About Me

Hi. My name is Jennifer and I’m a runner. I live in Maryland with my husband, Matt, and our chocolate lab/pacer, Scout.

I haven’t always been a runner. In high school, I more so opted to stay in and listen to or play music than play sports. But as far as I can remember, my dad has always run. He ran small races around northern Virginia before he hopped on the marathon bandwagon. In high school, I went to Pittsburgh and waited for him him to cross the finish line in the pouring rain and I always waited to hear my mom’s official race report for races I didn’t attend. It was during his run in the 2006 Boston Marathon when I felt the itch to step up my running.

When I got back to campus that spring, I took my running off the treadmill (for the most part) and haven’t looked back. I ran my first road race “with” my dad in 2007, the Bethesda Turkey Chase. He ran the 10k and I ran the un-timed 2 mile family fun run. I dodged strollers, whining children, and walkers to finish in time to see the 10k first-place finishers. From there I decided I could run a 10k, so I signed up for Pike’s Peak in Rockville with Matt. From there, I decided I could run a half-marathon. Naturally from there, I wanted to run a full marathon.

I love running. I run sans music, so it’s a great time for me to clear my head and calm down. Sure, I’ve broken down in tears because of knee pain one mile into a 9 mile training run, cursed stale shot blocks, and gotten a little OCD about getting every training run in (sorry Matt), but it’s who I am. I’m not a perfect runner. And you know what? I think that’s what keeps me going back for more.

In the fall I will run the 2010 ING New York City Marathon in support of Virginia Tech’s Center for Peace Studies and Violence Prevention (CPSVP). Last winter during a 10 mile training run on the treadmill, I asked myself, “What am I running for?” I’m beyond the point of running just for me. God gave me the ability to run, and it’s time I use that gift for a good cause. Too many people in this world are victims of senseless acts of violence. Through support from donations, the CPSVP strives to reach its goals to “foster cross-disciplinary research, education, and development of leadership opportunities that prevent violence, promote peace and advance human security.”

For more information on Virginia Tech’s Center for Peace Studies and Violence Prevention, or to pledge a donation, please visit my “Virginia Tech’s CPSVP” page.