tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11872213835930622972024-03-13T12:22:13.276-07:00This is how I rollI'm expecting big changes these next couple of years. This is my journey to follow my dreams.Jessica Bienvenue Fitness Guruhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15796247781466929666noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1187221383593062297.post-16512680822829985012012-08-10T17:47:00.002-07:002012-08-10T17:47:53.426-07:00Plan for August 20thIt's been one heck of a year so far, wow! I feel like I've had to take the last few weeks to take it all in, celebrate, relax and get re-focused. Now that I coach people full time, I couldn't be happier. I love setting my own hours and life schedule. My job is pretty mobile.<br />
Since the beginning of 2012, I've had 18 new people join my Team. We're all working together to help pay forward the message of good health. It's a hard fight when we really look at what this country is up against, but I have faith and believe. Don't stop believing!!<br />
This month, I intend to do another round of the Ultimate Reset. I start on August 20th and plan to blog about my daily experiences while on it. I'm excited to give it a go, especially since I know what to expect and how to make it work best for me. I have my grocery lists all printed up. For the scoop, go here:<br />
www.myultimatereset.com/JessicaRunner <br />
Don't be afraid to send me a quick note or message if you ever want more details about a topic. Thanks for stopping by!Jessica Bienvenue Fitness Guruhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15796247781466929666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1187221383593062297.post-5514992108405637492012-04-07T09:17:00.002-07:002012-04-07T09:20:03.533-07:00When your schedule gets messed upMy workout week was off. I have been dealing with my old left hip. I have a small labral tear from 2007/2008 that was never surgically repaired. Instead, I educated myself to do the proper cross-training to build my external hip rotators to remedy the problem with how my femur was tracking. As of late, it just aches sooooooo bad, along the back of my leg, laterally toward my knee. The best description would be a colossal pain in my ass that makes it feel like I have bolts of pain shooting down my lateral hammie. So....fun ;) I have concluded that P90X2 really helped me develop more core, balance, power, flexibility and range of motion (ROM). Since then, my guarded hip has been able to release and open up. The downside of this: the muscles in my hip are tired, sore and feel bruised. The foam rolling helps to release, but I sense it also triggers some inflammation. I'm taking anti-inflammatories after each section, but need to ice more. <br />
My week as scheduled:<br />
MWF- Insanity workout<br />
TTh- Pump workout (lifting, high reps, lower wt)<br />
SS- run<br />
<br />
My actual week:<br />
M-Insanity plyo cc<br />
T-Pump Extreme/taught TurboKick class in evening<br />
W-foam roll, rest. My aching leg and hip woke me up<br />
Th-Pump Revolution/Pump Step (the step workout was a LOT harder than I thought it would be!), foam roll<br />
F-woke up sore and tight, unplanned active rest day, 2 mile walk with Stella, foam roll <br />
S-?? <br />
<br />
As you can see, life throws curveballs at your schedule all the time. Learn to plan around it and you'll be fine. I don't know what I'll do this weekend, but that doesn't worry me. I am still so sore from adding the Pump Step workout on Thursday. Today, I will start with a walk with the doggies :)Jessica Bienvenue Fitness Guruhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15796247781466929666noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1187221383593062297.post-76528272139738249152012-04-06T10:05:00.002-07:002012-08-10T17:53:50.629-07:00Does size really matter?My mind wandered today and I had a realization. Who cares what size you are? Who is to tell you what size is right or "wrong"? The media? Really? Get real.<br />
Now, don't get me wrong. I fully support people getting out of an obese weight range and getting healthier. It saves lives. I'm talking about those of us who are in a healthy weight range. When is enough ENOUGH?<br />
I'm solid. I'm a big girl, and have always told myself this. To me, it was always a bad thing. Once I figured out why, I was able to accept, move on, and grow. I told you I was soul searching this year :)<br />
Our bodies were designed to get you through life. Treat it poorly, and your life will suffer. If you are not strong, you cannot keep up with your children and your grand-children. Ask yourself what you really want out of life. <br />
