Monday:
I wasn’t ready to talk to Monday, yet.
5:30am run with friends
And Perch afterwards
Truth.
Track prep: Caramel Macchiato Gu, splits in a plastic bag because rain was in the forecast, and Cocogo. Use code: JENCHOOSESJOY (all caps) for 10% off.
Tuesday:
I still keep the original Picky Bar bags to hold my key for rainy day runs.
Workout: Yasso 800’s – NERD ALERT: Bart Yasso just commented on my Instagram post about my workout!!!
(My last tough workout before Boston and it was in the rain!)
3.5 mile warm-up
10x800m (400m recovery jog)
1 mile cool down
My goal was to keep my 800’s under 3:36. My actual splits were: 3:35, 3:34, 3:34, 3:34, 3:35, 3:33, 3:33, 3:33, 3:32, 3:27.
Here’s a great article from Runner’s World about the Yasso 800’s. Supposedly, there is a correlation between your 800m time and your predicted marathon finish time.
Jason surprised me with beautiful flowers. I’m sure it didn’t have anything to do with him being out-of-town for the NCAA Final Four and National CHampionship games! 😉 If you’re local, Garden Delights always sends the prettiest arrangements.
I had a MantraBand giveaway on Instagram a couple of weeks ago. @cosmo_polita won and posted this gorgeous pic!
Do you run the Yasso 800 workout? Do you think it’s marathon finish time predictor?
What’s the earliest you’ll wake up to run? I have a rule that my alarm time can’t start with a 3:XX!
What’s your favorite Gu flavor? If not Gu, what’s your preferred mid-run fuel?
Does anyone still remember or use the old Picky Bar bags?
#choosejoy
Jen Chooses Joy 
I used to have a rule that my alarm couldn’t start with 4:xx but now I do 5am boot camp and orange theory so I guess I’ll have to go with 3:xx as well.
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I’ve been wanting to try the 5am OTF, but it fills up so quickly!
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I have started a few 20 miles at 3am (with a friend). Seems funny to have 20 miles done by 6am. I don’t prefer this, but sometimes it’s my only option. Live your beautiful flowers.
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That’s so impressive!!!
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I’ve never heard of the Yasso training so thanks for sharing. I’m running my first marathon in oct so maybe I’ll try it out. Good luck in Boston!
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It’s tough, but always boosts my confidence before a marathon!
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I want to try Yasso 800s but I’m afraid I’d fail terribly! I plan to start speed work in June so I’m looking forward to trying them then.
The caramel macchiatto flavor sounds interesting. I like to take Honey Stinger gels during my run, in either the Acai Pomegranate or the Fruit Smoothie flavor.
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It’s a great workout. Just choose a realistic pace, so you can successfully complete the workout. I’m sure you’ll be able to do it!! My husband love the fruit smoothie honey stingers…so good!
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I’ve never heard of the Yasso training so thanks for sharing. I’m running my first marathon in oct so I might try it. Good luck in Boston!
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Great splits! I would lose my mind if Bart Yasso commented on one of my IG posts! My fave midrun fuel is salted Carmel gu or strawberry banana Power Gel 🙂 have a fabulous day!
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I’m glad I’m not the only person that would geek out! Move never tried the strawberry banana gel, but it sounds awesome!
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I’ve gotten up in the 4:xx hour before, but even that is pushing it! Definitely no earlier! I’ve never found Yasso’s to predict my time for me. I’ve run ten of them in the 3:00 or just below before and I definitely don’t run that in a marathon! I wish! It’s a great workout regardless!
I can’t handle GU. I used to really like the Jet Blackberry flavor, but my stomach doesn’t do well with them anymore. I love Honey Stinger chews and waffles. I use them on all my long runs!
What beautiful flowers! Lucky girl! Have a great day Jen!
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I’m with you. I’ve never tried them right before a marathon, but mostly it’s just a great workout. My husband swears by the honey stinger products!
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Awesome job on the Yasso’s! That’s so amazing. You’re going to crush Boston! I used to only use Gu, but I recently switched to Honey Stingers gel and it works so much better for my stomach. I love it!
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My husband swears by the honey stinger products. I need to give them a try!
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[Don’t read this, BFF Bart!] I have yet to do Yasso 800s. I know for sure that they are tough stuff, though! I will probably get some done next year when I rock out another marathon (I think? Maybe? Meh…then again, it’s next year…maybe…I dunno.)
Earliest I get up: 4:00am. I do this often. I also zonk out at 9:00pm. Shah.
Fave GU flavor = Salted Caramel!
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Next year…yes!! Go for it!!! Also, I go to bed with the nightly news like a senior citizen!
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I haven’t done a yasso 800s workout yet but I hope to do my first one this week sometime! That’s awesome that he commented on your instagram.
Earliest I run: 11:00 am on weekends. I can’t run in the mornings!!
Favorite gu: Salted caramel but I might have to try the caramel macchiato next!!
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It’s a great workout! I’m sure you will crush it!
