We’re so excited to introduce new GRIT Rockstar Jen! Jen’s been sweating it out next to you in class and is thrilled to be jumping up to the Rockstar box in Palo Alto! All the way from Pennsylvania, Jen’s been an athlete her whole life and fell in love with the way GRIT feels like a team workout–cause there’s nothing better than sweating with friends! When she’s not getting #gritty, playing soccer, or running relay marathons, you can find Jen kicking butt as a financial analyst at Google. Join Jen Tuesday mornings in Palo Alto; she can’t wait to meet you!
Read on to learn more about Jen, her love for chocolate milk, and favorite throwback jams!
Favorite local Hot Spots?
I’m big on the Downtown Palo Alto Farmer’s Market on Saturdays and the California Ave Farmers Market on Sundays. They’re the perfect place to grab a weekend lunch and stock up on fresh fruits and veggies for the week! After a soccer game with friends, I love heading over to the Old Pro to rehash our game and watch sports on the big screens.
What do you do in your spare time?
I like to stay active in my spare time which is why becoming a GRIT Rockstar is perfect! I love playing soccer and gathering a group of friends together for a BBQ. I’ve also really gotten into Ragnar Relay Races. They’re overnight relay races you do with a team of friends. I love the anticipation and build up to the race.
Where do you find your uforia?
I find such a strong feeling of uforia in moments of real achievement, big or small. Seeing myself and others push harder or farther than we thought we possibly could, reminds me how powerful our internal sense of motivation truly is. For example, I recently ran an Ultra Ragnar (200 miles split over 5.5 runners) for a total of 37 miles in 32 hours. I didn’t know if I could do it but after I dragged myself across the finish line anything felt possible. When I see a fellow uforian who wants to stop during class muster up the grit to finish or even bang out just a few more push-ups, I’m so inspired by their individual journeys in overcoming mental barriers to break through limits.
What are your favorite pre/post workout snacks?
I’ve been an athlete for my whole life and I’m embarrassed to say that my pre + post workout snacks have not evolved much since I was kid. Pre-workout I usually go for a banana and my favorite post-workout reward is chocolate milk!
Favorite songs at the moment?
Amazing music is what drew me to GRIT in the first place. I came for the serious butt-kicking workout but kept coming back because moving to the beat and rocking out left me feeling so pumped up and ready for more. These days, I’m jamming out to “Work This Body” by Walk The Moon and “We Own It” by 2 Chainz & Wiz Khalifa.
P.S. Does anyone remember “Who I AM” by Jessica Andrews? Think 2011. I’ve been throwing it back to that one a lot lately.
Anything else you might want to share with our uforians?
I’m from a small town in Pennsylvania and went to small schools growing up so I LOVE meeting new people and can’t wait to get to know the uforia family!