A few pounds on the scale? Nah! You are significant in other people's lives; don't ever deny yourself that fact. What truly truly makes you happy? Anyone care to discuss?Jessica Bienvenue Fitness Guruhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15796247781466929666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1187221383593062297.post-91690484782431592062012-03-28T07:45:00.002-07:002012-08-10T17:54:33.708-07:00Eating your feelingsYou know those days when you come home after a stressful day and head straight for the cupboard? Yup, I'm guilty of it, and it used to control me and my expanding waistline. It would be a mind game to myself. If I had previously been on track, I would somehow convince myself that I didn't deserve the results I was after and I would graze continuously on crunchy, salty, sweet, fatty foods. A downward spiral, right?<br />
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No. Not anymore. Yes, I still crave "bad" foods when I'm stressed or have a lot on my mind, but I have REPLACED these habits when I recognize what's going on. I have a self-check method. As soon as I hit the cupboard, I ask myself this:<br />
<br />
<i>Am I HUNGRY? </i>(the answer is usually no)<br />
<i>WHY am I reaching for food? </i><br />
<i>WHAT is bothering you?</i><br />
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You can see where these questions might lead me.....away from the cupboard. Some habits I've replaced the destructive eating with include working out, taking the dogs for a walk, doing laundry, painting my nails, mud mask, calling a friend or family member, cleaning the bathroom (HUGE appetite suppressant, lol), and anything that gets me out of the kitchen.<br />
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I'll be quite honest, I don't always win, but I think I win enough to make some progress. I'm fast approaching being the leanest, strongest, physique I've ever been, and I have to believe it's because I have diffused this "bomb" at least 75% of the time. I do have a method for when I absolutely cannot resist the urge to stuff my face, shakeology. Yes, seriously. It has saved me these last two + years. I normally have it for breakfast, but I will also have it at night when I'm suffering the snack attack. I love icecream. I love it so much that I cannot buy it because it will call my name from the freezer until it's gone. Who's with me on this? Well, I now make shakeology icecream. I purposely bought a jet-speed blender with an ice cream button for this purpose, and it comes out like beautiful soft serve ice cream. To find out more about my food hero: www.myshakeology.com/JessicaRunner<br />
<br />
Here's my recipe:<br />
1 cup liquid (I use almond milk, coconut milk, coconut water, water, or a combo of)<br />
1 scoop shakeology<br />
Optional-2 Tbsp PB2 (powdered peanut butter)<br />
1 cup frozen fruit (some goodies are strawberries, bananas, mixed berries, pineapple, mango, etc)<br />
1-1.5 cups of ice (add LAST, a little at a time and pause blender to stop air pockets, push down with rubber spatula)<br />
Pour into a bowl, grab a spoon and a wool hat to wear ;) So YUM!<br />
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Of course there are times I head for the cupboard and I actually AM hungry. That's when I start to make a healthy meal. As I'm cooking, I sometimes have a pile of raw veggies to snack on. Carrots are a great remedy.<br />
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If you are reading this, I encourage you to comment about some of your methods to stop emotional eating. We can help each other out. Thanks for stopping by!Jessica Bienvenue Fitness Guruhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15796247781466929666noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1187221383593062297.post-74689953979177249842012-03-14T18:39:00.000-07:002012-03-14T18:39:01.172-07:00No More ShameI've been doing a lot of soul searching this year. I am in a position where I now help coach people to better health and fitness. Learning about these people and listening as they discover what is at the heart of their drive has helped ME look within to understand where I've come from. It has been a long (and necessary) road.<br />
<br />
