GPS Kids | Peg’s Posts: Meeting Coach Jenny and other friends of Girls on the Run

Pinch me. Did I really just make an acquaintance and then luck my way into running with Jenny Hadfield … THE Coach Jenny, who’s not only one of the best known athletes/coaches/writers in the fitness world, but also a pretty serious FOG? Such a Garmin fan, in fact, she currently owns a Forerunner 310XT (nice to have on hand for her ultra training, thanks to battery life up to 20 hrs), FR60, an Edge 705, has a nuvi in the car and sports a zumo on her BMW 1150R motorcycle. And she regularly shares affections for Garmin in her Ask Coach Jenny blog on Runner’s World.com. Coach Jenny was one of the opening speakers for a conference for Girls on the Run. This pic shows Kristine (friend and director of our local Girls on the
Run), me, Coach Jenny and Cheryl (another friend and supporter of our
local GOTR). Girls on the Run is my part-time passion outside of my full-time job. After two full days of hearing from the likes of Coach Jenny, GOTR founder Molly Barker (a hero to many, including myself) and others … I’m more excited than ever to be involved with an organization that is educating young girls, boosting their self image and turning them on to a lifelong sport.  

Now, back to the dream of meeting this very real runner, Coach Jenny, who’s done everything from ultras to eco-Challenges to 40 marathons, and is recently loving the crazy world of cyclocross. Though her racing resume is surreal to you, me and millions of others, the fact that we could connect for a run and conversation is just proof that runners are real. With real challenges, solutions and compulsions. Which is why we had to do a little shopping before we struck out on our run. See, my friend Cheryl and I had heard that Jenny likes to combine shopping with running. When she spoke at our Girls on the Run conference, we were quite entertained with her story of competing in eco-Challenge Fiji, where she learned that survival and shopping (not for food, water or medical supplies, mind you) are not mutually exclusive. Deep in the rainforests of Fiji, while her team members where meeting with the Fijian chiefs, Jenny was admiring the hand-crafted mats made by the chief’s wife. In no time, she put those beautifully crafted mats on layaway for delivery at the end of their grueling 9-day journey. So, naturally, being fitness-minded tourists here in a new city, we added a little shopping stop to our run. Not telling where. You have to guess from the pic. Post a comment and first correct answer gets some schwag. Nothing hand-crafted from Fiji. Stay tuned to my next post for the winner … and more on our run, including a link to it in Garmin Connect.

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