She Runs Around: Jennifer Kyle, J Bird Runs

Jennifer ran her first half marathon in October of 2014, the Nike women’s half in 1:43:52.  Since then, she’s run 8 half marathons, two 15k races, and the Bay to Breakers race.  Her half marathon PR is 1:41:26.  She ran her first full marathon, the California International Marathon in 3:29:52.  I was in the car driving home from Disneyland with my family tracking her on my phone.  No joke.  I’m pretty sure I started cheering when she crossed the finish line and my family was so confused.  Here’s what she said about CIM, “I needed 3:35 to qualify for Boston, so I shot for 3:30 to give myself a cushion.”  She says about training, “When I’m not training and working off a schedule, that is when I thrive.  Lifting is an essential part of my training as well, and I really enjoy it too.  Outside of running, I love traveling, spending with my family, boyfriend, friends.  I love to volunteer with Bennie The Dog, who is a therapy dog.  We visit sick patients in the hospital and he gives them snuggles.  We also visit the library so the kids can practice their reading with him.  Maybe I am biased, but he is a super special pup!”

 

Run or workout first thing, always.  After that, I have breakfast, coffee, and quiet time with my dog Bennie.  After Bennie & I go for a walk, I’m either working from home or out in the meetings for day.  I am usually in meetings midweek and working from home Mondays and Fridays.  I love making dinner in the evenings with my boyfriend.  I love to cook and eat outside on nice spring/summer nights.  After dinner, TV and stretching/foam rolling.  Each day varies as far as where I am with work meetings, but I protect my morning workout and breakfast routine pretty fiercely.

 

I don’t normally eat before my workout unless it is a long run, then I’ll have a banana or a gel, sometimes both.  Breakfast is huge for me.  I have been having the same breakfast since I was a sophomore in college (I’m 27 now).  I have 6 eggwhites with veggies & a piece of toast or english muffin with peanut butter and banana.  Midmorning I’ll have a yogurt or a piece of fruit.  Lunch is usually rice and chicken with broccoli, or maybe a sandwich.  Afternoon I’ll have a Quest bar or San Franola (I like it because it has 10g protein).  Dinner is usually sweet potato fries with green beans and maybe fish.  For dessert I love protein cookie dough or rice cakes with peanut butter.  I don’t have a terrible sweet tooth – but I definitely eat peanut butter anywhere between 2-4 times a day LOL.  Also I drink a lot of water and peppermint tea throughout the day.  I absolutely love cooking.  I do a good deal of meal prep for lunches, but I enjoy cooking for dinner – it is a lot of fun for me.

 

Getting ready for the sappiest answer EVER.  Running has taught me I am powerful.  I am Wonder Woman.  I am vulnerable.  I am scared, but too brave to be stopped.  I am weak, but strong enough to overcome my weaknesses.  I am determined.  Running has taught me to keep going when I think I can’t.  Running has taught me how to take an insurmountable goal, break it into small bites, and achieve it.  Running has taught me to love my body.  I struggled with disordered eating in college, and since letting running into my life, I gained the most balanced relationship with food and body image that I’ve ever had.

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Huge, huge thank you to Jennifer for visiting today.  This running community is pretty amazing.