I was never a popular kid in school. I grew up in a lower middle class family and I didn't wear designer clothes, hang with the "in" crowd or participate in pay-to-play sports. I was a band geek, science nerd, drama freak.....and internalized my shameful feelings that developed from ostracism, lack of support and understanding at home and being bullied. Growing up, I always felt there was something "wrong" with me and that I was unworthy of success. I tried to make myself invisible and wanted to hide most of the time. I hated my body and fixated on it because I felt that was why no one liked me. When I was 13, I was buying dexatrim pills. That was only the beginning of a dangerous cycle of self destruction. I buried myself in my schoolwork, acing almost all of my classes. This continued all the way into college. Instead of being proud of an A assignment, I obsessed with the answers I got wrong. In my eyes, I was not good enough. <br />
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Why? The exact answer is unclear. There has been a lot of pain, embarrassment, shame and regret in my life. I'm not proud of all my past choices, but I realize as an adult, they HAD to happen to make me who I am today. I AM good enough. I deserve greatness. I am worthy of success. This acceptance has given me the strength to move forward and help others. For this, I am grateful, more than words could ever describe. Jessica Bienvenue Fitness Guruhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15796247781466929666noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1187221383593062297.post-4879084353439014052012-01-05T22:25:00.000-08:002012-01-06T23:17:20.240-08:002012?!?! Has it really been that long? Winter Triple 2011-2012<i><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">New Year's Resolution? Write more. I have a lot of cool ideas for 2012!</span></span></i><br />
<br />
<i><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">My New Year's started with a running challenge called the Winter Triple, coordinated by fellow Marathon Maniacs and Half Fanatics. Each club has it's own unique ranking system (for braggin' rights!). MMs have stars and HFs have moons. Last year, I ran the Winter Triple for 3 marathons in 3 consecutive days. This earned me 5 stars. This year, I ran 3 half-marathons in 3 days and earned 5 moons. Yay!! </span></span></i><br />
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<i><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span></span></i><br />
<i><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Half #1</span></span></i><br />
<i><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Yukon Do It Half-marathon in Port Orchard, WA</span></span></i><br />
<i><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Steep downhill to start with icy patches. If you got caught on the wrong side of the road, you had to walk sections. After a right turn, we followed the water of the Sound. The views! Oh, the views!! Olympic Mountains jagged and crisp in the sky. Sun! Perfect, just a little cold. I wore my brooks adrenaline shoes, gloves, long nike pants, long sleeved black nike underlayer, lucky red nike hat and my Boston 2011 jacket. I even had my nathan vest on. Lots of layers! And hot hands packets, which I wore until mile 4. Flat course for the most part, until miles 5-7 roll in. I wasn't expecting that and had accidentally ran the first 5 miles too fast. I struggled through the hills (bathroom stop) and did my best on the way back. Miles 9-10, my left achilles started speaking. My shoe felt a little loose from the hills and I had to stop and tie laces.</span></span></i> <span style="color: #660000;"><i><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I focused on the music and dug deep to reach the finish. Thankfully, the course did not end with the steep uphill. </span></i></span><br />
<span style="color: #660000;"><i><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Garmin time 2:03:48 9:14 min/mi</span></i></span><br />
<span style="color: #660000;"><i><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Official clock 2:06:?? </span></i></span><br />
<span style="color: #660000;"><i><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</span></i></span><br />
<span style="color: #660000;"><i><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Half #2</span></i></span><br />
<span style="color: #660000;"><i><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">First Chance Half-Marathon in Seattle, WA</span></i></span><br />
<span style="color: #660000;"><i><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Another dry, sunny day for a run! I wore my brooks capris, lucy zip-up jacket with a thin underlayer, nathan vest, brooks adrenalines, gloves and my lucky red nike hat. "City running" with traffic lights. The course started Woodland Park near Greenlake and meandered down to the Burke-Gilman path. It was a simple out and back where the only technical sections were railroad lines. I felt okay from the day before and was trying to keep the doubts at bay. I was extremely happy to see my friend Katie before the turnaround. When I came back, she started running with me from miles 7 to 9. It was a perfect time to have company. She helped me more than she knows :)</span></i></span><br />
