Jenna, Author at Runs on Espresso

Keep Moving Forward

Posted on May 6, 2020May 20, 2022 by Jenna

For the past five years, working out has been a struggle for me. When I look back before I was diagnosed with celiac disease, I was incredibly active. I was training for half marathons and doing things like P90X and RushFit. I was at a good weight, and I feel I looked pretty good.

*Time to channel my inner WW & conquer my mind!*

I’m still struggling to get back to that place. I realize I may never get to the exact spot again, but I want to be healthier and workout more. My mind plays tricks on me; it makes me think it will be too hard to work out when I’m tired. In reality, it makes me feel better. I have to remind myself of that more often.

Last week I had a horrible experience on the run. My dog and I were attacked by five older puppies. I had anxiety for the rest of the week and couldn’t get myself out the door. If something had happened to my dog, I couldn’t live with myself.

Sunday, I woke up and realized I was making excuses. I decided to do a strength workout. But I did it without a watch. I didn’t track it anywhere. I just did it. I pushed myself. I worked up a sweat. It felt amazing.

I had a setback Monday, but I decided to switch my rest day (Friday) with Monday. Tuesday, I did another strength workout. I intently focused on form. I attempted some higher weights but ended up switching them out for the second set. Another workout that felt amazing! I rewarded myself with a post-workout margarita for Cinco de Mayo.

This morning I got up, ate a picky bar, and then headed out for a run. Wednesdays are my speedwork day, so I did a one-mile warmup with the dog, dropped her off, and then followed my workout for the day. I hit my time goal for each repeat except for one. Someone was out with their dogs, not on leashes. They came over to me, so I stopped running and pet the dogs while waiting for the owner to collect them.

We often have times when our motivation fails us. Sometimes it’s ok to take a break. A break might be what we really need. The important part is to assess how you feel and get back on track as soon as you can. I find if we languish too long it gets harder and harder to get back on track.

How do you keep yourself motivated and on track with your workouts?

April Book Corner

Posted on April 30, 2020June 16, 2022 by Jenna

Disturbed – Jennifer Jaynes – 3 stars
I found this book on Amazon Prime, and the description sucked me in. Multiple murders on Halloween and five years later, the lone survivor starts seeing the alleged murderer around town? Yes, please. I love a good thriller! The good: it’s an easy read. I think I finished it over a weekend. I flew through the first half on the edge of my seat. Was it him? Maybe the cop had something to do with it. No, he seems like too good of a guy for that. Oh, wait… I think I have an idea. I really hope that’s not how it goes. The bad? That was how it went. I wasn’t a fan of the twist and ending. It just wasn’t for me. If the conclusion had been something a tad different, I’d probably have given this book four stars. It’s not a bad book, and who knows, you may like the twist/ending! I may try another book by the same author through Amazon Prime. Her writing is good and her other books have good reviews.

Yoga for Runners – Christine Felstead – 3 stars
Overall a decent book. I liked that it had sequences in the back for different issues. The writing before the poses/sequences was a bit dry for my taste. I have read other yoga and anatomy for runner books that I enjoyed more for the reading. This one is worth at least perusing for the poses and sequences.

Girl, Stop Apologizing – Rachel Hollis – 2 stars
I never read her first book, Girl, Wash Your Hair. I looked at it several times. I read a lot of reviews, and I wasn’t interested in paying for her books. I saw this book on Amazon Prime, so I decided to check it out. I get the negative reviews. There is a lot of privilege in her book. I went with two stars because it is an easy read and she is a decent writer. As far as the advice? It’s stuff I see all over the internet. There’s nothing new or groundbreaking. To me, she came across as if she was trying too hard to connect with the audience. It felt forced, fake. She is not my self-help guru, but if she helps you, that’s great! I’d rather read Brene Brown.

