many have wanted to pose this question to me long before this, but surprisingly it’s never really come up.

So… over the past couple of days as I’ve been out on my runs, I’ve taken some time to… really dig deep to get to the answer in its entirety!

I love and have loved a lot of things in and about my life. I love God, my family, my friends, my dog… and I have loved sports for a very long time. Prior to St. Norbert, throughout all of high school, I absolutely, positively loved the sport of basketball. I spent endless hours in a gym honing my jumpshot. But, there was always something about it that… ate at me. Like I was always searching for more. Never once did I feel content about where I was at in my basketball career. And that became especially true as I began as a collegiate basketball player at St. Norbert. Suddenly I was quite honestly in over my head. Sitting on that bench that season made me come to the realization that there had to be something more out there for me; something that could reward me better, put a smile back on my face more often, and give me a much greater feeling of contentment.

Running. It became my escape from the basketball court – it was a refreshing break from the screaming of coaches and the stresses of being in over my head. It got me through that disappointing season because, as I quickly began to realize, it brought me happiness! When I got out and ran, it didn’t matter that I had failed to step on to the court for even a single minute earlier. It was something only I, myself, could control. And I liked it. I really, really liked it.

By the end of basketball season, I was up to running for about an hour at a time. I never knew how far I’d run or even how fast — I’d simply go by feel. Looking back, it’s very refreshing to note this, to know that I fell in love with running in its purest form – not even a watch many days, just a t-shirt, shorts, and a pair of running shoes.

So why would I ultimately decide to put the sport I was in love with through all of high school on hold for– running ? Well, the next big reason is the success that would follow as a result of the hard work I put in — continually running, day after day. I medaled at our Indoor Conference track meet about 2 weeks after basketball season was over with. It was at this moment I knew I’d found a sport where I could finally get out of it what I put in to it. And I LOVED that feeling.

The other part is at that Conference meet, I realized I was with a group of people like me. I instantly found myself able to fit in to their conversations and relate to who they were as people. I finally felt like I belonged at St. Norbert! And I LOVED that feeling.

And now, looking back at the “beginnings” of my running — now nearly 4 years ago!! — makes me smile. I’ve had my fair share of ups and downs throughout my running career thus far, but remembering how that fire/passion for running was first lit makes me set aside all those troubles and simply recognize how much joy it’s brought in to my life.

And in 4 years, that like of running I found during basketball season, turned in to a love, and then a passion. I started meeting more runners like me via Twitter (shoutout to @steeplcreepr & @sastewart11 who I’ve formed an unbelievable connection with!), sharing experiences and feelings with them — and that became another reason why I love running. I truly believe runners have a connection with one another unlike any other athletes in any other sport!

How about that constant challenge running provides? As a goal-oriented person, I love that running is there everyday to present a challenge. Sometimes that challenge can just be to lace up those shoes and get out the door! But there’s always a better time or a longer distance you can look to build towards. Running is without limits! “Running is a big question mark that’s there each and every day. It asks you, ‘Are you going to be a wimp or are you going to be strong today?’”

Then there’s that feeling, that only real runners know — that runner’s high. It’s that burst of energy you somehow get at the end of a long, long run… it’s that feeling you get in the middle of a race that helps you beat someone you never thought you were capable of beating. It’s that incredible feeling you have as you finish your run or race or workout — a feeling of euphoria that can’t even really be put in to words! It’s not something that happens all the time, but when it does, it’s the perfect reminder of WHY we run.

So, there’s a more complete answer as to WHY I love to run. I love the freedom, the simplicity, the high, the people, the challenges, the successes, the happiness, the contentment, the improvements, and the life lessons associated with running. And there are some others too — the cool gadgets (Garmin watch!), the ridiculously expansive and seemingly endless array of running shoe & gear choices available, the awesome flurry of websites devoted to fueling your passion for running that have popped up over the last couple of years (see this Running Times article!) and the obvious health benefits associated with running… but these, to me, are added bonuses. When you talk about the LOVE of running, it all goes back to those first few months I began running — when I ran because it felt good, and because it helped me meet people I could actually relate to. I love running because it has fulfilled me in a way I never knew possible. And it will continue to be a part of my life for as long as possible.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on WHY you love running. Leave me a comment below, shoot me an e-mail at knightrunner22@gmail.com or tweet me!

