My Comeback! Running Chicago Marathon 2019

Dear friends and family,

As you know I wasn’t selected in the lottery for the Chicago Marathon. I really wanted to run 2019 because thankfully I feel much better from my injuries and where else to come back than in my city! I chose the Chicago Police Memorial Foundation because being a Police wife it means so much to me and my family!

The Chicago Police Memorial Foundation is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to honoring the lives of our fallen heroes. The Foundation provides support and assistance to the families of Chicago police officers who are killed or catastrophically injured in the line of duty.

I ask for your help to raise at least 500 before the new year! I am not the type of person to ask but I will forever be grateful to your generosity!

This will be my 4th Chicago Marathon .I have to fundraise 1,750.00 before October 2019! Any donation given I will forever be grateful! Click on the link that will directly send you to my personal fundraising page. Blessings to you all!

Merry Christmas and Happy New year !

Thank you
Jen Centeno

https://www.classy.org/fundraiser/1810327

As a stay at home mom  since Julian was born I always Felt like my kids wouldn’t look up to me because I dont Have a career or have a paying job! When Juliana was about 8 months old I started Working out and that became my me time . I didn’t do much running but did do cardio and cross training ! Over time  I statred Running outside for fun, one day my sister and some friends told me to sign Up for a race ! That race was Cinco de miler 2013! Nervous , anxious and scared I went And with all my friends and sister I finished and was happy to have survived lol ! Since then I have Ran many more  races. In 2015 when I was Training for my first marathon , Julian always saw me leave to run and he always asked me if he could join me. I always Hesitated and told him that one day I will Take him! One training day in August I had A 2 mile run and finally told him I would Take him! He was ecstatic and he thanked me so many times! We drove up to the lakefront , we stretched and set out to run a mile out and back! He was only 6 and he ran the whole two miles non stop! I was Very impressed and so happy seeing him happy! I never Thought he would love it so much after that ! After that moment I figured I would have him  run a 5k with me and we set off to run the bears shuffle 5k in 2015 he was 7 by then since his bday is in August and race was in September ! His 5k time then was 36:01!We had a blast and i couldn’t believe how much fun he was having ! We continue to do races and I remember at that time I was faster than him since I waS running more and training for my first marathon but he always pushed himself to stay with me! Fast forward to today and my son has told me that I inspired Him to run and thanks me for letting him run with me that one August day ! Tomorrow we will run the cinco de miler and unlike last year he will be running it alone at his pace! He’s gotten way faster than me and we were blessed to have found coach Columba and the mini Chicago road runners. Julian was welcomed to this great team with amazing kids and people . It’s been a little over a month and Julian has already PRD his 5k! Julian’s 5k time as of last week is 26:34. Last year I was Blessed to have have been able to run the cinco de miler with him and even crossed the finish line holding hands. I am soooo excited to see how well he will do tomorrow even if we don’t finish together.  I am Still a stay at home mom  and enjoying every minute of it because I do inspire my kids even if i don’t have a career or a paying job! I thank god for allowing me to be able to do this and still feel proud of myself knowing my kids do look up to me and are proud that mommy is a runner / marathoner and inspires them no matter what . Remember to always do what you love because you never know who is watching 👀😘🙏🏼 We are ready for tomorrow’s cinco de miler ! My 5 year runversary  race and Julian’s second cinco de miler !

#motherrunner #stayathomom #inspire #motivate #blessed #thankful #marathoner #runjunkees #ambassador #teamRWB #chicagoroadrunners

Never Give Up

Today as I was running on the treadmill I thought to myself ....Its been a hard year for me! Although I was so excited I was going to run both chicAgo and New York it all came crashing down very early in my training . I just couldn’t understand why me ? Why this pain now ? Why when I was going to have the opportunity to run another major marathon ? I totally didn’t lose hope and trained as I could depending on pain and discomfort! I’m thankful I was able to run and finish both! I’m thankful I didn’t hurt myself more and I’m able to still run! My days consist of daily stretching / exercises / foam rolling and ice rolling ! I’m hopeful plantar fasciitis will slowly disappear and allow me to train harder next time and allow me to come back stronger ! Resting and healing is best and that’s just what I will do ! 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼 #runner #plantarfasciitissucks #healing #nevergiveup #positivevibes #wonderwoman #marathoner #proud #resting #teamrwb #runjunkees #thankful #blessed #itcouldbeworse #notcomplaining

Being a mom is the best gift  in this world! Knowing that your kids think highly of you is proof of how much I love doing the best I can for them! As a mom I have sacrificed a lot but when I read this card my son wrote for me it shows how much is worth what I do daily for them!  Being a stay at home mom can be very overwhelming  and I have done it for almost 9years! Seeing friends and family have careers and wonderful jobs sometimes intimidate me but then I look at my kids and thank god for allowing me to be with them since they were born!  I might not have a career or paying job but knowing my kids still think I'm the best and are proud of me no matter what makes my heart happy!  Happy Morhers Day to all you beautiful moms! 

Our spring break has consisted of helping my mom in law who had minor surgery! Today we had a chance to get a short run in! Beautiful windy morning ! Yes juju ran with a ball in his hands because he played at the park after our run ! Love that he was up and ready to run with me ! I love my running partner ❤🙏🏼🙌🏼 #blueforautism #runitforautism #autismawareness #teamrwbchicago #motherrunner #teamrwb #runners #runjunkees #lovemyrunningpartner #newtrail #newsceneray 

I Almost didn't run today! Chicago had such beautiful weather that I had to finally run outside ! I parked by my kids school and only was looking to run 4 miles but had extra time before kids came out so I  ran 2 more ! Boom! 🏃🏽‍♀️🏃🏽‍♀️🏃🏽‍♀️👊🏼🙌🏼💪🏻 #runner #run #runjunkees #teamrwb #chicAgo #todayisnottheday #wonderwoman

3.23 miles for today! Some arm workout and stretching! Staying positive is the key to keep negative vibes away! Happy Monday to all! Blessings ❤🙏🏼🤗🏃🏽‍♀️ #run #runner #positive #monday #runjunkees #teamrwb #negativevibeswontstopme #strong