Jen - Ben's Main Squeeze

Jen kicks butt for us big time. Even though she has a full-time job she helps us out pretty much whenever we need it. Plus, she helped us get started with her wicked business knowledge. She went above and beyond and wrote a big long bio so I'll just let you read more about her in her own words...

Here goes my story: I was born and raised in small-town Harrisonville , MO (it's about 45 min south of Kansas City , population 9,000). I spent most of my childhood tap dancing and shooting hoops in the driveway. Odd combination, I know. I was certain that one day I would wake up and I would be tall enough to play professional basketball. My dreams were crushed in 6th grade when my PE teacher told me I would never be tall enough to play (not very nice of her I don't think). So I joined the track team the following year. The first meet we had I was selected to run the 200 and the 400. Well, the meet got rained out and the next meet they put me in the mile instead, go figure. I was decent enough that they designated me the “distance” runner. I admit, in 7th and 8th grade I really didn't like running all that much and continued dancing too. My parents said when I got to High School I had to choose just one activity, so I thought I'd try out for the cheerleading squad. Why? I have no idea. Seemed like a good idea at the time. Well, much to their loss, they didn't select me and so my older sister practically forced me to show up to the first day of Cross Country practice. And there, my love for running began.

I found minor success through High School and went on to run at Truman State University (not knowing that I would meet and befriend my future husband). After college I moved out to Portland, OR . I got a supplemental degree in Restaurant Management and helped open a restaurant that was inside the Performing Arts Center in downtown Portland . When I realized that life wasn't really for me, I got on board full time with a GREAT running store out there, Fit Right NW. I became their apparel buyer and worked there almost two years. Then, as luck would have it, Ben and I reconnected and started dating. I packed up all my belongings and drove back across the country to St. Louis . I helped them get Big River open while working odd jobs to make some cash. Last summer I got a cool job working for GO! St. Louis , helping them manage their website and database for the marathon weekend. I also continue to help out at both Big River stores. When I do have spare time, I enjoy my monthly book club meetings and sewing projects that include making skirts out of old running t-shirts.

FUN STUFF

Favorite Movie: I hate it when people ask this question. It's entirely too hard for me to choose just one. However, I tend to lean towards comedies as all-time favorites, so gun to my head I'd say Zoolander, Best in Show or Bottle Rocket. Success. Full success.

Favorite Food:
Pineapples. I love pineapples.

Who's your idol?
Ben Rosario. Seriously. He is so passionate about running and life. I admire everything about him. I strive to share his kind of work ethic, energy level and positive thinking. I am blessed to have him a part of my life and to soon be able to call him my husband.

What was your favorite running moment?
I guess I have a few. Is that fair? First one is my sophomore year of college when we won the Conference meet in Cross Country for the first time in the school's history. We beat CMSU by one point! Second would be my junior year at the Regional Cross Country meet placing 6th. It was my highest placing and I rocked that course in Joplin , MO. The bittersweet ending though is that I missed Nationals by one place, six seconds. Finally, even though I didn't run a very fast time, it was great fun to “break the tape” at the Hospital Hill 10k last year!

What's your guilty pleasure?
Sometimes I really like to listen to the easy rock station and sing along to cheesy hits from the 90s.

Place you would most like to visit?
Well, I would love to travel anywhere abroad and hope that some day I will make enough money to actually afford to go! Besides that, Rhode Island because it's so small.