Running is Jen French91裸聊视频檚 escape.
The 34-year-old mother of two from Williams Lake, and a runner for the past 11 years, treats the activity as 91裸聊视频渕e91裸聊视频� time 91裸聊视频� 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 runner91裸聊视频檚 cake, the New York City Marathon on Nov. 4. She91裸聊视频檚 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.
91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 kind of funny because I wasn91裸聊视频檛 going to do any races this year,91裸聊视频� French said. 91裸聊视频淏J phoned me one day and asked if I wanted to do an ultra marathon and I said 91裸聊视频榓bsolutely, no,91裸聊视频� but after about a week of convincing I ended up saying yes.91裸聊视频�
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.
91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 really exciting,91裸聊视频� she said. 91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 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 you91裸聊视频檝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.91裸聊视频�
This year the New York City Marathon saw a record number of applicants. On Feb. 28, French got an e-mail notifying her she91裸聊视频檇 been accepted.
91裸聊视频淪o, now, I91裸聊视频檓 doing an ultra marathon training plan, and getting ready for that,91裸聊视频� she said. 91裸聊视频淛ust the atmosphere, alone, will be great. I91裸聊视频檝e been getting more into trail running and I didn91裸聊视频檛 want to do any more road races, but I91裸聊视频檓 pretty excited about the New York one. It91裸聊视频檚 a big tick off any runner91裸聊视频檚 bucket list.91裸聊视频�
In preparation, French runs four to five times a week.
91裸聊视频淔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 you91裸聊视频檙e learning to run on tired legs.91裸聊视频�
She also strength trains twice a week, and cross trains either by swimming or by finding other activities to do.
91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檓 really busy,91裸聊视频� she said. 91裸聊视频淭here91裸聊视频檚 not much time for anything else, but I like it.91裸聊视频�
For the 70-kilometre ultra marathon, French said it will be her first and a gruelling test to see whether her body 91裸聊视频� physically and mentally 91裸聊视频� can handle it.
91裸聊视频淭he longest race I91裸聊视频檝e done is a full marathon, so 42.2 kilometres,91裸聊视频� she said. 91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檝e only done that once and it was in 2014. I91裸聊视频檝e done 13 half marathons, but nothing as crazy as thinking of doing an ultra.91裸聊视频�
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.
91裸聊视频淪he91裸聊视频檚 a huge role model for me,91裸聊视频� French said. 91裸聊视频淔or 70 years the Boston Marathon was male dominant 91裸聊视频� no women were allowed to run. She had signed up with just her initials, 91裸聊视频楰V Switzer,91裸聊视频� 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.91裸聊视频�
Switzer finished the race and, five years later in 1972, women were officially allowed to enter the Boston Marathon.
91裸聊视频淪he pioneered it,91裸聊视频� she said. 91裸聊视频淚f it wasn91裸聊视频檛 for her, women wouldn91裸聊视频檛 be running marathons. I91裸聊视频檝e loved her since I started running.91裸聊视频�
Her family and friends are also in her corner providing much-needed support.
91裸聊视频淚 went for a run [Monday] and came home greeted by my family asking how it went,91裸聊视频� she said. 91裸聊视频淚 have a huge support system and if anything, it is nice that they are the ones who hold me accountable on days when I don91裸聊视频檛 run: 91裸聊视频楬ey, mom. Why aren91裸聊视频檛 you going for a run today?91裸聊视频� 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.91裸聊视频�
French91裸聊视频檚 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.
That91裸聊视频檚 when she got hooked.
91裸聊视频淲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,91裸聊视频� she described. 91裸聊视频淢ore connected to my body 91裸聊视频� 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.91裸聊视频�
She added she treats running a lot like parenting.
91裸聊视频淲hen my kids are having a bad day I tell them to breathe, relax and put one foot in front of the other,91裸聊视频� she said.
91裸聊视频淚 tell myself that on a long, hard run. Running makes me feel free, happy and alive.91裸聊视频�
sports@wltribune.com
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