Till next time… Happy Running. Don’t ever forget what made you fall in love with this terrific sport.

~KnightRunner

This guy used to sit and wait for me to get home from school so we could go for our run. He helped jumpstart my love for running in high school! We still go for jogs whenever I get a chance to get home!

Some great quotes on why we run (you didn’t actually think I’d only provide only one or 2 quotes in a blog post, did you?? ):

“We run, not because we think it is doing us good, but because we enjoy it and cannot help ourselves…The more restricted our society and work become, the more necessary it will be to find some outlet for this craving for freedom. No one can say, ‘You must not run faster than this, or jump higher than that.’ The human spirit is indomitable.”
-Sir Roger Bannister, first runner to run a sub-4 minute mile

“Running is the greatest metaphor for life, because you get out of it what you put into it.”
-Oprah Winfrey

“You have to wonder at times what you’re doing out there. Over the years, I’ve given myself a thousand reasons to keep running, but it always comes back to where it started. It comes down to self-satisfaction and a sense of achievement.” – Steve Prefontaine

“I always loved running…it was something you could do by yourself, and under your own power. You could go in any direction, fast or slow as you wanted, fighting the wind if you felt like it, seeking out new sights just on the strength of your feet and the courage of your lungs.” – Jesse Owens

“I run because it’s so symbolic of life. You have to drive yourself to overcome the obstacles. You might feel that you can’t. But then you find your inner strength, and realize you’re capable of so much more than you thought.” –Arthur Blank

“Running is not, as it so often seems, only about what you did in your last race or about how many miles you ran last week. It is, in a much more important way, about community, about appreciating all the miles run by other runners, too.” –Richard O’Brien

I’d also love to hear your feedback on the interview I did with Tips4Running.com! View the interview in its entirety here. Thanks again to Dave, creat

or of Tips4Running, for asking to do the interview! It’s an honor to be featured on such a great website/resource for runners!

Injuries stink. There’s really no other way to put it. They force you away from something you love, something you have a passion for. We’ve all been there. For me, getting diagnosed with a calcaneous (heel bone) stress fracture about two weeks ago was… a first. I’ve been running consistent and serious miles for about five years and this injury marks the first time I’ve had to take completely off of running. I know I’m pretty darn lucky to be able to say that… and despite how awful it felt to hear the diagnosis, I’ve vowed to take this as a learning experience. So many runners and athletes have told me if you go about rehabbing the right way, you will learn a lot from being injured and will come back stronger. It’s about being patient, not trying to do too much too soon… that’s what I’ve been told. So there’s that p word yet again.

To start my rehab, I took ten days completely off of all physical activity except for yoga. I thought it would be incredibly difficult, but instead, it was quite refreshing. It became pretty obvious this injury was my body sending me a signal… that it’s craving rest/recovery. I had never done yoga prior to two weeks ago– so I was hesitant to give it a try, but I’m so very glad I did. It brought about a whole new perspective and challenge for me. It has helped me develop a new sense of calmness and relaxation. It’s stretched and toned my body in ways nothing else ever has. And for someone who doesn’t easily give up control, yoga has helped me to recognize the need to let go– because “the highest state of meditation in yoga requires a calm, serene, one-pointed mind, free from negative emotions and the distractions created by cravings, obsessions, and desires.” Class by class, I feel as though a little more self-imposed pressure/weight is lifted off of my shoulders.

So by now you’re probably thinking, “Wow… she sounds like she’s going to stop running and just start doing yoga 24/7!” Nah, I still miss running… a lot… and don’t have any plans to give it up for quite some time. But, I do think yoga has its own wonderful and significant place in the recovery process. I know it’s going to continue to help me become healthier — help me discover more about myself– and find more balance in my life, something I’ve come to realize will have to be achieved before I can consider this recovery process complete.

