Hello, my name is Jenn and I am a running addict.

Hello, my name is Jennifer and I have an addiction. I love the high I get after, I love the pounding of the pavement beneath my Bostons, I love the wind through my hair. I just can't help myself! The smell of the salt water, the burn on my legs after conquering King George Terrace (big ass hill :P). Yes I have a problem, I am a running addict.

I always feel this way the week after the race. The wait until I can do my next run mentally kills me. Running keeps me sane, it keeps me the bubbly Jenn most of you know. This week was the first time I did not wait a whole week until I ran my first run. I was nervous but at the same time, I was dying. I felt great after the 5 km, and loved being back with my running buddies!

What was interesting is that the past two marathons I have run, I waited a full week until I took my first light jog. During that jog, my lung capacity sucked, my legs were heavy like lead and I felt like poop. Ugh! It always is the most unenjoyable run! However, I only waited 4 days until my first run after the race because I was convinced my body was ready to go. Know what? I was light on my feet, high on life, and the air was inhaling and exhaling smoothly in and out of my lungs. I remembered why I am so in love with the sport. 

When I am happy, I run. When I am mad, I run. When I stress, I run. When I am sad, I run. When I am confused with a situation in life, I run. When I need time alone, I run. There is not an emotion that does not make me want to run it seems. I cannot explain to someone that has not experienced the high of running what it feels like. I realize when I try to explain why I do what I do, the person I am explaining it to will generally not understand or relate. I don't know if these people will ever understand or capture this feeling themselves. I found an interesting quote that kind of made me think, "huh! this relates a lot to how I feel!" The quote read:

"Your friends don't understand what you see in running. They just see how running drags you home early from the best parties, and how it kicks you to the curb the next morning before the crack of dawn. They just see the missed lunches, curious stares and constant mind games. And if they don't see the other stuff by now, odds are they never will."

Running is something that has not only replaced my emotional eating issue I developed in my teen age years, it has become a coping mechanism for me. This quote really struck home to me in a way, it relates to me well (except for the missing lunches part hehe). Not many of my friends understand my love for the road. My love for the fresh crisp morning air and the beautiful rays of light the morning brings. Many of people I know wont understand the feeling I get when I see the last 100 yards of a race. The high I get from the crowds, the support of the few that do get it and the finish line. Those 100 yards I sometimes wish could last forever.

October 10, 2010 was the first time I had the courage to run my first 42.2 km (26.2 mile) race. It ended in tears. Not tears of anger, sadness or pain. Tears of amazement, happiness, and a whole jumble of other emotions. I could not believe that I had lost 50 lbs, and was able to make the steps to run for 4:23:53. It is the MOST emotional experience I have been through to date. To see the support I had was amazing. My friend Emma and her Mom stayed up late to make beautiful big bright posters spelling out RUN JENN RUN, just to meet me along the course to hoot and holler for me. Pom 

poms and everything. They met me in several spots around Oak Bay. I almost cried each time I saw them. My coworker and amazing amazing friend Kirsty met me a few times on the course as well. I honestly was in so much shock when I saw her gorgeous smiling face, and to have her run the start of km 36 (where I was really shutting down mentally). It meant so much to take those steps along side one of my closest friends. Then coming to the finish line and seeing my big brother, my Mom, my Dad, and Kirsty (and some of my other running friends) waiting for me with a big bouquet of beautiful flowers. I couldn't help bursting in to tears. It still gets me teary eyed to think of that support net I have. I am so grateful.

Through running, I have met some of my bestest friends (IT IS A WORD IN MY BOOKS). When you are running a gruelling 36 km in the pouring rain where everything seems to go wrong. You cannot help but laugh and bond over the moment. You get to a point in your running relationship where you will talk about everything and anything with your pace partners. I mean when you are on the road for 3 and a half hours at a time, ya you end up talking :P. 

I am so grateful I have found a passion, that I have met some of the most amazing people ever. Running, will you marry me? K thanks.