Started It – Stephen King
This review will be in May’s blog. It might be the only book in May. I started it about a week ago, and I’m only 35% done! It says my kindle edition is 1169 pages. So far, I’m intrigued by the story and want to keep reading. But like other King books, there seems to be a lot of excessive details that don’t really add to the story. I bought this book last year because I am terrified of the original movie (and clowns) and thought it would be good to help me get over it. Even though books allow me to imagine much more than film, they don’t scare me the same way. I finally decided to read it because a friend kept asking. I shouldn’t have told anyone about my plans. LOL (Also, we have the new It movies on the DVR, and I’d like to test myself – does anyone know where I can find the original?)

How to Protect the Earth

Posted on April 21, 2020 by Jenna

Protect the Earth. That’s a pretty big responsibility, huh?

We owe it to ourselves and the earth to be responsible when we head to the great outdoors. We are currently destroying our planet at an alarming rate. We should be working to make it a better place. To leave it for future generations to enjoy, not just our grandchildren but their grandchildren as well.

Those of us that can do something must help protect the earth. There’s a variety of different ways you can do, some being relatively cheap and others with a higher impact on your wallet. In no way should you go broke trying to do the right thing. Always look at your budget and only do what works for you and your family.

Read on for simple and fairly cheap ways to protect the earth.

One relatively cheap upgrade you can do is to switch out your lightbulbs. As your current bulbs go out, replace them with CFL bulbs. You will pay a bit more per bulb, but they will last much longer and conserve energy. Also, open your blinds and use natural light during the day and turn off lights when not in use.

If you can’t trade-in your car for a hybrid, look at your driving habits to help protect the earth. First, make sure to keep your vehicle in tip-top shape. You run best when your healthy, so does your car. When driving, try to avoid hard braking and putting the pedal to the medal.

Are there ways to drive less? Maybe you can carpool with a work buddy or use public transportation for part of your commute. You can literally run errands (or walk if running isn’t your thing). Have a small package to mail out? Why not walk to the post office! Or maybe you ran out of coffee or toilet paper. Put on your tennis shoes and walk over to Target or Walmart. Maybe get yourself a bike with a basket, and you can grab a few more items on your trips to the store!

We have discovered a lot of jobs can telework quite easily. You can ask your boss if you can telework once a week. Just one day a week can make a big difference.

Do you have a Nest thermostat? No? Well, if your current system would work with a Nest, have one installed. You can save a lot on your heating and cooling by using the eco mode. Even if you don’t have a Nest, look into a programmable thermostat. You can create a schedule that adjusts the temps when you ‘re at work. If no one is home, you don’t need the house as warm (cold) as when you’re home. And with a programmable one, you never have to think about it! It’s a very simple way to protect the earth which doesn’t require a lot of thought.

Watch your plastic. Choose packaging with little to no plastic or plastic your area recycles. Reusable bags can be a great way to reduce the amount of single-use plastic bags from the grocery store. Ditch the bottled water. Get a reusable bottle and refill it throughout the day.

Pick up after yourself when you are outdoors. If you are at a park and the garbage is full or overflowing, take your garbage with you to dispose of later. It’s helpful to have a bag in your car for trash. Follow leave no trace dogma and if you pack it in, be sure to pack it out. If you are feeling especially useful, you can pick up after others as well.

There is much more you can do, but these are a good starting point. What will you do to help?

We all need the earth. It gives us the basics of life. Without it, we have no food. No water. No shelter.

Did you know when you purchase a print from my shop, 15% of the purchase price is donated to the National Park Foundation? I stand behind my commitment to the earth by giving back. Why the National Park Foundation? Because the National Park system does so much for us for a relatively low price. Shop now.

Get Outside – My Favorite Image

Posted on April 14, 2020 by Jenna

Get outside when you can.

We all need to get outside and get some fresh air and sunshine, especially in the current times. As always, we need to practice being responsible while enjoying the outdoors.

What can you do to get outside?

Take a walk, go for a run. Explore your neighborhood. Or grab your coffee and laptop and head to your deck. Plan your next big adventure. You may not be able to go far now, but someday you will. Why not dream?

