RunwithJenn

09/08/2026

The holiday weekend is just about over. It’s been a great relaxing couple of days.
Saturday started with Couch to 5k. I ran with the group and completed the 2.2 miles, plus a half mile warm up walk. It felt good. I was all taped up, and had a knee compression wrap on.
Then I headed to a massage. We really worked my leg. A lot of deep tissue work. I felt amazing when I left. No leg pain for the rest of the day. It ached a little at bedtime, but that was to be expected.
Sunday my babe and I headed to King Richard’s Faire. One of my favorite outings each year. Walking around seeing the sight, watching the shows, appreciating the dressed up outfits.
Today I slept in, again. After a quiet morning, I met up with the girls for some miles along the Ghost Train trail. It was a good run. I forgot to wrap everything. I walked a little more than I wanted to. But I’m feeling pretty good now.
I’m not going to run tomorrow. I’ll head to the gym in the morning. After work I am supporting a friend and will be joining her instead of Couch to 5k (someone is covering for me). Wednesday morn I may try a run/walk at the track. I want to run. I also want to be as close to 100% for the race Sunday.
How did you spend your 3 day weekend?

09/03/2026

I’m not sure how it’s about to be Thursday. This week is going by quickly. Monday was a complete rest day. With PT in the morning and a walk during lunch. Tuesday morning I met a friend to run with her on the Ghost Train course. Running felt ok. We did some walking too. Part of that was due to the terrain. Some of that was due to me just wanting to walk. Tuesday night started week 8 of Couch to 5k. I walked. Everyone else ran the workout.
Today started at the track. I didn’t even try to run. I know I feel better today than I did last Wednesday. I know I still have some healing to do before next weekend. I walked just over 3.5 miles this morning. Tonight I met up with the Turtle 🐢 Run group. I walked. I brought a friend and we walked most of the route together. We cut a few corners. We still ended up with over 4 miles. I’m still moving. That’s what counts right now. Tomorrow I’m headed to the gym for my workout. Friday may be a rest day.
How do you keep yourself busy when you can’t do your favorite exercise?

08/30/2026

I’ve rested all week. The North Shore 8k for the USATF New England Grand Prix was this miring in Salem. It was a gorgeous morning for a race.
I got up, got ready and left the house. It got there a little earlier than I had said I needed to. I got my bib. I talked with some people getting ready to run. I wet back to my car to change into my race sneakers and get everything together. I stopped at the porta potty and then did some warm running/walking with a friend.
After the warmup, I met the team at the tent and we headed to the start line together. It was a small woman’s team this race. Five of us, enough to make the team count. I had warned them my knee was cranky and I wasn’t sure how I was goin to perform. The word of the day was ‘finish’. I plugged into my book and got ready to run. I started off comfortable listening to how my body felt. Nothing felt bad, nothing hurt. I just kept running comfortably. Some small downhills and uphills, but not anything too challenging. I passed of my the CMS team members. I really did think I would. I really thought I’d end up walking some. Thankfully, my body felt good for the whole race. It may not have been my fastest effort, but it was a solid effort.
I walked a bit after I crossed the finish line the went to go stand in line for water. Yes…Stand in line for water. While in line I went to take my beer tags off my bib to hand to someone around me, and realized I didn’t have my bib on. I just ran the full 8k as a team member in a Grand Prix race without my bib. So, I forgot all about needing water and went to the timing tent. I explained the situation and got a high five. Thankfully he also took the total time from my watch. He said he’d check the start line camera and be able to give me a time in the system. I was so bummed. I felt a little like a fool. Thankfully, it is accounted for and I hope the team got the credit for me running.
There were multiple times I could have noticed, or others could have noticed, that I wasn’t wearing bib. I know while I was in the car I was thinking more about getting my body ready for the run, and what my plan was going to be if it didn’t feel great running. I may have been distracted. I just left it. It was not visible, and
I know that’s the main reason it was forgotten.
In the end, I finished the race. The race felt good. The time was able to score. It was a beautiful morning. I didn’t have to sit in the parking garage when I left. I found my favorite ice cream on the way home. I got to spend the afternoon with the cats and my babe.
What has been one of your most memorable race blunders?

08/30/2026

Today was such a nice relaxed summer day. I took full advantage of my non running form. Couch to 5k met for the last workout of week 7. I ran a little bit with some of them. It was nice to just run. I think I’m in a good spot to run the majority of the 8k tomorrow. I don’t think I’ll be able to race. I may have to walk. I’ll be there. I’ll have my good sneakers on. I’ll run what my body lets me run.
After couch to 5k I spent time with my babe. We went out to breakfast. I cleaned my car. We went to the Lake 100 year celebration. Then we just relaxed the rest of the afternoon. A food dinner. A little bit of time in the hot tub. And now I’m getting ready for bed. Trying for a solid night of sleep.
How much sleep do you like to get the day before a race?