So, as I am starting back up with cross training (mostly pool running and biking!), I’m doing my best to take things one day at a time– to stay positive, and stay patient. I’m working on defining myself through other ways besides just running and exercise. I’m meeting new people and doing my best to go a bit outside of my comfort zone.

This injury has been a wake-up call for me– and as I said in my previous post, I know it’s going to take time and a lot of patience… but I am learning so much about myself and the people and world around me through this process… and I am confident I will come back a stronger runner and person than ever before.

I’ll continue to keep you posted on the road back to running. I appreciate all your kind words, support, and even advice as I deal with this really for the first time! Also, please continue to send me your thoughts on maintaining balance! I have also recently come to recognize how much I truly love to cook/bake and find myself just wishing I had a bit more time to do so… so if you runners/athletes have any “go-to” recipes for great sources of protein, iron, nutrients, etc.  please pass them along my way!

For anyone else out there battling an injury, please do your best to stay positive… use it as a learning experience, and if nothing else, make you appreciate running and all the blessings in your life that much more!

Till next time… Happy Running! Enjoy Spring… be smart with your training and listen to your body. It will thank you for it! (something I’ve recently FINALLY discovered!)

“Affliction and adversity comes to us, not to make us sad but sober; not to make us sorry but wise.”

“You’ll seldom experience regret for anything that you’ve done. It is what you haven’t done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear. Do it! Develop an appreciation for the present moment. Seize every second of your life and savor it. Value your present moments. Using them up in any self-defeating ways means you’ve lost them forever.”

“Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen.” -Winston Churchill

“What lies behind you and what lies in front of you, pales in comparison to what lies inside of you.” -Ralph Waldo Emerson

Oh, and I recently did an interview with an awesome new site for aspiring post-collegiates, RunPro.com. In it I share my experience- the challenging transition (that I’m still very much in the midst of!) from a DIII athlete to the professional running scene. Check it out here.

One other side note… best of luck to teammates Desi, Zach, and Paul at Boston on Monday the 18th! It’s been awesome watching/observing them throughout training/workouts… they’re super fit and I only wish I could be there in person to cheer them on!

As I was down in Florida a couple weeks ago preparing for what was then the upcoming New Orleans Half Marathon, I spent a lot of time with my new teammates. I believe we learned a lot about one another, and I know they helped me learn a lot about myself. They finally brought it to my attention that as I head in to a higher volume of training than ever before, in order to get through the segment both healthy and (at least somewhat) happy, I have to commit to renovating/revamping my approach to training and fueling. I wrote a previous post on transitioning. The change from college to the professional ranks is obviously a very difficult one, but it’s going to be made easier if I can learn/make the commitment to let go of some habits/routines I developed in college and revamp them to properly adjust to the changes in my training and surroundings.

While at this time I’m still unsure whether I’ll make the leap to marathoning, I do know I am more dedicated than ever before to finding a healthier balance in my life. It’s no longer acceptable to use the excuse that I “can’t sit still for very long” to head to the gym to perhaps lift a few weights. As my mileage/volume increases, that “excuse” will be the most important aspect of my training! So, in anticipation of this, I’ve already sought out ways to help myself relax and recover. I’ve recently tried yoga, bought a few novels to read (fallen in love with The Secret Life of Bees ), and asked other accomplished runners how they release from the rigors of training and keep themselves from going above and beyond what their bodies can handle.

Recovery has been an all too often neglected part of my training. But, moving forward, I’m committed to finding the right balance for my body. I’m so thankful for my teammates and the resources I’ve been able to tap in to since I’ve moved to Michigan. I look forward to continuing to renovate/revamp my lifestyle– my routines, habits– so that I can get the most from my coaches, my training, my body– and so that I can be a better overall teammate, friend/family member, and person.

Obviously all of us have certain weaknesses, certain improvements that need to be made within our lives. I believe it’s incredibly important to find within yourself these weaknesses and do your best to improve upon them and even make them your strengths. In my case, eventually I’d like to make the fueling and recovery process one of my biggest strengths. With an amazing support system and a true commitment from myself to put words in to action, I believe in due time, I’ll achieve the balance I need to become a better runner than ever before. It’s going to take patience, it’s going to take an awful lot of experimentation. Mistakes/fallbacks are going to happen, but I’m going to get this right. I love this sport so much and fully intend to be in it for the long run… to have running be a part of my life for many, many years to come!

