Running is Jen French害羞草研究所檚 escape.
The 34-year-old mother of two from Williams Lake, and a runner for the past 11 years, treats the activity as 害羞草研究所渕e害羞草研究所� time 害羞草研究所� time to be alone, and time to think.
French is currently training for two of the biggest runs of her life: a 70-kilometre ultra marathon in Manning Park on Aug. 10 and, the icing on any runner害羞草研究所檚 cake, the New York City Marathon on Nov. 4. She害羞草研究所檚 also running a 35-kilometre Survival of the Fittest Trail Run May 26 in Squamish with two of her best friends, BJ Bruder and Melissa Lambert.
害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 kind of funny because I wasn害羞草研究所檛 going to do any races this year,害羞草研究所� French said. 害羞草研究所淏J phoned me one day and asked if I wanted to do an ultra marathon and I said 害羞草研究所榓bsolutely, no,害羞草研究所� but after about a week of convincing I ended up saying yes.害羞草研究所�
Her decision to register for the New York City Marathon was another gamble. For the race, ever year a lottery is held, where just 4- to 5,000 out of more than 120,000 are accepted to join another 50,000 who compete at the famous event.
害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 really exciting,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 the biggest marathon in the world and the hardest one to get in to. When I applied they setup an interview process, not personally, but through e-mail and through some paperwork. They ask you some questions like why you like running, how many marathons you害羞草研究所檝e done, your times and what your goals are for this year. You kind of just send it off and you hope for the best.害羞草研究所�
This year the New York City Marathon saw a record number of applicants. On Feb. 28, French got an e-mail notifying her she害羞草研究所檇 been accepted.
害羞草研究所淪o, now, I害羞草研究所檓 doing an ultra marathon training plan, and getting ready for that,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淛ust the atmosphere, alone, will be great. I害羞草研究所檝e been getting more into trail running and I didn害羞草研究所檛 want to do any more road races, but I害羞草研究所檓 pretty excited about the New York one. It害羞草研究所檚 a big tick off any runner害羞草研究所檚 bucket list.害羞草研究所�
In preparation, French runs four to five times a week.
害羞草研究所淔or an ultra, they say you have to do two back-to-back long runs, so I do a long run on Saturday, then a long run on Sunday. With the Sunday run you害羞草研究所檙e learning to run on tired legs.害羞草研究所�
She also strength trains twice a week, and cross trains either by swimming or by finding other activities to do.
害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 really busy,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淭here害羞草研究所檚 not much time for anything else, but I like it.害羞草研究所�
For the 70-kilometre ultra marathon, French said it will be her first and a gruelling test to see whether her body 害羞草研究所� physically and mentally 害羞草研究所� can handle it.
害羞草研究所淭he longest race I害羞草研究所檝e done is a full marathon, so 42.2 kilometres,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檝e only done that once and it was in 2014. I害羞草研究所檝e done 13 half marathons, but nothing as crazy as thinking of doing an ultra.害羞草研究所�
Her inspiration and biggest motivator, she said, is American marathon runner Katherine Switzer who, in 1967, became the first woman to run the Boston Marathon as a numbered entrant.
害羞草研究所淪he害羞草研究所檚 a huge role model for me,害羞草研究所� French said. 害羞草研究所淔or 70 years the Boston Marathon was male dominant 害羞草研究所� no women were allowed to run. She had signed up with just her initials, 害羞草研究所楰V Switzer,害羞草研究所� and was running along with her boyfriend and her coach when the race director realized there was a girl in the race. They pushed her, body checked her, and the race director tried to take her bib.害羞草研究所�
Switzer finished the race and, five years later in 1972, women were officially allowed to enter the Boston Marathon.
害羞草研究所淪he pioneered it,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淚f it wasn害羞草研究所檛 for her, women wouldn害羞草研究所檛 be running marathons. I害羞草研究所檝e loved her since I started running.害羞草研究所�
Her family and friends are also in her corner providing much-needed support.
害羞草研究所淚 went for a run [Monday] and came home greeted by my family asking how it went,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淚 have a huge support system and if anything, it is nice that they are the ones who hold me accountable on days when I don害羞草研究所檛 run: 害羞草研究所楬ey, mom. Why aren害羞草研究所檛 you going for a run today?害羞草研究所� They see me wanting to stick to a goal and achieve it as I hope they do with the things they set out to do, as well.害羞草研究所�
French害羞草研究所檚 passion for running began after she had her first child 11 years ago. She started off with short distances just as a way to get out of the house for some time to herself.
That害羞草研究所檚 when she got hooked.
害羞草研究所淲hen I start to run harder and deeper into the loneliness, further away from the world and busyness, structure and routine of life I being to feel strangely elated, detached and, at the same time, connected,害羞草研究所� she described. 害羞草研究所淢ore connected to my body 害羞草研究所� it helps me realize the simplicity of life and gain perspective. Everything that seems overwhelming in a day is more manageable after a good run.害羞草研究所�
She added she treats running a lot like parenting.
害羞草研究所淲hen my kids are having a bad day I tell them to breathe, relax and put one foot in front of the other,害羞草研究所� she said.
害羞草研究所淚 tell myself that on a long, hard run. Running makes me feel free, happy and alive.害羞草研究所�
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