08/28/2026

It's been a quiet week. I haven't run since Monday. Mostly cuz it doesn't feel great. I am scheduled to race on Sunday. I am going to save my legs for that. I have been spinning on the bike, and walking, and going to the gym for workouts. Everything feels much better today than it had on Wednesday. A few more rest days. Another massage. Two more PT appointments. I'll be back together for my next pacing race...my 50th marathon! What are you doing September 13th?

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08/27/2026

After this weekends great running, and races, it’s time to take some rest days.
Yesterday was a complete rest day. I slept in. I walked though Couch to 5k. I modified some exercises at the gym.
Today I met the group at the track. I knew I wasn’t going to participate in the track workout. I had hoped I’d run a bit. My body wasn’t quite ready. I did walk for over three miles. I did get to chat with each of the group. I came home and rode the bike for a bit. Tonight was PT, sunset and a quiet night.
Tomorrow I’m headed to a class at Commit Fitness. Maybe I’ll try a run in the afternoon. Maybe I’ll have another spin on the bike. I’ll move. I’ll listen to my body. I’ll get ready for my next run.
What is your recovery exercise?

08/25/2026

Sometimes when you go into a race to have fun, doing only what your body is willing to ‘let’ you do, it’s the greatest thing ever.
I’ve had a rough couple of weeks. Not feeling great on the run. Not feeling like I could push a pace. Having achy knees and hips and quads. The mileage didn’t feel great. Running was till ok, but not as comfortable as it usually is for me.
When I got ready for Sunday’s race, my plan was to have fun. Run all 10 miles as comfortably as I could. And hopefully keep friends company along the way, or at least pass on a bunch of smiles. Walking if I needed to.
Three of us carpooled to the race. One decided she was going to race (and had a great race!). The other two of us decided we’d stay together. Neither of us thought we could do much. We both agreed we could walk. We both agreed we’d be ok if one of us felt better and decided to take off. We just ran, and chatted and caught up on life. We passed some friends. We cheered some friends. We even came up with a goal while we were out there. It was a super fun race day! And I was left. She sprinted to the finish line, leaving me a couple of people behind her.
After a quick turnaround I met up with another friend. Her and I headed to NY for her marathon. The marathon took place Monday, in a state park. Multiple loops of approximately 3 miles. My goal was to keep her company as long as I could, then drop out and watch her finish. I’d cheer from the sidelines and make sure she had everything she needed.
Well, my body felt good. And the next thing we knew we were close to finishing the race. I hadn’t dropped yet. I hadn’t felt super uncomfortable. The pace had been pretty even.
The course was really fun. It was loops. It was flat. We had the front runners pass us. We passed some of the back of the pack. We talked to a bunch of runners. I helped a baby turtle cross the road. There was an aid station at every mile. They had water and electrolytes and watermelon and banana bites and chips, and I know I saw m&m’s.
One of the reasons I was not going to run the full race was because my 50th marathon is next month. I’m planning to celebrate that 50th marathon. Another reason I hadn’t planned to run the full is because I didn’t think I could. With everything that has been going on and all that I have planned between now and
December I didn’t need to push and injure myself. I decided this was just going to be a long run, three weeks out from the marathon.
Long run indeed. I ran a 50k. 31.07 miles. It wasn’t a marathon. It wasn’t shorter. It wasn’t what I had planned when I said I’d share the race day. The looped course and the friendly people, and the even pace through the 26.2 miles made it an easy decision. Each loop I determined how I felt and how far I thought I wanted to go. By mile 23, with the blessing of my co-racer, I decided another 5 miles was doable. I ran my first 50k. Another day of being amazed by my body and what it can accomplish. Another day of being reminded that when you take care of your body it really can do amazing things.
What did your body do with you this weekend?