I’ll keep you all posted on the journey that is my running renovation. As I delve in to the revamping process, I’d appreciate any and all advice you may have in regards to nutrition and recovery for endurance athletes. What’s worked for you? How do you achieve balance?

Thanks for reading… and for all your support!

Oh, and quick race report at New Orleans: I did end up with a 96 second PR at the New Orleans Half on February 5th with a time of 1:15:58. So, 58 seconds short of the Olympic Trials Marathon qualifying standard. Now, as I stated above, I will have to make the decision whether to chase the standard via halfs or if I want to try and achieve it by running sub-2:46! I’ll make this decision soon. Even with a great PR, however, I know I must make the necessary lifestyle changes to continue to PR and achieve success at what is becoming a more and more elite level!

Till next time… stay positive, stay passionate
-Jenny

~A few thought-provoking quotes:

“Efficiency is doing things right. Effectiveness is doing the right things.”
- Peter Drucker

“Live your life each day as you would climb a mountain. An occasional glance towards the summit keeps the goal in mind, but many beautiful scenes are to be observed from each new vintage point.”
- Harold B Melchart

“Don’t wish it were easier, wish you were better. Don’t wish for fewer problems, wish for more skills. Don’t wish for less challenges, wish for more wisdom.”
- Earl Shoaf

“The future has several names. For the weak, it is the impossible. For the fainthearted, it is the unknown. For the thoughtful and valiant, it is the ideal.”
- Victor Hugo

“Without continual growth and progress, such words as improvement, achievement, and success have no meaning.”
-Benjamin Franklin

“Failure is not fatal, but failure to change might be.”
-John Wooden

…passage from one state, stage, subject, or place to another : change. (thanks, Merriam-Webster!)…

So I’ve officially been here in Michigan for 2 weeks already! Crazy how fast time has flown by.

Despite how fast these 2 weeks have gone by, however, I’ve managed to discover plenty about myself (both as a runner and as a person) and my new surroundings.

First, transition/change is never going to be easy. I go from being in college, taking classes every single day and being surrounded by teammates and fellow classmates I’ve essentially known for four years to moving home with my parents and two brothers to all of a sudden moving to a city and state I’ve never even been to and living in a house with people I met for a few hours on a visit.  There’s bound to be feelings of anxiety and loneliness (just to name a couple); both of which I’ve felt throughout the past couple of weeks.

This being said, change can be and in my case IS a good thing. Sure there’s some negatives associated with it, but without making the decision to move to Michigan, I’d never have the opportunity to run for a living, to run with women who push me to get better day in and day out. I know these changes are going to help me grow and be a better runner and person no matter what!

I think the biggest thing I’ve come to recognize is that despite all these changes, I’m not going to become a better runner or person overnight! Patience is a virtue. Even in getting to know/gelling with teammates – it’s going to take time.  I am a go-getter by nature- I set goals and I want to achieve them. Sometimes, I want to achieve them quicker than is reasonable, or even possible. Well, especially if I’m going to be training for marathons, that mentality is going to have to be adjusted – just as many other things have as I made this move here to Michigan. Finishing one set of repeats in a workout 3 seconds ahead of a teammate isn’t going to help me improve. Easy runs are meant to be easy. Especially this time of year in the Midwest- when the ice and snow bring added stress to the body! Recover runs are a time to share stories and get to know my other teammates. It’s a time to truly have fun with running. And it’s a good thing to ease in to a new training regimen. Yeah, maybe I’m feeling really good right now, but as my teammates have mentioned, just “wait till the volume catches up with you.” So, what’s the lesson to be taken away from all these little tidbits? Be patient.  I was grateful to find this quote, to remind me of the value of patience and help me recognize I can’t expect everything to come together right away!

“Nothing great is created suddenly, any more than a bunch of grapes or a fig. If you tell me that you desire a fig, I answer you that there must be time. Let it first blossom, then bear fruit, then ripen.”

