Jennifer is a Runner’s World+ member. Join her and thousands of others chasing their goals with day-by-day training plans, expert advice from editors and coaches, and unlimited digital access. We regularly feature members online and in print!
Running has completely changed my life. I have struggled with anxiety and experienced trauma as a young adult. Running helps me feel completely in control and free. It has shown me perseverance that I have carried throughout my life. As a doctoral student, I have utilized this perseverance in my education. And, as a therapist, I use the analogies of perseverance from running as a way to help my patients identify the perseverance that is needed for their mental wellness.
I joined Runner’s World + because I love the sense of community. I read the blogs and the inspirational stories that come in my inbox daily. And I love the articles with the different running playlists!
I run to have a sense of freedom. I feel like I’m in complete control of myself when I run. It gives me my own personal time to think and to feel my emotions that I tend to bottle up. I’ve cried in the middle of a run before! And I never regret going for a run, I regret not going on a run!
I have recently fallen in love with trail running. It started when I ran the Yellowstone Half Marathon in 2018. It’s amazing to be with just yourself and nature. Sometimes, I’ll take my headphones off just to hear the sounds of our earth.
I’m obsessed with my Hokas. They help my knees and keep my traction when I’m on a trail. I also have been listening to songs that I have danced to (during my time as a dancer), and that puts me in a world of total freedom.
I’ve run seven half marathons, but I’ve never run a full! I would love to run a full. In particular, I want to run the Honolulu Marathon!
Meet More Members of The Mountain States
Caroline’s enthusiasm for enriching the run community originates from engaging with her local run specialty store customers, where she still works part-time. As a professional hobby jogger, she loves exchanging training stories and hearing from RW+ members about their race victories.
