Bada$$ Moms Monday: Jane.

Last Updated on September 29, 2019 by Heather Hart, ACSM EP-C

Welcome to the fifth installment of Bada$$ Moms Monday (and hey, it’s actually Monday!), where I introduce you to some fellow obstacle/mud running moms who aren’t afraid to push their physical limits. These chicks don’t tip toe daintily over the mud puddles, they destroy them. They eat barbed wire for breakfast and do burpees for fun, all while raising a family and juggling a household. I hope you, moms, non moms, and dudes alike, find these amazing woman as motivating and inspirational as I do. (Links to past posts can be found at the bottom of this page HERE )

Today’s post is going to be a little different, but I swear I’m not playing favorites.  Yes, I  have met Jane.   I know her story, and I also know that if we had an island of “bada$$ moms” Jane would probably be the mayor.  Or at least hold a  GIGANTIC gold ceremonial “key to the city” (or in this case, the Run Faster, Mommy Island of BadA$$).  I sent Jane the same 11 questions I send all of the amazing moms who volunteer to be featured on these posts.  But Jane’s answers, well I loved them all.  So in today’s post, I’m sharing her entire interview. 

She is proof positive that ANYONE can do ANYTHING they set their mind to.   I really hope you enjoy reading Jane’s story.

JANE

Jane Coffey,  who turns 41 in two weeks, lives in Middlesex, Vermont with her 5.5 year old daughter Aida Mae, and her husband of 12 years. 

Jane has been running for two years.  TWO.  That’s it. And she’s about to attempt an INSANELY physically, mentally , and emotionally taxing race this summer…the Spartan Death Race. 


RFM:  Tell us about your first race.

Jane:  My first race was in 2011, a 10 mile “fun run” in Pittsfield, VT at Peak Races, directed by Andy Weinberg. I met him that day and he has been super supportive in my development as a woman athlete who wants to better herself! Then, he finished a triple iron man in 2011 which inspired the hell out of me so I signed up for the 2012 Peak 50K and finished, slow, but I did it! Then, with his encouragement, I decided to try my first obstacle course race, the Spartan Beast in Killington last September. AMAZING!!! I had never done one before but what the hell…i went for it. I finished in 8.5 hours and had the best time! I did it by myself but the Spartan Athletes racing that day offered help when needed. What an amazing group of people and community! During that race, I saw the Team Death Racers completing the same course with 70 pound sand bags and full backpacks. I thought, “I want to do that.” So, a month later, I signed up for the Summer 2013 Death Race. Think big, right? I know it is going to be 500% harder than the Beast but time to really exit the comfort zone.

RFM: Do you find this to be a mostly male dominated sport, and if so, do you feel welcomed?

RFM:  the big question….tell us HOW you train with kids. How do you find the time? Do you incorporate the kids or is this your “mom” time? How do you balance training with the responsibilities in everyday life? Tell us a little bit about your training routine (days per week, etc)

Jane: Oh boy, the balance is so tough! I started training in November focusing on my core which I have never really worked on. I have lost 12 pounds since then! I started with a basic interval training/body weight program of push ups, burpees, planks, jumping jacks, mountain climbers and lunges. This takes about 30-40 minutes and I do this after a 4 mile run 3 times a week and I do a longer run of 6-10 miles or so on the weekends or hike. Right now, I am also training for a 50k in April in CT (Traprock 50) so I will do much longer runs on the weekends now but I am basically using this event to help with the mental training of pushing myself in the Death Race even though historically there is not much long distance running in the DR. I also will start carrying heavy stuff up mountains soon! I have been training by carrying a car tire on hikes as well. I did carry that car tire for 15+ miles during an all night training session with my training partner in December. See my blog for a recap 😉 I also have been splitting lots of wood, about a chord at this point. I LOVE splitting wood! One of my favorite training tasks! Basically, i fit these workouts in when I get home from work…I do alot of running in the dark with a headlamp right now. My goal is to also do 4 more sleep deprived training sessions before the Death Race in June. Yes, I see this as my Mom Time definitely. I work full time, am married and a mom and I look forward to these workouts SO MUCH. I need this time for myself to re-energize.

RFM: tell us any future goals you have in this sport.