<span style="color: #660000;"><i><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Around mile 10, my left achilles started talking but not as intensely as the day before. I tried playing mind games and focused on other things. The last 2 miles of the course include a long, gradual hill that wears you down. I enjoyed it because the change in the flat terrain seemed to alleviate my achilles. I finally rolled in around 2 hours 2 minutes (garmin said 2 hours flat) No bathroom stops. No shoe tying. Only traffic lights stopped me on this run. </span></i></span><br />
<span style="color: #660000;"><i><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</span></i></span><br />
<span style="color: #660000;"><i><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Half #3</span></i></span><br />
<span style="color: #660000;"><i><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">2nd Chance First Call Half-Marathon in Bothell, WA</span></i></span><br />
<span style="color: #660000;"><i><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Flat and fast and to the point. I was so ready to be done with this one, even before it began. The nerves were there because my achilles was quite tender. It was nice knowing this was the finale of my running challenge and only 13.1 miles stood between me and my 5 moons. I wore the same outfit as the day before (yes, I washed it), with the exception of my Half Fanatics tech shirt under the lucy zip-up. </span></i></span><br />
<span style="color: #660000;"><i><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I headed out with a purpose. Calm, relaxed shoulders and a smile on my face. I'm one of those annoying runners who actually smiles as they run and I wave at everybody to share that joy. Why not?</span></i></span><br />
<span style="color: #660000;"><i><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">My pace was ON. Not a speedster, but faster than the previous two races. I appreciated the lack of ice and traffic lights. Nothing hurt and my achilles never acted up. Again, no bathroom stops (this is a victory in my opinion). There's nothing worse than having to go and having nowhere to GO! Plenty of bathrooms on the course, just in case. </span></i></span><br />
<span style="color: #660000;"><i><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I finished in 1 hour 55 minute and ?? seconds. I could live with that! </span></i></span><br />
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<span style="color: #660000;"><i><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">After a few days, recovery is going quite well. I've taken a few rest days and am now just getting back to my groove. I haven't run since the races, but I plan to go out for some miles this upcoming weekend. </span></i></span><br />
<span style="color: #660000;"><i><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</span></i></span><br />
<span style="color: #660000;"><i><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</span></i></span>Jessica Bienvenue Fitness Guruhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15796247781466929666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1187221383593062297.post-79840423587462563512011-05-14T14:10:00.000-07:002011-05-14T14:10:53.600-07:00A little off the course of Asylum.... It's been a struggle for me this week and I'm used to being a "fit" athlete. I feel so out of shape with Asylum!<br />
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My schedule this week had some unexpected changes. On Wednesday (5/11), I completely skipped my Back to Core workout and focused on teaching my kickboxing class instead. I had woken up feeling too run down, so again, I listened to my body. <br />
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A little background on me. I'm not trying to be a super-sensitive "wuss" when I cut back. I had a severe bout of anemia last year that ended in the hospital, so I have to be very alert when I feel wiped out. <br />
<br />
Thursday was supposed to be Vertical Plyo. I ran a hilly 6 miles (first run of the week) and planned on doing VP after work. In the evening, I popped in the dvd and my legs were heavy, sluggish, and burning for the warm-up. It was too much, so I stopped and started the Back to Core instead (I missed it on Wed). <br />
