About a month ago in a weekly blog post I shamelessly plugged my ultra running blog series from 2017. Included was my final report from the race, months overdue. Thanks for waiting with bated breath to read it.

I also mentioned that I committed to running the 100 miler again this year. Woot! Going for my 7th finish in 8 starts.

On Tuesday (Feb 20th) I recorded my podcast with Sean (release date in March!.. 2018!..) and got to thinking more about how I haven’t held up my end of the bargain with that blog series. One of the biggest things holding me back was how to improve on it from last year. What can I do to make it better, make it more interesting, change it up from 2017, and make you FEEL like you’re experiencing the races and the training with me?

I don’t want to give away too much about what Sean and I talked about, but a few things that were discussed were ‘accountability’ and ‘labels or pigeonholing’.

Accountability
This is an easy one. Check out the Goals board. Is your name up there? What are your 2018 goals? I have 5 items listed
– Bench press – 135#
– Deadlift – 315#
– Back squat – 215#
– 2k row – 7:45
– Bodyweight – 165#
– MMT 100 miler – under 33 hours.

I’m going to add a 7th one, and that’s take my CrossFit Level 3 exam in October. It’s a big goal, a big task, but I’m putting it out there. I’m putting MYSELF out there. I’m being vulnerable.

And that’s what this blog series is about – being vulnerable. I’m far, FAR from perfect and I mess up A LOT. My training and eating are all over the place. But by putting myself out there so you can see my ups and downs and struggles, you can keep me accountable. You can help me reach my goals.
“Hey, I didn’t see you at open gym this weekend.. what’s up?”
“You’ll be at yoga Sunday, right?”
“Sure you want to eat that cupcake?”
“What are the 10 general physical skills?”

Just as I, in every class I coach, try to help you reach your goals, you can help me progress.

Pigeonholing
Labels.
I don’t fit into a mold.
I’m not a ‘one size fits all’.
I don’t like to be defined or labeled as one *thing* Check out the title of this post..

– I’m more than a CrossFit coach or a CrossFitter, an exerciser, a worker outer
– In the past I played softball in college, then went on to run 5ks and marathons, then triathlons and Ironman tris
– I enjoy rowing, dicking around on my single speed bike, punishing myself on the Assault bike
– I run, I run trails, I run long trails, I run really really long trails that go up and down and more up and more down
– I’m a small business owner, I walk dogs, I care for cats, I’m usually behind on invoicing my clients
– I like to pick up heavy things, I like to squat, I like to bench, I like to use dumbbells and kettlebells and dballs, and.. and.. and..

..and whatever is next. Whatever is the next challenge. Whatever interests me, whatever keeps me moving, keeps me engaged, keeps me getting up in the morning.

So this next blog series will be titled “Jen Does Stuff” followed by whatever I’m doing at the moment. It might be a trail race, a rowing event, a crazy workout, a power lifting competition, or just what I’m doing to work towards accomplishing the goals I set for myself this year.

And, admittedly, I have a bit of catching to do. We’re nearly 3 months into the New Year (can we still call it the ‘new year’??) and I’ve already completed a bunch of stuff. An easy way to do that will be to check out some posts on my Instagram page, which shares the same title of this series. Fancy that!

More to come!