I know my teammates have all been professionals significantly longer than I have. I know my coaches have had this program for well over ten years. So, I’ve also come to recognize that faith and trust are going to be incredibly important over the next few days/weeks/months. Is this type of training different from anything I’ve done in the past? Absolutely! I’m actually running with other women, logging more miles and doing longer workouts than I’ve ever experienced. But I know being here is going to help me accomplish my goals and dreams—as long as I continue to keep an open mind—remember there’s much to be learned! I’m just like a “rookie” that has to earn their spot in any other professional sport. Wikipedia even notes this about rookies: “in some sports there are traditions in which rookies must do things or tricks are played on them. Some examples in baseball include players having to dress up in strange costumes, or getting hit in the face with a cream pie; a traditional rookie “hazing” procedure in American football involves taping players to a goalpost and dousing them with ice water, Gatorade, and other substances.”  “And, In NASCAR, rookies are symbolized by a yellow stripe on the rear bumper of the car that is placed on both sides of the name or symbol of the manufacturer of the car.” So, keeping this in mind, I know I’m not alone, and, well, maybe I don’t have it so bad! I will simply continue to work hard and to earn the respect of my teammates who have this professional running thing down pretty well!

Next up for me is the New Orleans Mardi Gras Rock ‘n Roll Half Marathon 2 weeks from today (February 13^th). My goal is to go sub-1:15 and earn my Olympic Trials qualifier. It’s a fast, flat course. With the continued support of my coaches, teammates, friends and former teammates and family members and smart next couple weeks of training, I’m confident I will be ready to accomplish this goal! I’m fortunate enough to get a chance to go down and train in Florida later on this week where Hansons owns another house up until the half in New Orleans! It will be great to get a chance to train without having to look down every step of the way to avoid icy patches! I think we’ll be especially grateful after the next day or so – expected to get dumped with over a foot of snow Tuesday night! Yikes. Schedule of races Hansons athletes will be doing can be found here. (not entirely sure where I’ll be after New Orleans!)

An exciting tidbit of news…my new teammate Erin Richard qualified for the Olympic Trials today in Houston with a time of 2:44:35. She was one of many inspiring performances on the day! We now have just myself and one other woman on the Hansons team who have yet to qualify for the Marathon Trials. I know both of us will get it done and the entire team will be headed to compete in Houston next January!

“Learn the art of patience. Apply discipline to your thoughts when they become anxious over the outcome of a goal. Impatience breeds anxiety, fear, discouragement and failure. Patience creates confidence, decisiveness, and a rational outlook, which eventually leads to success.”

“The keys to patience are acceptance and faith. Accept things as they are, and look realistically at the world around you. Have faith in yourself and in the direction you have chosen.”

So much learning and growing to be done… but I absolutely know I’m in the right place to pursue my passion and turn my dreams in to a reality. I’m so excited to be on this journey, and again, thanks for coming along for the ride!

Till next time… Happy Running!

Takin’ it one day at a time.

-Jenny

**Sidenote: VERY excited to now be an official contributor on the Women Talk Sports website!  You can take a look at all the contributors here. (I’m under “Running”). So honored to be a member of such a tremendous group of women! Looking forward to continuing to spread the good news about women in sports – helping to ensure our voices are heard!

Also, comments (both positive AND negative!) and suggestions for improvement are very much appreciated regarding my brand new site!! Thanks!!

If anyone had told me when I started track just five short years ago that I would ever have a chance to compete professionally in the sport, I would have told them they’re absolutely nuts.

And that is exactly why it’s so important to BELIEVE in the power of hard work, the power of setting goals, and the power of having those all pay off to make a dream become reality.

It’s been an incredibly, almost indescribably exciting start to 2011 for me. I headed down to Disney just after I officially signed my contract on 1/1 with the Hansons-Brooks Distance Project (based out of Rochester, MI!). I have been to Disney World every year since I was born basically — so yes, I’ve been there over 20 times! We’ve gone at this time for the past 3 years but I’ve never taken the step up to the half marathon since I’ve normally been preparing for 3K’s and 5K’s on an indoor track and my Coach would’ve probably killed me for running that long of a distance. Well, this year was obviously different and what made it even more exciting was that Hansons have sent team members down there for the past 3-4 years, so I’d have the opportunity to run the race I’ve been eagerly anticipating running–as my first professional race in a Hansons-Brooks uniform!