<br />
Back to Core: I LOVED IT!!! I appreciated the slower pace and how it really focuses on your back, without the use of the pull-up bar. I had a shoulder impingement toward the end of Insanity in March. It was due to weakness in my left sub scap muscles, so my shoulder blade was rotating up too much during all the planks and push-ups. Back to Core hones in on the muscles that are weak in my back and I can really see how it will help in shoulder stabilization. I'm so excited and happy Shaun T added this to the mix!!<br />
<br />
Friday was supposed to be Rest. I still had not conquered VP.....and was dreading it. I went for an 8 mile run instead, with hills and the dog. After the run, I decided my house needed cleaning. Can you say total procrastination for VP, or self-sabatage? I did not do VP on Friday.<br />
<br />
Saturday(5/14): As I type this, I'm not sure of what I should do today. It's important that I increase my mileage this week. I do have Vertical Plyo, Speed & Agility and Strength on the schedule before the week is done. I'm a little torn.Jessica Bienvenue Fitness Guruhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15796247781466929666noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1187221383593062297.post-48385134687673982592011-05-10T17:38:00.000-07:002011-05-10T17:40:16.349-07:00Insanity's Asylum Day 3: StrengthToday, I did the Strength workout for Day 3 of Asylum. I have mixed thoughts and feelings. During the warm-up, I felt a little frustrated because Shaun T has a weight in your hand first thing. I think Tony Horton has spoiled me with his P90X warm-ups. Pushing through, I made it through the mini-stretch portion. After, we started a rotation that was a curl, squat, jump back in to push-up/plank and back again. You are supposed to keep your hands on the dumbells while doing the push-up/plank, which I found a little wobbly for me. I had to make sure my weights were not going to roll out from under me, so it took me awhile to find my rhythm. I was hesistant to increase the weight for any of the moves because I had no idea of what was next. I'm still not sure whether or not I liked the workout. Since it was brand new to me, I feel my impressions are jaded. After a few more tries, I will be able to offer a more accurate assessment.Jessica Bienvenue Fitness Guruhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15796247781466929666noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1187221383593062297.post-47555661122783875502011-05-09T21:55:00.000-07:002011-05-09T21:55:31.769-07:00Insanity's Asylum Day 2: Speed & AgilityDay 2: Speed & Agility (45 minutes)<br />
<br />
One word.....BRUTAL<br />
<br />
Lots of agility training. There was more focus on speed toward the end and I think I enjoyed that part more. I seriously felt like an uncoordinated weakling! I know, I know...that's just my perfectionist demons surfacing. I realize I need to be patient and not be too hard on myself. All the moves were so new and I couldn't get my body to match what my mind wanted it to do. Muscle memory takes a little time. I struggled, sweated, drooled, cursed, whimpered, grunted and at one point...almost vomited. My HR didn't get too high, so I knew I wasn't being unsafe. I will take this one day at a time. Jessica Bienvenue Fitness Guruhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15796247781466929666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1187221383593062297.post-18810758151805699362011-05-08T14:49:00.000-07:002011-05-08T14:49:40.212-07:00Insanity's Asylum Day 1: Fit Test #1What can I say? This program is not going to be easy by any means. The Athletic Assessment was challenging, humbling and a little exciting. I didn't use the jumprope to warm up because it kept hitting the ceiling and furniture, even after I shortened it. The ladder is a real trip. You mess it up, you have to fix straighten it out AND that rep is void. Here are my numbers:<br />
<strong>1. Agility Heisman 6</strong><br />
I kept thinking too hard about this and felt like a total klutz<br />
<strong>2. In & Out Ab Progression 27</strong><br />
OMG! My core/hip flexors/quads where on FIRE<br />
<strong>3. Pull-up/Push-ups 20</strong><br />
I opted for the lat push-ups and after reviewing the video, my form is HORRIBLE!<br />
<strong>4. Mountain Climber Switch Kicks 70</strong><br />
I tried so hard to pull the legs up and engage the hip flexors. Harder than I thought it would be!<br />
<strong>5. Agility Shoulder Taps 5.5 </strong><br />
I am so slow!<br />
<strong>6. X Jumps 35</strong><br />
