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B.C. woman wins lottery spot in New York City marathon

Williams LakeB次元官网网址檚 Jen French was one of 120,000 people in the running for a marathon spot
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Greg Sabatino photo Jen French has been enjoying the sport of running for the past 11 years, said she takes great solace in using the activity as a way to escape the rigours of every day life, stay healthy and to reflect.

Running is Jen FrenchB次元官网网址檚 escape.

The 34-year-old mother of two from Williams Lake, and a runner for the past 11 years, treats the activity as B次元官网网址渕eB次元官网网址 time B次元官网网址 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 runnerB次元官网网址檚 cake, the New York City Marathon on Nov. 4. SheB次元官网网址檚 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.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 kind of funny because I wasnB次元官网网址檛 going to do any races this year,B次元官网网址 French said. B次元官网网址淏J phoned me one day and asked if I wanted to do an ultra marathon and I said B次元官网网址榓bsolutely, no,B次元官网网址 but after about a week of convincing I ended up saying yes.B次元官网网址

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.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 really exciting,B次元官网网址 she said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 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 youB次元官网网址檝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.B次元官网网址

This year the New York City Marathon saw a record number of applicants. On Feb. 28, French got an e-mail notifying her sheB次元官网网址檇 been accepted.

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B次元官网网址淪o, now, IB次元官网网址檓 doing an ultra marathon training plan, and getting ready for that,B次元官网网址 she said. B次元官网网址淛ust the atmosphere, alone, will be great. IB次元官网网址檝e been getting more into trail running and I didnB次元官网网址檛 want to do any more road races, but IB次元官网网址檓 pretty excited about the New York one. ItB次元官网网址檚 a big tick off any runnerB次元官网网址檚 bucket list.B次元官网网址

In preparation, French runs four to five times a week.

B次元官网网址淔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 youB次元官网网址檙e learning to run on tired legs.B次元官网网址

She also strength trains twice a week, and cross trains either by swimming or by finding other activities to do.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 really busy,B次元官网网址 she said. B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 not much time for anything else, but I like it.B次元官网网址

For the 70-kilometre ultra marathon, French said it will be her first and a gruelling test to see whether her body B次元官网网址 physically and mentally B次元官网网址 can handle it.

B次元官网网址淭he longest race IB次元官网网址檝e done is a full marathon, so 42.2 kilometres,B次元官网网址 she said. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e only done that once and it was in 2014. IB次元官网网址檝e done 13 half marathons, but nothing as crazy as thinking of doing an ultra.B次元官网网址

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.

B次元官网网址淪heB次元官网网址檚 a huge role model for me,B次元官网网址 French said. B次元官网网址淔or 70 years the Boston Marathon was male dominant B次元官网网址 no women were allowed to run. She had signed up with just her initials, B次元官网网址楰V Switzer,B次元官网网址 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.B次元官网网址

Switzer finished the race and, five years later in 1972, women were officially allowed to enter the Boston Marathon.

B次元官网网址淪he pioneered it,B次元官网网址 she said. B次元官网网址淚f it wasnB次元官网网址檛 for her, women wouldnB次元官网网址檛 be running marathons. IB次元官网网址檝e loved her since I started running.B次元官网网址

Her family and friends are also in her corner providing much-needed support.

B次元官网网址淚 went for a run [Monday] and came home greeted by my family asking how it went,B次元官网网址 she said. B次元官网网址淚 have a huge support system and if anything, it is nice that they are the ones who hold me accountable on days when I donB次元官网网址檛 run: B次元官网网址楬ey, mom. Why arenB次元官网网址檛 you going for a run today?B次元官网网址 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.B次元官网网址

FrenchB次元官网网址檚 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.

ThatB次元官网网址檚 when she got hooked.

B次元官网网址淲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,B次元官网网址 she described. B次元官网网址淢ore connected to my body B次元官网网址 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.B次元官网网址

She added she treats running a lot like parenting.

B次元官网网址淲hen my kids are having a bad day I tell them to breathe, relax and put one foot in front of the other,B次元官网网址 she said.

B次元官网网址淚 tell myself that on a long, hard run. Running makes me feel free, happy and alive.B次元官网网址



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Greg Sabatino

About the Author: Greg Sabatino

Greg Sabatino graduated from Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops with a Bachelor of Journalism degree in 2008.
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