A woman with curly brown hair smiling and touching her shoulder, wearing a white quilted jacket over a red shirt, standing against a plain white wall.

I’m Jena!

Founder and Head Coach of Wingman Performance Coaching

When I began coaching, I expected to help my athletes with the physical side of training, but I quickly realized they also needed support navigating the mental side of sport. They asked about pressure, expectations, perfectionism, and competition anxiety. As I searched for tools to help them, I realized how much I had missed out on in my own athletic career. That sparked my path to becoming a mental performance coach: to give athletes the skills I wish I’d had—so they can compete with confidence, handle setbacks with resilience, and find joy in their sport and beyond.

I've been immersed in track and field since I was five years old. After early success, I faced unexpected performance struggles in high school, later learning that iron deficiency—a common challenge for female endurance athletes—played a significant role.

In college, I competed at the NCAA Division III level, where structured training and iron supplementation allowed me to not only regain my competitive edge but surpass my previous performances. I qualified for multiple NCAA Championships in cross country, the 3,000-meter steeplechase, and the 5,000 meters, setting a school record in the steeplechase and earning top-10 all-time marks in other events at my alma mater.

A man running on a treadmill in a hospital or laboratory setting, wearing a breathing mask connected to medical equipment, with a woman in a white lab coat smiling nearby.

I studied Exercise Science with a minor in Economics, gaining hands-on experience in exercise physiology research, footwear product testing at Nike, and volunteer coordination for the 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials. My career journey has taken me from working in sports chiropractic and running specialty retail management to product management at Brooks Running Company, where I spent seven years on the footwear team.

I live on Bainbridge Island, Washington, with my husband and two young sons. I coach high school track and field and cross country athletes, drawing on my diverse experiences to guide the young people I work with. But the tools I have learned aren’t just for adolescents—they have helped me as a more mature athlete, allowing me to train, compete, and navigate life with greater resilience and intention.

Young female cross-country runner wearing maroon and yellow uniform with bib number 355 runs on a trail surrounded by fallen leaves, spectators are visible in the background.

My mission: To empower current and “former” runners and athletes by equipping them with tools to manage stress and build resilience, using athletics as a lens for navigating life’s challenges.

Follow Me on Instagram!

I'm racing a 25k trail race tomorrow. The longest I’ve ever raced on the roads is a half marathon - and I trained for that with precision. Since then, I’ve had two kids, coached hundreds of athletes, and raced... very little. I’ve
When I was a kid in youth track, I remember one meet where I collected a ribbon in every color (except blue). I was SO proud. Back then, it was about having fun, trying hard, and maybe snagging some swag. My competitiveness has grown since then,
If you’re running cross country this fall, summer is the time to get your mental game ready. Because no matter how fit you are, if your mind isn’t dialed in, you’ll feel it on the starting line. Nerves? Self-doubt? Inconsistency?
It's not about perfection. It's about showing up, daring greatly, and being in the arena. Win or lose, you're already ahead of those who never try.
In championship season, the stakes feel higher—but the goal isn’t just to win or PR. As Pre said, “A race is a work of art you can look at and be affected by in as many ways as you're capable of understanding.” So paint your
Championship racing is a mindset. It’s normal to feel pressure, but you’ve trained for this. These 6 tools will help you stay grounded, focused, and ready to compete with confidence. Swipe to learn how to: Focus on execution over out
Defeats don’t define you—they reveal you. Every setback is a chance to rise stronger, clearer, and more grounded in who you are. Let every challenge be proof that you’re still standing. Tag someone who’s shown you what it mea

@wingmanperformance

For training tips, performance insights, and a behind-the-scenes look at the coaching journey, follow along on Instagram. Whether you're chasing your next PR or just need a little motivation to get out the door, you'll find practical tools and inspiration to support your growth—on and off the track.