Running is Jen French香蕉视频直播檚 escape.
The 34-year-old mother of two from Williams Lake, and a runner for the past 11 years, treats the activity as 香蕉视频直播渕e香蕉视频直播� time 香蕉视频直播� 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香蕉视频直播檚 cake, the New York City Marathon on Nov. 4. She香蕉视频直播檚 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.
香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 kind of funny because I wasn香蕉视频直播檛 going to do any races this year,香蕉视频直播� French said. 香蕉视频直播淏J phoned me one day and asked if I wanted to do an ultra marathon and I said 香蕉视频直播榓bsolutely, no,香蕉视频直播� but after about a week of convincing I ended up saying yes.香蕉视频直播�
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.
香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 really exciting,香蕉视频直播� she said. 香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 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香蕉视频直播檝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.香蕉视频直播�
This year the New York City Marathon saw a record number of applicants. On Feb. 28, French got an e-mail notifying her she香蕉视频直播檇 been accepted.
香蕉视频直播淪o, now, I香蕉视频直播檓 doing an ultra marathon training plan, and getting ready for that,香蕉视频直播� she said. 香蕉视频直播淛ust the atmosphere, alone, will be great. I香蕉视频直播檝e been getting more into trail running and I didn香蕉视频直播檛 want to do any more road races, but I香蕉视频直播檓 pretty excited about the New York one. It香蕉视频直播檚 a big tick off any runner香蕉视频直播檚 bucket list.香蕉视频直播�
In preparation, French runs four to five times a week.
香蕉视频直播淔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香蕉视频直播檙e learning to run on tired legs.香蕉视频直播�
She also strength trains twice a week, and cross trains either by swimming or by finding other activities to do.
香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檓 really busy,香蕉视频直播� she said. 香蕉视频直播淭here香蕉视频直播檚 not much time for anything else, but I like it.香蕉视频直播�
For the 70-kilometre ultra marathon, French said it will be her first and a gruelling test to see whether her body 香蕉视频直播� physically and mentally 香蕉视频直播� can handle it.
香蕉视频直播淭he longest race I香蕉视频直播檝e done is a full marathon, so 42.2 kilometres,香蕉视频直播� she said. 香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檝e only done that once and it was in 2014. I香蕉视频直播檝e done 13 half marathons, but nothing as crazy as thinking of doing an ultra.香蕉视频直播�
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.
香蕉视频直播淪he香蕉视频直播檚 a huge role model for me,香蕉视频直播� French said. 香蕉视频直播淔or 70 years the Boston Marathon was male dominant 香蕉视频直播� no women were allowed to run. She had signed up with just her initials, 香蕉视频直播楰V Switzer,香蕉视频直播� 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.香蕉视频直播�
Switzer finished the race and, five years later in 1972, women were officially allowed to enter the Boston Marathon.
香蕉视频直播淪he pioneered it,香蕉视频直播� she said. 香蕉视频直播淚f it wasn香蕉视频直播檛 for her, women wouldn香蕉视频直播檛 be running marathons. I香蕉视频直播檝e loved her since I started running.香蕉视频直播�
Her family and friends are also in her corner providing much-needed support.
香蕉视频直播淚 went for a run [Monday] and came home greeted by my family asking how it went,香蕉视频直播� she said. 香蕉视频直播淚 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香蕉视频直播檛 run: 香蕉视频直播楬ey, mom. Why aren香蕉视频直播檛 you going for a run today?香蕉视频直播� 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.香蕉视频直播�
French香蕉视频直播檚 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香蕉视频直播檚 when she got hooked.
香蕉视频直播淲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,香蕉视频直播� she described. 香蕉视频直播淢ore connected to my body 香蕉视频直播� 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.香蕉视频直播�
She added she treats running a lot like parenting.
香蕉视频直播淲hen my kids are having a bad day I tell them to breathe, relax and put one foot in front of the other,香蕉视频直播� she said.
香蕉视频直播淚 tell myself that on a long, hard run. Running makes me feel free, happy and alive.香蕉视频直播�
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