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Jen, I definitely run 800s, but I had NEVER heard about the fact that Bart says this is a marathon predictor until now – whaaaat?!? I think it could definitely be a predictor for fast folks like you, but I find it REEEEEEALY hard to believe that I could run a full marathon in 4:18-4:20 (times for my most recent 800s workout); it would be awesome if I could, though – ha! 😉 I’ll keep this in mind, for sure! Somehow setting my alarm for 4:01 seems better than 4:00 am. 🙂 I love GU, but I also use Honey Stinger gels & chews, too. I wish I’d saved some of the old Picky Bars bags; I always love seeing yours! Have a great day, Jen!
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Runners are raving about the honey stinger products. I need to try them!!!
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I’ll be carrying some Salted Caramel and Caramel Macchiato Gu gels when I run my first 50 mile trail run on 4/25. The race starts at 6am so I might have to wake up at 3:xx that day. Beautiful flowers!
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First 50 miler!!!!! You rock!!!!
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Jen those are some amazing splits!!!! You are such an inspiration.
I do this weird thing where I eat honey as mid-run fuel… It’s cheap and clean and doesn’t mess with my stomach.
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I’ve heard that honey is one of the best run fuels. And, if it works for you, keep doing it!!
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You NAILED that workout! I’m so pumped for you to run Boston!!
I used to wake up at 4:30 to be at the gym to run by 5 but I haven’t done that in a while!!! Need to get back into it.
I like Gu but Honey Stinger is what works best for me. Easy on the stomach and tastes really good! 🙂
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There are so many comments about honey stinger on here. I have to try it!!
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I like dates with almonds for long run fuel. Great job on your workout!!
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You are so good and healthy for choosing dates and almonds!!!
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Awesome paces on your Yasso! Those are like my exact 800 splits from a couple weeks ago – we would be good training partners.
My favorite Gus are salted caramel – the salt tastes so good during hard runs and races.
The earliest I’ll wake up for running is 4:00 am – but thankfully I haven’t had to in a while!
I’ve never tried Picky Bars but really want to. Lauren Fleshman is one of my favorite elites!
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I LOVE Picky Bars and thank you!!!
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Ummm yeah Jen I’d say that you totally crushed those 800’s Jen and you are definitely going steady with them no ha lol 😛 … ohhhh pretty flowers!! I’m such a sucker for followers because I mother was into gardening. Yes, I do run the Yasso 800’s workout and love it. I also like doing 12×1 fartleks … talk about lungs burning. Call me plain Jane but my favorite GU flavor is vanilla and behind that would be salted watermelon … after all summers coming and watermelon is a summer staple ha! The earliest I wake up for a run is 4:05am that’s pretty much my daily routine. And of course I remember the original Picky Bars bag lol 😀
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I have never tried the vanilla gu, but I love the salted watermelon! 4:05 daily wake up is super impressive!
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Great job on those 800s.!! Looks like you made your goal 🙂
oh gosh I can’t wake up with a 3 either. I can do 4:xx though..
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Thanks so much!!
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Wow, I wish my husband had beautiful flower arrangements delivered every time he went out of town. You have yourself a keeper! 🙂
That is awesome that Bart commented on your Instagram post. I probably would have done a little happy dance. The last time I did Yasso’s 800s it predicted my marathon time within 5 minutes. He knows his stuff!!! Way to kill it out there!
The earliest I will get up to run is probably 5am, though I might get up earlier on race day depending on the start time and setup.
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Wow!! That’s awesome that the 800’s matched your finish time so closely!
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Incredible 800s! I run them but I’ve only done 6×800 not 10. You’re a beast!! We are getting so close to marathon day!!! I use Clif bar gels for fuel. They have a double shot mocha flavor I really like. Earliest I’m up is 4.45 def no 3 am wake up for me!!! 🙂 have a beautiful day Jen!
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Oh and when Kara Goucher tweeted on one of my twitter posts I was all NERD too 😉
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That’s so much fun!!!
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Caramel macchiato GU is my favorite! It hits the spot and gives just the right amount of energy 🙂
I struggle maintaining that tempo pace for longer periods of time. Oh well, something to work on!!
Awesome Yasso 800s!!! I think they can be a decent predictor of marathon times but only if your long run and tempo training are on track too. I think there are a TON of other factors that go into a marathon time. For instance, I can do 800s in 3:30-3:35, but I haven’t even been able to finish a half marathon in 1:45 yet much less be on track for a 3:30-35 marathon
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Tempos are the toughest speed work for me! We’re all a work in progress. 😊
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High five on those Yasso’s!! That was my workout too yesterday and I nailed all my splits in the cold rain… super happy about that. 😉 I love me some Picky Bars!! I have major allergy issues so I have to be careful trying new gels/GU/etc but all the comments on Honey Stingers have me intrigued. Gonna have to check that out! Cheers!!
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Congrats on your 800’s!! I definitely want to try the honey stingers after reading everyone’s comments!
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Hi Jen–I just stumbled upon your blog relatively recently and really love it! I was reading about Cocogo and contemplating buying some–do you use it on long runs in addition to taking the Gu, or just drink it by itself before/after your long runs? I’m trying to figure out the best way to incorporate it to reap the benefits. Thanks!
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Thanks so much for reading!!! I carry a handheld with Cocogo in it for my long runs and take a bottle of it to the track to drink during my workouts.
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