Petrified Forest National Park in Arizona is a great place to dream and scheme about. There are so many different things to see there. The landscape is awe-inspiring, and the petrified wood is just beyond words. I plan to go back.

Picking a favorite image from here was incredibly hard. Are the badlands better than a close up of petrified wood? Do I go with the old rusted out car on route 66? What about images from the hike to the onyx bridge?

See why I recommend this place?

We didn’t even go on all the hikes we had wanted to. It’s closed currently, like most places, but you should still head over to their website (once you’ve finished here, of course) and scheme about what you would do and see there.

I finally decided on this photo of the rusted out car because it reminds me of my dad. We shared a love of cars, and I know he would have loved this. He had a photo of a random truck I found in Breckenridge framed and hanging in his office. Finding old cars is like a little connection to him, even though he’s gone.

Whenever I take a photo of an old car, I think of him and how much fun it would have been to show him the pictures. It also reminds me that our time here is relatively short, and most of the time, we won’t know when our number is up. That’s why it’s essential to get outside and explore this vast world while we can.

If you like this image, head over to Instagram, I’ll be posting different photos from Petrified Forest this week!

Like the image above and want to own your own (or maybe another Petrified Forest print)? Head over here and shop to your heart’s content.

March Book Corner

Posted on March 26, 2020June 16, 2022 by Jenna

I started the month off with Outer Order Inner Calm by Gretchen Rubin. Usually, I enjoy Grethen Rubin’s work. I listen to her podcast and loved The Happiness Project. But I couldn’t get into Outer Order Inner Calm. I was in a decluttering mood, so I thought it was fitting. Everything in her book was the most basic advice, or I’d already heard it on the podcast. I gave it a three (3) of five on Goodreads. It was just underwhelming, and I’m not sure if anyone would benefit from it. Reading through other reviews and there seems to be many like me, fans who felt like she mailed it on this book.

I started two books after Outer Order. I want to get through some of the series I have, so I started The Lost Soul the third and final book in the 666 Park Avenue series. The third and final book, in this series, was a little disappointing. I gave it two stars on Goodreads. It was pretty predictable and dragged on a lot. The idea behind the book (and series) was good, but the execution could have been better.

I also grabbed the first Locke and Key from Amazon Prime Reading and was dying to start it mostly because I want to read it before I start the show. I was disappointed when this book ended. I wanted more, but #1 was the only one available through Amazon Prime Reading. I guess I’ll wait for the net one to show up there too.

I also read Mockingjay, the final book in The Hunger Games series. It dragged in several places. I think it could have been a bit shorter. I skimmed some parts because it just dragged and was unnecessary filler. I gave it three stars because the book was just too long. The underlying story was great. I grew tired of some of the back and forth in Katniss’ feelings and thoughts. You’d think after all she’s been through, she’d get over her insecurities, and everyone hates me act. Also, the love triangle between Katniss, Gale, and Peeta was just old and stale.

I started Ansel Adams The Negative next. It’s the second in his serious. So far, I haven’t finished it yet. It’s good but very technical, which makes it a slow read. This one will be carried over into April.

I fell behind in my reading the second half of the month. You’d think working from home, I’d have more time to read, but I read mostly on my commute. I’m trying to find little pockets of time. I also plan to use my lunch break to get more book time in.

What did you read in March?

Runs on Espresso Virtual Race

Posted on March 24, 2020November 23, 2021 by Jenna

One of my big goals for the past five (six?) years has been to run a marathon. Twice I’ve gotten very close, but circumstances caused me not to make it to the start line.

This year I turn 40. I want to run a marathon, so I decided to do a marathon on my birthday. And I’m turning it into a virtual race so all my running friends everywhere can join in!

I’ve decided to do a Runs on Espresso Marathon!

And I’d love for you to join me. You do not have to run a marathon you can do a 5k, 10k, half or full. All you have to do is pick a distance and run on August 30th (a Sunday).