I didn’t fully realize just how much extra walking you do through the parks at Disney. My Mom wore a pedometer and it generally added up to be about 5 miles a day, sometimes more! By about Wednesday I got very nervous as my legs started to feel like bricks. I decided–with help from Mario Fraioli (competitor.com running expert!), who was kind enough to help me prepare for the 1/2 by giving me workouts from about December 10th to the day of the race– to cut my runs a little short on both Thursday and Friday and to go extra slow. Luckily, by keeping in mind this “if a little is good, a lot is NOT better” mentality, it paid off come early Saturday morning. My legs were back under me for the most part.

Getting to the starting line was an adventure in and of itself. Luckily, we had a sort of “shortcut” to get to the front which enabled us to get in plenty of strides before the race began. A record 27,000 people laced up their shoes for the race. AND there was a simultaneous half marathon run in Baghdad– the husband and dad of two of the runners at Disney signed up for the half but ended up being deployed to Iraq, so Disney decided to have cameras ready so he and many other soldiers could run the half at the same time as us halfway across the world! So, with a little extra inspiration, and a special countdown to the race by the one and only Mickey Mouse, we were on our way in the darkness that is 5:40 a.m. Race time temps were around 50 degrees – cold for Floridians, perfect for us Midwesterners!

I started out running about 5:50′s for the first few miles, and then I kind of just ran by feel, I’ll be honest! There were about 2-3 women ahead of me for the first half of the race, and then, at around mile 6.5, which just happens to be when you run through Cinderella’s Castle, is right about the point where I took the lead for good. I felt very smooth the entire race– only hitch came as my racing flat came untied with about 4 miles to go… but I never stopped to tie it and ended up no worse for the wear, finishing in 1:17:05! I accomplished my goal of sub-1:18 and won my debut as a professional! Best yet, I had an absolute blast. Who would’ve thought a race in complete darkness could be quite so much fun?!

It’s so great to have a half under my belt– there is definitely much to be learned from my experience! I know I still have SO much work to do– but don’t worry, I did indeed take time to soak in the thrill of victory! I got a hug from both Mickey and Donald Duck at the awards ceremony, and then I had an entire day at the parks after the race with my family! Doesn’t get much better than that!

The win at the Happiest Place on Earth reminded me just how blessed I am, and how much faith has guided me throughout this amazing journey I’m on! I logged a couple of 90+ mile weeks in the past month and have worked harder than ever before. Lucky enough for me, I can now say that hard work has rewarded me as I am truly living a dream. Next week, as I make the move to Michigan, I will be given the opportunity to wake up every day and run… for a living. I am one lucky gal.

Thanks once again to my INCREDIBLE support system–my parents, brothers, grandmas, aunts, uncles, cousins, my boyfriend Steve, my former teammates at SNC, my Twitter friends, and now the Hansons and my Hanson-Brooks teammates– who continue to post well wishes and notes of congratulations all over the place I am filled with more excitement than nervousness as I look towards the future, and a lot of that is thanks to all of you. I know I’ll be able to get through whatever comes my way as I make this transition because of you and your support!

I can’t wait to start training with such a talented group of women… can’t wait to continue to work hard and set big goals… because “NOTHING is impossible to a willing mind.“

You’ve got to Believe in the Power of Dreams.

After all, fittingly coming from Walt Disney himself, “All your dreams can come true if you have the courage to pursue them.”

I hope you’ll continue to join me as I take this step in to the professional running ranks. I’ll continue to tweet furiously as @knightrunner22 and will try to update this blog as often as my schedule allows! Speaking of schedule, I’ll be setting my racing schedule for 2011 very soon so I’ll keep you all updated on that as well.

Couple of fun links on my Disney debut on Saturday…

• Orlando Sentinel Coverage (including a SWEET pic they captured with Minnie cheerin me on in the background!)

