Hello! Please allow me to reintroduce myself: I’m Jenn, and I’m a runner (among other things). A lot of time has passed since I started this blog and began my running journey (over 12 years, to be exact), and therefore a lot has changed.
Who Is RunsWithPugs?
That’s me!
Like I said, my name is Jenn, and I’m a 48 year old runner who lives in North Florida. It’s also worth noting that I am in the miserable throes of perimenopause, which has really shifted a lot of my goals. I have been married for almost 19 years and we have a son who just turned 17. Of course, we also have pugs (two at the moment).
What Do You Do?
Thanks for asking! I’m a bit of an entrepreneur, to be honest. I’m a blogger, freelance writer, freelance social media manager, and I just started my own petsitting company. My focus is running, travel and supporting local. Oh, and animals. Obviously. I have a background in sports and event marketing, and then opted to stay home with our son when we started our family. I’m very fortunate to have an incredibly flexible schedule so I have plenty of time for running and other adventures.
Share About Your Running Journey
I started running in 2013. My husband started, and I agreed t join him for support, even though I previously only ran if something was chasing me. He fell in like; I fell in love. I started with Couch To 5K, and ran my first official 5K in May of 2013. Not long after, I was signed up for a half marathon, and then even a marathon! I am not, have never been, and probably will never be “fast,” but I love it and that’s what matters most to me.
What Is Your Running Philosophy?
The only philosophy I have is to have fun and enjoy every mile. I love running for the experiences. For me, getting to run in beautiful places with incredible people far outweighs some of the other victories. I am in full support of moving one’s body as often as possible. There is an incredible community out there, and so many amazing places to run, and I say get out there as much as possible!
What Does Your Training Regimen Look Like?
Running makes up a major part of my workout schedule. I am usually up before the sunrise and I use a modified Galloway (walk-run-walk) technique to run Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday are for walking. Strength training at the local gym is also part of my regimen. Earlier in the year, I was incredibly dedicated to it, but fell off over the last few month. I just restarted, with a plan to go three to four days a week. I alternate upper body and lower body, and finish off each workout with some time on the stair stepper. At this time, I don’t worry too much about speed work or more targeted running workouts, because I’m in a period of just enjoying it.
What’s Been Your Biggest Obstacle?
I had a major tonsillectomy in 2013 that was difficult, destroyed my stamina, and created major issues in my breathing (the removal changed the whole shape of my throat and messed up my breathing). But breaking my tibia and fibula in 2020 absolutely knocked me for a loop. I don’t know that I will ever be 100%, but despite the plates and screws in my ankle, I am eternally proud of myself to be back out there, even if I do have a little hitch in my gitalong.
What Are Your Running Goals?
My primary goal right now is to run at least one race in all 50 states. I’m currently at 13 and can’t wait to cross off the rest of my locations. A secondary goal is to run at least one more half marathon. I was doing really well with them, but my injury set me back. It’s frustrating, but it’s also something to look forward to and plan out.
The next goal? Collect all the bling! Every piece of it!
Ten Fun Facts About Me
On a more random note, here’s ten things about me!
- I am obsessed with animals. I always joke that I’m going to go out petting something I shouldn’t.
- I love to make charcuterie and grazing boards.
- Books are my kryptonite – I love collecting them and I love to spend time reading even more.
- One of my dreams is to own a hobby farm in the country with some mini goats, mini Highland cows, and horses.
- I’m a huge foodie, but I have that gene that makes cilantro taste like soap. Boo.
- I hate water, but I love Diet Dr. Pepper, iced coffee, old-fashioneds, and espresso martinis.
- My favorite dessert is ice cream.
- My favorite food is tacos.
- I’m obsessed with travel. To date, my favorite vacation has been to Rome, Italy. It’s followed closely by Bar Harbor and Acadia in Maine.
- I’m an extroverted introvert: I love getting out to experience events and parties, but when I need to recharge, I can hermit by myself for weeks on end.
Tell me something about you!
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So interesting to learn more about you! I love this kind of post! I remember you mentioned your tonsillectomy back in the day when I was still running, it sounds like it must have gone horribly wrong! I’m so sorry you had to go through that.
It didn’t go wrong exactly. The problem was that my tonsils were so huge and so embedded that when they removed them it changed the whole shape of my throat. No one really mentioned that as a side effect or possibility, so my swallowing hasn’t been quite the same since the procedure. I can still choke a little on soft foods like pasta or bread (don’t worry – I still eat them LOL), but it also means I struggle to swallow my own spit, which creates breathing issues when I’m running.
My surgeon actually wrote an article about my tonsils although I never got to see it. I grew up around the time when people got their tonsils out almost as a rite of passage, and my pediatrician (who was morbidly obese and smoked like a chimney) decided it was an unnecessary surgery and that it would be the healthy thing for my mother to hold off. No matter that I would get strep so severely that my throat would swell shut, he was all about the more “holistic” approach. We went from normal strep, to strep with 104ºF fevers, to strep that landed me in the ER to strep every few months and finally I went to the ENT who said “I’ll see you, but we don’t usually recommend taking tonsils out for adults OMG LET ME SCHEDULE YOU FOR SURGERY IMMEDIATLELY.” Everything went fine and it was successful, but the recovery is hell for adults. But here we are, strep free for YEARS. And I was apparently a carrier, so once I got them out, my kiddo stopped getting strep too!
Loved getting to know more about you, Jenn! Your energy, honesty, and sense of humour really shine through.
I remember your injury in 2020 and continue to admire how you’ve bounced back while keeping the joy in your running front and centre. I’m also cheering you on as you chase down that “50 states” goal – 13 is seriously impressive!
I can relate to being appreciating flexibility at work: I’m a chartered accountant by training, but I left the corporate world seven years ago to go freelance. The freedom and flexibility have been such a gift!
The sense of humor is clearly a trauma response lol!
Freelance is great, and it works for us. My husband owns his own medical recruiting business, so it was important that one of us was home, and now it would be tough (not impossible) to have a corporate job that works around everyone’s schedules.
That being said, it is nice to have a predictable and regular paycheck and benefits.
Fun to learn more about your background! I remember when you broke your leg and how you made that epic comeback. Doing what you love everyday is the best flex and feeling!
That was a dramatic day LOL! I’m sad that some things didn’t work out as well as I wanted, but it just leaves room for others.
I loved reading more about you! I remember your son being so much younger when I started reading your blog, I can’t believe he’s 17 now! You have had quite the journey with your broken leg but you really overcame so much!
I KNOW! I can’t believe he will be a senior – it’s like it happened overnight!
Since I’ve been reading your blog since day 1 not much is new but I enjoyed your post.
We do have a lot in common… maybe because we have the same birthday.
I’m not a water drinker at all but love coffee, fun cocktails and ICE CREAM.
Growing up I was a big introvert but I think running has made me more social.
and yes my broken fibula and tibia has put a damper on my running form but I’m still doing it and am eternally grateful to my surgeon.
Yes! And I love that we have so much in common! Right down to our metal ankles! Thank goodness for amazing surgeons!