It will be free to participate. All you have to do is send me your results from your run on 8/29 or 8/30. A screenshot of your fitness watch or GPS app would be best. I’ll be out on the 30th, but I know not everyone can run on Sundays.

I’ll review all the results and post the overall winners and maybe age groups (if there are enough people).

Of course, I will win the August 30th, 1980 age group.

I also plan to design a tank top and medal that you can order! I don’t know the costs yet, but I’ll do some research and let you know. I would only charge enough to cover my expenses and like $5 for shipping.

I’ll make a page on my website for updates, but you can always follow Instagram and Twitter for updates in the meantime!

My Favorite Image – Go Green

Posted on March 17, 2020 by Jenna

For March’s favorite image, I went with the Court of the Patriarchs in Zion. The three kings are Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. It was a short hike from the shuttle stop to get to this lovely spot.

If I could do this shot differently I may have moved more to my left. I think I could have gotten a better frame of all three. I also wish I had more sky above the three formations, maybe a slightly higher vantage point.

I do love the green trees up against the reddish sandstone. I also love the rough rock with clear blue sky behind them.

What do you love about this photo?

Want to see more photos from Zion? Check out the gallery here.

Book Corner – February 2020

Posted on February 29, 2020June 16, 2022 by Jenna

I started February off with Dumplin’ (yes, the book the Netflix movie starring Jennifer Aniston is based on). I used the prompt a book you picked because the title caught your attention because I was scrolling through Amazon Prime Reads, and it popped out to me. The title and cover were intriguing, and I knew Netflix had made it into a movie. Overall, I liked the story. I was a bit disappointed in the ending. I felt like a bit of a cliffhanger. (I know there’s a second book but from my understanding focuses on other characters). I gave it four stars. It was an easy read and had a sweet message about loving yourself and the struggle to accept yourself. I think no matter what size you are, we all have similar thoughts as Dumplin’. It also touched on how judgemental we can be, even when we are often judged unfairly. Dumplin’ had several judgemental thoughts about friends and knew it was wrong, yet she couldn’t help it. I think we’ve all been there.

Next up was The Camera by Ansel Adams. This isn’t a book I’d recommend to everyone. I chose it because Ansel Adams has always been a photographer I’ve looked to for inspiration, and I’m interested in learning more. The book was updated in 1980 (the year I was born), so a lot of it isn’t applicable unless you have older cameras. I have an old film camera, and it helped me learn more about it and learn about other cameras I’m interested in obtaining. I give this four (4) stars. I thought Adams did an excellent job explaining The Camera.

We bought an air fryer in December. We’ve been using it a ton for things like french fries and veggie tots, but I wanted to branch out a bit. Amazon was having a buy three (3) for the price of two (2) deal, so I got Skinny Taste’s air fryer cookbook. And yes, I read it cover to cover. I read all my new cookbooks. Without having to try any recipes yet, I would give it five (5) stars. It was well written and had a lot of useful information for using an air fryer. The recipes all sounded delicious, and several were naturally gluten-free. The rest are easily adaptable. I had to laugh at one of the only bad reviews I saw, though… she was complaining there wasn’t enough info for making these recipes in the oven because she didn’t have an air fryer. I’m not sure why you’d buy a cookbook for a specific appliance if you don’t have said appliance. But what do I know? LOL

Since I started The Hunger Games in January, I wanted to read Catching Fire this month. I gave it four (4) stars on Goodreads. There are two reasons it didn’t get five (5) stars. One, Katniss is so freaking dense it started driving me nuts from the start of the book. I don’t recall her being this dumb about it in the movie, but the book is all her point of view, and we get more inner dialogue. Second, it has the problem most middle books (and movies) have that it kind of drags a bit. First, it needs to retell us about characters and events from book one. I usually skim over those parts. Then it has to set up and leave a big cliff hanger for the third book. But as far as second books go, this is definitely strong on its own.