DEEP quad burn, ughh!<br />
<strong>7. Moving Push-ups 5</strong><br />
Bad form and super slow, needs work<br />
<strong>8. Agility Lateral Shuffle 14</strong><br />
I had fun with this one; I actually could do it!<br />
<strong>9. Agility Bear Crawl 5</strong><br />
So embarrassing and I could not get my body and mind on the same page<br />
<br />
So there you have it. Day 1 is in the books. Tomorrow is Speed & Agility. I watched a little of it on my tv. It looks INSANE! Can't wait.......Jessica Bienvenue Fitness Guruhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15796247781466929666noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1187221383593062297.post-30737197445052542992011-05-08T10:27:00.000-07:002011-05-10T23:22:21.316-07:00My Boston Marathon 2011 StoryAn incomprehensible robot yodel broke my slumber and I flailed about until I found my iphone to turn off the alarm. A few seconds later, the hotel alarm clock blared. About a minute after that, the courtesy phone call came in. I was AWAKE!<br />
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I went through my pre-race morning ritual. Breakfast was Starbucks Via (x2), plain greek yogurt with strawberries and a dash of granola on top. I carefully applied bodyglide to prevent future chafe and put on my race “uniform”. I was ready to roll……<br />
<br />
David drove me to the north entrance to Hopkinton Park and dropped me off in front of the buses parked by the glistening water around 7am. The sun was out, but the air was CHILLY! I boarded the bus and found a seat. I was strangely calm and I felt like somebody other than myself. Bus dropped us off and I followed the heard on the long walk to the Athletes’ Village. It felt long because I just wanted to hurry up and sit.<br />
Upon entering the village, I noted locations of all the stations I would need (bag drop off, bathrooms, body writing, etc.) It was kind of cool to hit up the Adidas swag tent for mini body glide, sunscreen and other random running accessories. I looked over the sea of people and turned on my Marathon Maniac radar in search for my buddies. A ha!! The neon Brooks nightlife jacket is easy to spot. Smack dab in the middle of the village was a blanket full of Maniacs: Betsy, Matt and Bob (another one too but I forgot his name). I settled down with this fun gang, snapped a few pics and shared a few laughs; it was a great way to kill time (~8:30am).<br />
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By 9am, my good friend Candace met up with me. We started prepping our gear to get the show on the road. After farewell/good luck hugs to the MM group, Candace and I decided to get body drawing done and had our names written on. We kept intercepting two girls, Kate and Rachel. The 2nd time we spotting them, we found we were all in the same corral and needed the same bus for bag drop off. A strong believer in fate, I knew it was a good idea to plug their emails into my phone. I now have two new running buds, yay!<br />
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All four of us started the march toward the start line. I was impressed by how efficiently everything was run at the Boston marathon. It was well organized for the 24,000 runners. We slipped into corral 7 without and problems and waited. I still felt strange. Was I really here? I put my phone in airplane mode to save precious battery juice.<br />
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The gun went off and it took ~5 minutes to cross the starting mat. Hit garmin start, GO! The first 4-5 miles involved a lot of weaving to pass until I found a gang with my desired pace. I knew I needed to haul ass to make up for lost time on the hills later in the race. I love thumbing through my garmin splits, so here they are:<br />
<br />
Mile1 7:44min/mi (hand warmers tossed) <br />
Mile2 7:36min/mi<br />
Mile3 7:44min/mi (5K hit in 24:01)<br />
Mile4 7:40min/mi<br />
Mile5 7:48min/mi<br />
Mile6 7:40min/mi (shortly after, I crossed the 10K mat in 48:15; I was pumped up knowing many got a text)<br />
Mile7 7:30min/mi<br />
Mile8 7:59min/mi (starting to get a little too warm, had to back off some)<br />
Mile9 7:58min/mi<br />
Mile10 8:01min/mi (shed arm warmers)<br />
Mile11 8:10min/mi<br />
Mile12 7:52min/mi<br />
Mile13 7:55min/mi (hit halfway in 1:43:17, not bad)<br />
Mile14 7:52min/mi<br />
Mile15 8:06min/mi (something not right with GI, starting to look for bathrooms without a line)<br />
Mile16 8:02min/mi (shortly after, hit a bathroom, ~2minutes, had stopped watch) <br />
Time for the Newton hills…….<br />
Mile17 8:24min/mi<br />
