PBs in last two years: 2022 Dallas YMCA 5K Turkey Trot (16:55); 2022 BMW Dallas Half Marathon (1:15:39); 2023 Chevron Houston Marathon (2:36:24)

My husband, Scott, and I have been married for 7 years, and together for 13. He comes to watch my races and never questions some of the travel I make him do "just for a fun race." We have a dog named Penny and a cat named Mufasa.

Perhaps not a #1 accomplishment because it's still very much a work-in-progress, but my husband and I have been learning Italian for over 10 years. Unfortunately, this hobby does not come nearly as quickly as running, and we are barely elementary level speakers. However, I am proud of the two of us for sticking with it.

I trained for the Indianapolis Monumental Marathon in 2022 and missed the qualifying time by only 15 seconds. I had GPS errors throughout the race and didn't do simple math to ensure I would finish under 2:37. My average page (according to the inaccurate watch) was well under the needed pace to qualify, so I kept the pace steady instead of pushing at the end. I assumed I had the time needed, especially since I was ahead of the pacers and OTQ pack (which apparently all dropped out instead). Lesson learned: don't count on the watch, or other pacers and runners! Do simple math!

"Positive splits for positive people."

Getting the OTQ time at Houston was extremely special. We didn't have favorable weather and I ended up sick the morning of the race. Then in the middle of the race, my knee started acting up out of nowhere and I was worried I wouldn't make it. I was unsure of myself the entire race, and when I passed my family and friends, I told them I was hurting. Perhaps this was a way of letting someone else tell me it was okay to give up, or an internal way to warn others that I may not make it. Instead of the sympathy that I wanted, they all ignored my comment and screamed to keep running. I trudged on and thankfully hit the qualifying time! It was so incredible to cross the finish line and see the time clock above say 2:36:xx! At the end of the race someone asked, "what were you trying to tell us out there?" Apparently, no one even heard what I was saying mid-race, so sometimes it's good to be ignored. And now it's a joke to "just ignore Jenny and she will keep running and running."