I thought my last book for the month would be The Alienist. It’s almost 500 pages, so I figured two weeks would be enough time. It took me about a week and a half. I gave The Alienist five (5) stars on Goodreads. I liked it, but I can’t say it would be for everyone. It’s very detailed, and it’s not one you can quickly skim. I enjoyed the story and plot. I watched the TV series but only remembered the very vague storyline and not whodunnit. I have to say I was on the edge of my seat, trying to figure it out (or remember). If you like historical fiction, psychology, and new crime-solving techniques (like fingerprinting!), this book might be for you. It’s a bit of a slow read and requires your attention. It’s not a beach read kind of book.

I finished The Alienist on my lunch break, so I needed a book for the commute home. I started No, No, No, No, No, Yes. Insights From a Creative Journey. I also finished it on my commute. It was VERY short. Very short. It wasn’t what I was expecting. I gave it a three (3) on Goodreads, but I think that was a little generous. The message behind it was good, but there wasn’t a lot to the book. It felt like a blog post or article. The premise is you will hear no a lot, but no isn’t forever, so keep going.

What did you read in February? What are you planning to read in March?

How to Travel Cheap

Posted on February 18, 2020 by Jenna

One way to travel cheap? Camp. You need to have some essential equipment, but campgrounds can be so cheap. We pay for a week of camping, and it’s the same as a night at a hotel or Air BnB. We acquired most of our gear on Amazon and used their 6-month payment plan to make it even cheaper.

Camping basics:

Tent
Air mattress and sleeping bag(s)
Kitchen gear (we have a stove, coffee pot, mugs, and a pan/plate/utensil set). We bought a stove because I have celiac disease and need to make sure I have a clean cooking surface. Who knows what people cook on the campground stoves!
Matches, fire starter, firewood, and lighter.
Towels (we have old ones we no longer use)
Collapsable chairs for sitting around your fire at night.
Comfort items – pillows, hand sanitizer
Cooler and food. We like Coleman, and we reuse the freeze packs we get with Butcher Box and Green Chef orders. We keep food pretty simple, oatmeal or eggs for breakfast, sandwich and chips for lunch, and steak or chicken for dinner. We have bars and candy for snacks.
Water (plan out how much you need to drink and buy in bulk)

We pack most of it into a Rubbermaid tote and toss it in the trunk. The most expensive items are going to be a tent, chairs, and cooler. Everything else is relatively inexpensive. If you search Amazon, you can find good deals on the higher-priced items. Buy what fits your budget now to travel cheap, and you can always upgrade later.

Not into camping but still want to travel cheap?

I get it; not everyone enjoys camping. So here are 10 other tips on how to travel cheap when planning a vacation!