Mile18 8:27min/mi<br />
Mile19 8:08min/mi<br />
Mile20 8:36min/mi (The Newton hills were taking a toll on me. Kate found me and I focused on her calves in her fancy white socks to pull me through. The perfect song came on, “The Best of You” by the Foo Fighters:<br />
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<br />
<em>"Were you born to resist or be abused?</em><br />
<br />
<em>Is someone getting the best, the best, the best, the best of you?</em><br />
<br />
<em>Is someone getting the best, the best, the best, the best of you?</em><br />
<br />
<em>Were you born to resist or be abused?</em><br />
<em>I swear I'll never give in</em><br />
<em>I refuse”</em><br />
<br />
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<em></em>Mile21 8:54min/mi (This was Heartbreak Hill. Not a HUGE hill, but I FELT it. The crowd was thick and loud with cheers.<br />
<br />
<em>"Are you gone and onto someone new?</em><br />
<em>I needed somewhere to hang my head</em><br />
<em>Without your noose</em><br />
<em>You gave me something that I didn't have</em><br />
<em>But had no use</em><br />
<em>I was too weak to give in</em><br />
<em>Too strong to lose</em><br />
<em>My heart is under arrest again</em><br />
<em>But I break loose</em><br />
<em>My head is giving me life or death</em><br />
<em>But I can't choose</em><br />
<em>I swear I'll never give in</em><br />
<em>I refuse”</em><br />
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<em></em><br />
Mile22 8:01min/mi (Hills are over, start of a downhill and BOOTYLICIOUS by Destiny’s Child!)<br />
Mile23 8:15min/mi I buddied up with Kate and tried to cheer her on<br />
Mile24 8:30min/mi (My left quad was seizing up on me, blisters on my toes were screaming. I went to my special place in my mind where I ignore the physical pain.)<br />
Mile25 8:20min/mi (I made a silent vow to my body to treat it so well if I broke 3:35…….)<br />
Mile26 8:14min/mi (digging deeper, “My Body” started to play in my ipod, started to laugh…so PERFECT for this last stretch)<br />
<br />
<em>“</em><em> My Body tells me no!</em><br />
<br />
<em>But I won’t quit</em><br />
<br />
<em>I want more, I want more</em><br />
<em>My Body tells me no!</em><br />
<em>But I won’t quit</em><br />
<em>I want more, I want more”</em><br />
<br />
Mile0.2 6:48min/mi (I think I was ready to be done)<br />
<br />
<strong>3:34:29</strong> my body gets some rest now, whew! So grateful for what it just did for me!!<br />
I took my phone out of airplane mode and it started to vibrate like crazy from all the texts; I almost dropped it out of my shaking hands. I hobbled through the finishing shute to collect my mylar blanket, medal, food,…..sanity. The runners hobbling with blankets tied at the neck looked like a sea of zombie superheros. As I proceeded, the tears came. Relief, joy, exhaustion, and pride overwhelmed me. Kate found me again in the sea; so good to see her glowing face and to share stories of the race. I wanted this moment, finally qualified for it, and now it was done. A little bittersweet, but I DID it!!Jessica Bienvenue Fitness Guruhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15796247781466929666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1187221383593062297.post-83817224728404790592011-03-13T23:07:00.000-07:002011-03-13T23:07:41.681-07:00Insanity DONE....almostToday was my last full length Insanity workout. I will admit, the last week was brutal for me. I had a few factors against me. I tweaked my rotator cuff early in the week with a heavy backpack, female "events", and I just felt un-motivated the whole week. I did it though. All I have left is one more Fit Test and final photos. I am going to wear my "Insanity, I earned it" t-shirt with upmost pride. The biggest thing I look forward to now is hitting the track and logging in some miles. Boston is ~4 weeks away. Yikes! Jessica Bienvenue Fitness Guruhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15796247781466929666noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1187221383593062297.post-33263563605652186772011-01-31T22:56:00.000-08:002011-01-31T22:58:24.961-08:00My passion project I am married and have a supportive husband and two amazing dogs. I have been running marathons and ultra-marathons for close to 8 years. My health history includes several major running related injuries, stemming from overuse and imbalances. I decided to get certified as an RRCA running coach, to better coach myself and stay healthy. I started coaching others to reach marathons and found their successes to be even more rewarding. <br />
