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“Sometimes doing 85% of the training is better if it means you still enjoy life.”
In this episode of the MidPacker Pod, Troy Meadows sits down with trail runner, coach, and community builder Jenny Maier to talk about her winding journey from environmental lawyer to strength and mobility coach for runners. Jenny shares how she rediscovered running after a decade-long break, fell in love with the Marin trails through San Francisco Running Company, and built a career around helping everyday athletes thrive.
Jenny reminds us that you don’t need to be an elite runner to deserve coaching—or to achieve extraordinary things. She’s an eight-time Javelina finisher, Western States lottery veteran, and soon-to-be Boston Marathon runner. Beyond racing, Jenny balances running with a love for poetry, puzzles, and her two wild dogs, proving that a full life off the trails makes the running journey richer.
In this episode, you’ll hear about:
Jenny’s leap from lawyer to running coach and biomechanics nerd
The electric early days of San Francisco Running Company and its impact on the Bay Area trail community
Finding joy (and longevity) as a self-described “average runner”
Why balance, rest, and mobility are just as important as big training blocks
Her perspective on volunteering, community, and the next generation of trail runners
Whether you’re chasing a hundred-miler or just trying to fit runs into a busy life, Jenny’s story is a reminder that running is most rewarding when it fits into—not takes over—your life.
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Jenny Maier, San Francisco Running Company, SFRC, ultrarunning, trail running, Javelina Jundred, Western States lottery, Boston Marathon, trail running community, running coach, strength training, mobility, biomechanics, Dipsea Race, poetry, balance, midpack runners
USE PROMO CODE MIDPACER FOR A SWEET DISCOUNT“Sometimes doing 85% of the training is better if it means you still enjoy life.”