FLYT Spotlight: Jen Baron

Meet FLYT athlete Jen Baron—a powerhouse on and off the course. As a dedicated police officer and detective, Jen brings the same grit and resilience to her endurance training that she does to her work in law enforcement. A proud dog mom of two and an unapologetic tough cookie, Jen has tackled the world of triathlon and is now shifting her focus toward marathon running. Along the way, she’s faced her share of injuries, but instead of backing down, she’s used those setbacks as fuel. Her story is a reminder that the endurance journey isn’t always smooth—but with determination, perspective, and a little dog hair on your gear, anything is possible.

Life Balance: As a police officer and former detective, your job is already physically and mentally demanding. How do you balance the rigors of endurance training with your career?

It has been a challenge at times. Like most people with a full-time job, fitting the training into our lives takes planning and thoughtfulness. (this is where Amy comes in) I am lucky to have a fairly stable work schedule but what makes my job exciting – the never knowing what is going to happen each day – can also make it tough to get my workouts completed. If I catch a case late in the day, I can be pretty certain that any workouts I haven’t done yet are toast. I like getting workouts done in the morning as it really makes my day more enjoyable. But there are certainly days where I also look forward to later workouts which can help me really unwind if things have not gone well at work.

Mental Toughness: Both law enforcement and endurance sports require a high level of mental resilience. How has your experience as a detective shaped your approach to racing, especially in tough moments?

This is a great question! I am a SVU detective and specialize in case of domestic violence and sexual assaults. If I am struggling with racing or a particularly tough workout day, I often remind myself of the struggles and triumphs of some of the victims I have worked for and tell myself that what I am going through is nothing compared to what they did. I basically tell myself to shut up. I have nothing to complain about or feel sorry for myself about. I remind myself that what I am doing is a choice and a privilege and that there are people out there just trying to make it through the day.

Training Philosophy: What does a typical training week look like for you, and how do you adapt your training around the unpredictability of your job?

Right now, because I am just building back up for marathon training, my weeks are not too full training wise. Especially compared to Ironman training. I am lucky to have a very supportive husband who has his own “things” to do if I am off biking or running. It really helps keep things sane around the house as long as I communicate what my training is for the day. Then the hubs knows what to expect. Right now, it’s not too hard to get everything done even if work gets a little crazy.

 Lessons from the Field: Have there been any lessons from your law enforcement career that have directly helped you in endurance racing, or vice versa?

I touched on this a little bit already, but I always like to remember a little encouragement a previous coach gave that helped with my swim during racing. I am not a great swimmer and early on I was not very confident in open water, especially with a large group around me. This coach wanted me to start in the FRONT of the group! I thought she was CRAZY! But she said to me “for goodness’ sake Jen, you bust through doors to arrest criminals for a living! Get to the front of the group like you are kicking in someone’s door and just go for it!” I laughed and went right to the front of every seeded swim start from then on and just enjoyed it. Now, I never STAYED in the front as I am not a fast swimmer but just having that mindset and basically telling myself I belonged up front changed how I looked at the swim which was always a big challenge for me.

Puppy Power: Your two dogs must be an important part of your life. Do they play any role in your training or recovery, and what do they teach you about endurance and discipline?

My dogs are what get me going in the mornings. They’re great dogs but things around the house tend to suffer if they don’t get their daily walk! The little one always brings such joy because he is just bursting with energy as he shoots out the front door. It just makes me smile to watch him zipping around sniffing everything in sight like it’s the first time he’s ever walked the neighborhood. Watching him really reminds me to go through my day trying to find the little things to enjoy along the way. Dog #2, the hound, is definitely more laid back but she loves getting out there every day too.

 You have had some adversity with knee issues, recently…how has that reshaped your future endeavors and outlook with endurance sports?

Yeah, so with age has come some arthritis which really put a huge dent in my plans and the dents always seem to come when things are just starting to really take off. After sulking around about it for several weeks, a good cortisone shot, and sage advice from Amy, I adjusted my plans a bit. The down time really made me evaluate and appreciate all the things that I have accomplished. To be proud of those accomplishments and remember they are nothing to scoff at. When I look at all the medals, I have hanging on the walls, I am reminded of all the great places I have been for those races. All the travelling with my husband and doggies to get to those races and all the fun we have had after each race exploring new cities and towns. So, rather than be bummed about things changing, I have figured out how to appreciate all the joy they have brought me.

Jen’s journey is a testament to resilience, reminding us that strength isn’t just found at the finish line—it’s built in the comeback. We’re proud to have her in the FlyT family, showing us all how to keep pushing forward, no matter what.

About The Author: Coach Amy Javens is the founder, owner, head coach of FLYT and owner of CycleLife Studio. She has been a coach for 30+ years, and raced professionally, with overall female wins in Beach 2 Battleship 140.6 and Ironman Los Cabos and personal bests of 9:25 and 4:26 in the IM and 70.3 distances. She has been a female leader in the endurance coaching industry for many years and was the training director for one of the largest charity endurance team organizations in the world. She lives near Pittsburgh, Pa with her husband, 3 daughters and 2 pups!