All About Jackie

SUNY Oswego

Emergency Medical Technician(EMT)

Loves to Run: 5k to Half-Marathon

How did you start running?

When I was five, I started running!

Running is a great training technique.  I would always run to stay in shape for lacrosse and soccer.  I always did team activities, but it feels good to be in an individual-sport.  Middle-school to high-school, I was running track.  Junior year of high-school, I started to love running more than just a way to train for sports. 

Running is great for relieving stress and setting new personal goals.  

What is your favorite race in Syracuse?

The Syracuse Festival of Races!

There are so many runners, different venders, delicious foods, and massages for after the race.

What half-marathon did you run this summer?

In August, I finished the Turning Stone Half Marathon in Upstate NY.

How was your first half-marathon experience?

Pretty good! I was running with my mom and it meant so much to have her next to me.

Starting, I was so nervous and kept looking at my mom saying, “OMG, I do not know if I can do this.”  My mom told me, “You have been training all summer, just relax.”

I was a little dehydrated towards the end.  At mile ten, I was thinking, “OMG, I do not know if I can finish!” Then, I looked at my mom and she told me, “You can do it.” It meant a lot my mom was by my side pushing me to the finish-line.

Finishing the race, I had the biggest smile on my face.  Everyone at the finish-line was cheering.  My mom and I finished together, it meant more than she will ever know.

How was the Turning Stone race course?

The course was all rolling hills, some of them were steep.  There were several hundred runners.  We were running by farm land and wooded areas, it was so nice!  

Where did you train?

I trained in Colorado the entire summer, running in the mountains.  My view was beautiful mountains all the time!

What is your favorite running condition?

I really love hills, especially the feeling of hills stretching my muscles.  It is all hills going to school at SUNY Oswego.

I love running in the rain.  When it was raining last week, I took advantage of that. 

Where is your favorite place to run?

Colorado!

I went running on the Chautauqua Mountain trails.  There were a bunch of different hills. It was really tough and very hot.

I went running around the campus of Colorado University, right next to the mountains. I started a little off campus, went down this huge hill, around campus and then circled back up.  I finished running up this huge hill leading to the mountains.  Then, I went to an overlook of Boulder. 

When I first got there, it was hard to run with the altitude and heat.  Sometimes, it would be 100 degrees.  The altitude was good for training, because afterwards I felt a significant difference in my speed and time. 

Everyone in Boulder is so active, there were ten people or more people always running around me!  I would look out my window, see everyone else running and feel like I should be running.  They built streets with sidewalks, big enough so you can walk or bike to work.  Along the highway, they have dirt paths so people could run or bike.

How did you overcome being injured?

In January, I broke my foot running the day I flew home from Colorado.  I went for a run and there was snow on the ground.  Then, I slipped and fell because my foot was stuck in a pothole. I called my parents, and they knew something was wrong when my foot started swelling. That night, I was in so much pain I could not sleep. The next morning, I went to the doctor for an x-ray.  I fractured my fifth-metatarsal and needed a boot with crutches. 

When I was released to run again, I wanted to set a goal.  My broken foot healing, motivated me to run my first half-marathon.

Now, I am very cautious about where I am running!

Do you have a motto?

Never give up!  My dad has been saying it to me since I was really little, and gave me a necklace with the engraving.  I have a Road ID bracelet that says, NEVER GIVE UP.

What do you like to do outside of running?

I am an Emergency Medical Technician(EMT).

I love reading and hiking!

Where do you love to hike?

Since we were little, my parents have brought my brother and me to Lake Placid.  It has always been our family trip.  My dad and I, usually try to go once a year to the Adirondacks.  Last year, we climbed the Algonquin Peak Trail and some mountains.

Over the summer, I hiked all through the Colorado Chautauqua Mountains.  It was a lot of fun.  I was a little scared of mountain lions and rattle-snakes!

Do you bring anything with you running?

Headphones! I actually made a Spotify playlist with Dave Mathews, Avett Brothers, and the Chainsmokers.  The majority of my music is upbeat to help me run!

I carry a little handheld water-bottle.  At first, I was not running with water and felt really dehydrated after running for an hour.  Now, I feel better running with water!

What is your favorite food?

Crunchy peanut-butter!

What type of sneakers do you wear?

Nike Pegasus and I also use the Nike Free Runs.  I race in the Pegasus!

Favorite running outfit? 

This summer, I wore Nike or Adidas tank-tops and shorts.

Lately, I have been wearing dry-fit Under Armour long-sleeves and Nike running pants or shorts.

What are your running goals for the future?

I am going to run the Turkey Trot, the Gingerbread Run, and Syracuse Half-Marathon.

I want to run in the Disney Marathon!  This is my biggest goal.  I have never been to Disney, so when I do I will run the marathon!

Do you have advice for other runners?

Never give up! It is my motto that I have lived by.

Make a goal and stick with it.  Make a training plan.  Even if you do not follow your plan exactly, keep pushing forward and try to reach your goal.

Photography, courtesy of Jackie Epp.

That Pretty Runner