#64 - Becoming Wonder Woman/ Jennifer Ballance
In our last podcast/blog entitled: “#63 - Parents, Jogging Strollers, & Running” I talked about the importance of expecting parents to keep the option of running open by means of picking up a jogger. Parents with small children already can strap their little ones in right now and go for a relaxing run. I asked a simple question to a running motivation group: “Do You Run With A Stroller?”
The responses that I got back were amazing. One really stood out to me because it was from a person speaking about her friend!
Ashley Pickens Commented: “Wonder Woman Jennifer Ballance pushes her two youngest children in a double stroller. She also trained for the New York Marathon last year while her husband was deployed. She took care of her 4 kids and maintained a full time and part-time job. She crushed the Marathon in under 5 hours. She would be perfect for the podcast.”
So without hesitation, Coach Tadris needed to find this Jennifer aka “Wonder Woman” to see what makes her so successful! What drives Jennifer Ballance and how did she become known as the “Wonder Woman”
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Coach: Jennifer how does it feel to have someone speak about you in that way?
Jennifer aka Wonder Woman: It makes me feel really great to know that people think of me and appreciate what I have accomplished.
Coach: What do you do for a living?
Jennifer: I am a Payroll Administrator and I also teach a Bootcamp class at my local gym once a week.
Coach: What moved you to get into this field?
Jennifer: I have been doing payroll for a while, so it is something that I enjoy doing. It is a necessary job that everyone appreciates as well.
Coach: With every superhero, there is a backstory. Were you raised in the Amazon on an island with all women? Were your parents killed in an accident? LOL. With all seriousness were you an athlete growing up? Take us back to your childhood.
Jennifer: I played a few sports growing up, but nothing serious. I did not play sports or run at all after Elementary school.
Coach: As an adult and having children, how do you balance being a wife, a mother, and maintaining full and part-time jobs and still getting your running in?
Jennifer: It is hard, but I feel like you have to take time for self-care. I want to be around a while and also show other people and especially my children that you can do it.
Coach: Is this how you started getting the nickname
“Wonder Woman”? Where did that come?
Jennifer: It all started when I did my 2nd Half-Marathon and I dressed up as Wonder Woman. I traveled with a group of ladies that also dressed up as Wonder Woman. I think because I set a goal for myself and make it happen no matter what, the nickname just stuck.
Coach: In every superhero story, the person always experiences a setback and has to come through to the other side to become the hero. As we mentioned you have tons on your plate as is, that can easily set a person back. But have you experienced any setbacks due to injury? Or has any one of these things that you had come up with having children or anything set you back for a time?
Wonder Woman: I was in a car accident years ago and my left hip popped out of socket. Sometimes my hip and the surrounding muscles give me grief. I just rest and transition back slowly into my workout/running routine. I say this because I know my body and listen to what it needs. That's important!
Coach: What was your wake up call? That made you think: “I’m not going to stay down from this, I will run and get through this.”
New York Marathon 2019
Wonder Woman: I just remind myself of what I am trying to accomplish. But you have to be smart and listen to what your body needs. It is always good to remember that everyone has setbacks, but it is how you get over them shows yourself and others just how determined you are.
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Coach: Now we are going to blitz through some questions to help inspire others to see they can become a hero in their own world as well:
As a busy mother & wife, what is your exercise routine?
Wonder Woman: I usually do 2-3 cardio workouts a week and 2-3 strength training workouts.
Coach: Any special diet you follow?
Wonder Woman: I try to eat healthy and give it good options. I order pre-made meals from FitChef for breakfast and lunch and add in healthy snacks. I am a big believer in that you get out what you put in!
Coach: How do you feel when you implement these healthy habits compared to when you miss a day or two.
Wonder Woman: I do not feel as good, but I also understand that you can have things not on diet in moderation.
Coach: How does your family and friends enjoy this version of you?
Wonder Woman: They are on board with healthy eating for the most part. My younger kids love going "running" with me.
My husband told me that he loves how determined I am. My daughter said at her PreK graduation that she wanted to be Wonder Woman just like her mom.
Coach: Oh is there anything that you are doing now that you could not do before?
Wonder Woman: a lot of things! I have been running for 10 years now and I have made great progress on the things I can do and have done. But I also keep challenging myself to see what I can do to push my own limits. I have run 2 marathons and my last one I shaved a whole hour off my time.
I have run Ultra races and running distance challenges. I can run longer mileages for my long runs than I used to. My long runs used to be 6 miles and now that is an easy weekday mileage. It is amazing to me still that I am able to do these things. My hope, though, is that others see these things and say to themselves, "well, maybe I can do that too?"
Coach: What are you working on the moment that has you excited?
Wonder Woman: There are a few things: I have a race challenge next weekend called Death by 5k. You run a 5k every 2.5 hours in a 24 hour period.,
I have been building back up my mileage to do my first trail 50k that is in October and I am doing the New York City Marathon again, but this time virtually. I hope to shave off more time in order to get a marathon PR.
Coach: That's amazing Jennifer! Keep up the great work! Thank you for being on the show Before we let you go........
WHAT can you say to our listeners who may be ready to start their journey tomorrow?
Jennifer Ballnce aka Wonder Woman:
Just know that you are more capable than you give yourself credit for.
The only limit is YOU!
Believe you can and you're halfway there!
You can do anything if you make a plan and have a good attitude and flexibility with it.
My Final Takeaway:
I feel like the written blog only scratched the surface of Jennifer Ballance. It is incredible what this young lady can do. Please do yourself a favor and listen to episode #64 - Becoming Wonder Woman/ Jennifer Balance
Jennifer shares her training strategy for running races with a stroller, such as using sandbags when children are not available. Jennifer talks about taking race-cations and more. Listen Now
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