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Over the last two years, my weight kept creeping up. I exercised intensely and did my best to eat a healthy diet. I hired personal trainers to help me get trim, but it got too expensive to keep up with. I tried to lift weights and cross train on my own, but had a hard time with motivation. In the spring of 2009, I ordered TurboJam. I LOVED it! It was such a breath of fresh air to have FUN while working out (besides running, of course). Soon, I ordered Chalean Extreme and ordered my select tech weights. The strength gains were amazing! I followed with P90X classic and continued to improve. September 2009, while heading into my 3rd month of P90X, I watched my marathon times improve significantly (from 4:30 to 3:55). I never felt stronger! The exciting thing is, there is room to improve MORE. <br />
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I became a certified TurboKick instructor on my 90th day of P90X. I now teach three classes per week and love it!! I just became certified in Hip Hop Hustle recently to change it up. <br />
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I continue to see improvements and the weight has been melting off. Since July 2009, I have dropped 18 lbs! I changed my diet to only whole, unprocessed foods and I was able to kick the night time snacking. This was very hard, considering I was a full blown popcorn addict!<br />
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So far, I have done Turbo Jam, Chalean Extreme, P90X, Brazil Butt Lift, TurboFire and just started Insanity in January 2011 Since incorporating these programs into my workout regimen, I have been injury free. I am now up to 53 marathons/ultra and I Boston qualified in the fall of 2010. I'm registered for Boston 2011 (yeah, baby, yeah!!) Crazy, I know....but that is another conversation ;)<br />
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My new life goal is to reach out to others and help them realize how much they are capable of. We only get one shot at life and it is so important to have strength and confidence to enjoy it. This is why I became a Beachbody coach. I think there will be nothing more rewarding than to know I've influenced someone in adapting to a healthier lifestyle. Give yourself the chance to find your true potential within. Feel free to contact me if you ever have any questions for me personally or about Beachbody products. I am here to help. This is my passion!Jessica Bienvenue Fitness Guruhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15796247781466929666noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1187221383593062297.post-23875086048685733412011-01-31T22:51:00.000-08:002011-01-31T22:51:00.492-08:00One month down....I can't believe we are onto February already. 2011 is already flying! Slow down, Time! <br />
I started week 4 of Insanity today. I'm a little nervous because after next week, the longer, more intense workouts begin. I've heard the first month really prepares you for it. I hope to see big changes, especially in my day60 photo. My new profile pic is my day20 photo. I can already see changes in my shoulders and back. I hope the abs join in too, but I know that will depend on eating well. I want muscles! Not too much, but definitely improved tone. Jessica Bienvenue Fitness Guruhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15796247781466929666noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1187221383593062297.post-58870692014734765562011-01-24T22:36:00.000-08:002011-01-31T22:52:06.797-08:00Fitness fury for 2011!The moment the new year rang in, I was ready to really make some changes this year. I started 2011 with the completion of triple marathons (12/31, 1/02 and 1/02). It was intense. It pushed my limits. I finished without injury and for that (in my mind), makes me a winner.<br />
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After a week of gentle recovery, I dove head-first into the Insanity program by Beachbody (I am a coach and can tell you more about that later). It is a humbling program. What I love about the program is the 2 week fit tests to track progress. I wasn't sure if I was improving. My 2nd fit test from yesterday proves it. Remarkable improvements! I can tell my legs are getting more powerful. Hopefully, this will lead to faster running.<br />
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Just the tip of the iceberg of what I have in store for this year. I had to start from somewhere, being my first blog and all ;)Jessica Bienvenue Fitness Guruhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15796247781466929666noreply@blogger.com2