08/22/2026

Tomorrow is a running rest day. I’m still trying to be smart. I have a 10 mile race Sunday. When I say race, I mean I paid to run a course with support and lots of other runners. I’m not going to chase a pace, or set a goal. I’m going to run, and have fun. I’m hoping the weather will be a nice summer day.
On Wednesday I joined the crew at the track. I had thought about doing the workout that was posted. When I started running the first warmup loop my body had a different idea. My body chose to remind me I had conquered a 20 mile mountain adventure on Saturday. So I listened. I walked a loop. I ran some. I walked another loop. I ran some more. By the time I was done with the running loops, everything felt more comfortable.
I shared some time with my Leg Day friends. It’s been too long since I’ve been able to get there. A quick workout, some catching up, and hugs.
Wednesday night the Turtle group got together for our miles. I ran and then walked up the hills. Still listening to my body. I was able to share some of the miles with my friend who crushed 100 miles at the same race I conquered the 20 miles.
Thursday morning was another group run. Sharing miles with friends is the best way to recover. I felt pretty good. I just kept moving.
Today the run group picked me up at Commit Fitness, after I finished coaching my class, and I got to join a solid run. The girls I shared the miles with made it a solid run. Due to schedules and timing, we have not run together in months. It was nice to catch up and share the miles. The run felt good. I then ran back to my car. I could’ve gotten a ride back. I thought that was a solid plan. Then I thought some more. I knew if I didn’t get what I thought was enough miles I’d want to run tomorrow. I also knew that not running tomorrow was a good decision. I knew with the 10 mile race on Sunday I should let everything rest. So I said goodbye to the girls and ran back to my car. That portion of the run felt pretty good too. Not great, but I’m glad I finished the miles.
Tomorrow I’ll sleep in a little bit. I’ll go through a strength workout. I’ll host Couch to 5k. Then tomorrow evening we have a home preseason football game to attend. I’m looking forward to a pretty relaxed day.
How did your week end?

08/19/2026

In the normal Tuesday fashion, the day started with a group run, then a walk with a friend, and ended with Couch to 5K.
I ran this morning. The whole 5 miles. I didn’t think I’d be able to run the full route. I brought my phone with me and had a plan to cut the run short of I wasn’t feeling it. I had company. My friend ran her longest run ever, 20 miles, on Saturday. Our paces matched this morning. The run actually felt ok. Though when I got out of the car at my friend’s house, I wasn’t sure how much walking I’d be able to do. We were able to walk our regular 5k route and just talked about the weekend.
This afternoon before Couch to 5k, I had my first PT appointment for my knee. The knee doesn’t hurt too bad. I am noticing it more than I had a couple of months ago. I don’t want it to be an an injury. I don’t want it to hinder my fall plans. I have some exercises to do, with a stern reminder to stretch after each workout. I’ve already failed that one, we didn’t stretch tonight after the Couch to 5k run.
How do you keep injuries to a minimum?

08/16/2026

Jigger Johnson 20miler
What an amazing adventure. In all the ways amazing can be used to describe an adventure.
The race stated at 9am Saturday. I came up to my girls house after work Friday. We got our bags and all our stuff together. We chilled for a little bit, then crawled in to bed for a solid night’s sleep.
We got up before our alarm, chilled for a little bit, the headed out of the house. We arrived at race start with enough time to get our bib, have our gear checked and hit the bathroom.
At 9am 80 runners lined up at the start. Our adventure climbed three peaks, Mount Osceola, East Osceola and Mount Tecumsah with 5900 feet of elevation gain over 21 miles.
Our goal was to finish under 8 hours.
We we ran for the first few miles. We climbed and climbed all the boulders of the Osceola. I conquered The Chimney. We hit the aid station after coming down from East Osceola. I got my water refilled and had some banana, watermelon and pickles. Then we headed out for our last climb. Mt Tecumsah was not as rocky, and didn’t need as much hand over hand climbing as Osceola. I swear it went straight up in a couple of places. We had stopped a couple of times to catch our breath, slow our heart rate and let our calves scream. The hike down was easier than I thought it would be. There were rocks that were set up like steps. I preferred that to the straight down I had been anticipating. We were able to run some, and then we were out of the mountains. Our last few miles were all running. A little bit of road, but mostly flat trail along Swans Way and Mad River Trail.
Along the way we made trail friends. Ken, the 73 year old. California and Maine, college buddies that had a relationship like Joanna and I…California talked Maine into sharing the adventure. We climbed all three peaks with them. Portland, the chick who stayed with us during most of our climb up Tecumsah. The chick in pink who crushed us on the downhill, with poles. Brittany, Joanna’s friend that shared most of the last running miles. There were a few others that we saw at the aid station, or we had chatted with while leap frogging along the course. Lots of fist bumps and congratulations at the finish line.
We finished in 7:56:49. Under the 8 hour goal! We finished 63rd and 64th. If I had been better trained it may have been a bit quicker. It was a great adventure. Making friends, sharing miles, crushing trails. It was not easy. The weather was perfect. I’d like to say I’d never do it again.
We hung around a bit after we finished. Cheering some of our new friends across the finish line. We ate the provided lunch box and ice cream. We shared trail stories. We headed home, showered, dropped into comfy clothes, snacked and just chilled.
After a decent night of sleep I’m feeling ok. I haven’t tried stairs yet. Walking around is ok. My calves are the most sore this morning. My right big toe has a bit of a blister. My knees feel good. I’m proud of us. I’m proud of me. It was an amazing memory making adventure. Did you get to make an amazing memory today?