• Jezebel Blog feature:

• http://jezebel.com/5729077/ecstatic-minnie-mouse-photobombs-half-marathon-winner
  

• “Off the Couch” Blog Entry from Tom Held of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/lifestyle/113231814.html

Thanks again for ALL your support!

Till next time… Remember, It All Started With a Mouse!

Sending you smiles and a week, month, even year of good health & great running…courtesy of warm, sunny Disney World!
-Jenny (forever KnightRunner!)

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Today I am blogging to Rally for Girls Sports. I am reflecting on what I’ve won through playing sports; how they’ve impacted my life. I’m not even sure words can fully describe how much sports have impacted my life, but I’ll give it a shot, because I believe in this cause so much!

I’m going to start out this entry with a poem forwarded to me by my Mom and Aunt, written by an eighth grader. It eloquently describes my favorite sport and my passion… running!

“Running”

Waking up.

You open the window and the sweet morning air gushes into the room.

The sunlight peers over the horizon and glistens on your face,

Embracing you, reminding you it is good to be alive.

As you crack open the front door the cold air enters the house.

You go for your morning run, bouncing off your toes as you skip down the sidewalk.

You are alone.

There is no one to judge you or tell you you’re not good enough.

It is only you and the road.

The road, hard and black, seems as though it is speaking to you. Complimenting your form and encouraging you to keep on running.

As your feet hit the pavement you thank God you are able to run.

It is truly a gift.

You thank Him for today, for waking up, for giving you a family that loves and cares for you,

And as you complete your run, you thank Him for giving you the energy to take that first step.

You thank Him because you know; you know in your heart that it is a treasure

To be

Alive.

I think what I love most about this is how it stretches beyond running. That’s what I really love most about running, and all sports for that matter. The lessons they teach you beyond just the field of competition. It has taught me the values of hard work and dedication, perseverance, and teamwork. Running in particular gives me an opportunity to reflect on myself as a person. As was noted in the beautiful poem above, as you’re pounding the pavement, finding that wonderful rhythm (although yes, of course there’s those runs where the rhythm never comes!) there’s time to think about the things you’re most grateful for, time to reflect on anything and everything that pops in to your head.

Sports have provided me with self-confidence and a feeling of belonging–my teammates are my extended family!

Sports have given me SO many highs, and plenty of lows, too, teaching me to deal with the good and the bad, just like it is out in the “real” world.

Above all else, sports have always put a smile on my face. Both on and off the court/field of competition. Having just completed my collegiate running career, what will I take away most from having competed hard for 4 years? The team dinners, the after-Conference parties, training camp competitions, the Nationals banquets, and plenty of fun overnight hotel stays. I will most fondly remember the times I spent with my teammates– again, my extended family. The camaraderie in sports is in my opinion, its greatest gift of all. It’s why no girl should ever lose out on an opportunity to play sports. There’s no better way to meet people and to learn to work together. And hey, one more great thing about sports? Its benefits to your health! Keeps you in tip top shape both physically AND mentally! Heck, running can even give you a NATURAL high! Doesn’t get much better than that.

I guess I can’t pinpoint an exact list of all that I’ve “won” through sports, but I do know without them, I simply wouldn’t be ME! I wouldn’t be living my joyful, highly content existence. Sports are my passion, and forever will be, and I sincerely hope every single girl in this country and even in this world can have a chance to participate in some sort of sport and experience the thrill of competition. Every girl most definitely deserves the opportunity to smile, laugh, be challenged, and be rewarded by the world of sports. I know I’m certainly incredibly grateful they’re such a huge part of my life!

With Title IX, sports for girls has come a long way in the past 25 or so years. My generation of girls have so many more opportunities to be involved in sports than their Moms did. My mom has told me numerous times how much she wishes she would have been able to be a part of a real sports competition. (I want her to walk a 5K sometime soon so she truly can experience it!) For this, I think all of us women can and should be grateful. We’ve come very far, but we still have work to do; got to keep the momentum going! So, please visit the National Women’s Law Center now to learn more about how you can help continue to expand the possibilities for women and girls in this great country!!!

Thanks to SPORTS for making me in to a happy-go-lucky, fiercely competitive, KnightRunner!