If your destination is close, it may be better to drive than fly. We drive to LA and Vegas because it makes more sense and takes about the same amount of time. Compare the cost of driving and flying to determine the best transportation mode.
If you need to fly, try having flexible dates. A lot of websites have a matrix that will show you the cheapest times to fly. You enter your “ideal” dates, and you can look at what it would cost to fly a day earlier or come home two days later.
Speaking of dates, try to go off-season. Yes, Vegas in August is hotter than hades, but you are more likely to find the best deals. Another bonus of going off-season? Fewer people! When we went to Joshua Tree, we saw very few other people. It also rained one day, but we didn’t let that stop us. We were the only people in places that are typically packed.
If you tend to fly the same airline, consider getting the credit card. You can get free check luggage and other perks. The big thing with this is paying off your card every month. If you can’t pay it off, don’t get one. We have two airline cards, and that is how we pay for each vacation. When we get back, we pay it off, but then we’ve earned more miles (which are a great way to fly cheap!).
Look at flights to different airports. Can you fly cheaper into one a little further away from your destination? Several larger destinations have two airports. Check prices at both. Are you traveling to a more remote location? Does it make financial sense to fly into a larger airport, rent a car, and drive to your final destination? Play with airports and dates to find the best deal for you.
Look at using public transportation instead of renting a car. In several large cities, we’ve used public transportation. It’s so much cheaper than renting a car. We usually will use Lyft to get to and from the airport, but then we bus and rail it.
Where are you staying? Sometimes an Air BnB type place may be cheaper than a hotel. Explore all your options. We usually look at the location and find something that fits our budget. We set a per night rate before we start looking and go from there. We also don’t go for suites and other such luxuries because we know we will mostly be sleeping at the hotel. Also, look for free parking (if you will have a car), resort fees, free wi-fi. Hotels are like airlines where they nickel and dime for everything now! Does a complimentary continental breakfast work for you? Great! That saves the price of a meal times how many days you are there.
Food can add up. Because of my celiac disease, we often research places before we leave. I highly recommend this! We find places unique to the area and can’t get at home. We don’t usually go to a chain. This also gives us an idea of how expensive it is and the budget for different meals. A lot of times, we eat a large, filling breakfast and push through until dinner. I also pack snacks in my check luggage, so if we get hungry at 2 pm, we have stuff with us. We usually choose mostly casual restaurants with one steak house during our vacation.
If there is a City Pass, look into it. It can be worth it if you will do all the activities. Otherwise, plan your excursions! We have never done a bus tour and probably never will. We did the Road to Hana ourselves and used an app that was under $10. We learned about Hawaii, and it told us where to stop. See what popular places need to be booked ahead of time. We book river cruises, shows, and other things months before the trip. We didn’t do that in time and missed out on Alcatraz (so yes, some NEED to be planned!). It may not save you money, but it will give you peace of mind that you won’t miss your big outing!
Don’t buy cheesy souvenirs at the tourist traps (try to avoid the traps – they are usually expensive for what you get). I typically try to get a coffee mug or shot glass at places. I use coffee mugs and display shot glasses. I also try to find something I can use or wear that will remind me about the vacation. The ring I wear every day I got in Hawaii. I have some beach cover-ups I bought in Spain and Mexico. Those are things I enjoy more than the cheesy t-shirt with the destination name on it.

Start saving and planning for your next trip. Leave your best tip to travel cheap in the comments!

Goals and Dreams 2020 Edition

Posted on February 5, 2020February 5, 2020 by Jenna

January started a bit rocky for me. I was still struggling with the holiday hangover. It wasn’t very easy to shake, but around the middle of the month, I started to turn it around.

I committed to working out. It was still tricky, but I hit every weight training session but one and did several runs. It was harder for me to get back into running because I had no plan and real goals.

Training is hard when you have no end game.

I finally decided to make my 2020 goal to complete the Hot as Hell quarter marathon. I had registered for this a few years ago but did not start (DNS). I ended up doing it virtually later. I also did the same route as a different race, and it was miserable. Here’s a reminder. I want to do this race and conquer it! I know I can do better.

I may also do a trail half marathon in December, but I haven’t decided just yet. 2020 will focus on building trail miles and muscle. I need to learn how to fule for trail runs. I struggle with hunger and energy, even on short distances. My current plan, based on asking others more experienced than myself, is to eat PickyOats for breakfast, take a fuel just before starting, and then every 30-45 minutes after. I also need to take my Nuun Endurance too. I’ve only been taking water.

I would also love to drop about 20 pounds and some body fat. Hopefully, lifting weights will help. I’m currently doing JG40 and plan to restart once I get through the 12-week program. I’m trying to log my food every day and hit my calorie target. I get close most days, but I don’t beat myself up if I’m over.

All of this leads to… I’M GOING TO RUN A 50K IN MARCH 2021!

I’ve decided to forget the road marathon and jump right to a trail ultra. I’ve already picked the race, and it’s a park I run and hike fairly regularly. I can practice the trails while building my distance. I also plan a “warm-up” 20-mile race in January 2021 at my favorite park I go to almost weekly. I am so stoked for 2021!

Author: Jenna