Nov
8
Predawn Profile – Jeni Henrickson
One of the most inspiring and friendly runners you may find on Dailymile is Jeni Henrickson; her familiar frosty avatar portrays the joy that she finds in her running, despite the hurdles (such as a Minnesota winter) it brings, and that she spreads to others. With several years of ever-improving running under her belt, it is fun to watch Jeni continue to improve, and amazing to consider how she can do so despite the tremendous personal commitments that also demand of her time. Jeni was kind enough to take some of her valuable and rare free time to “sit down” for an interview.
Predawn Runner: If I recall, you only came around to running, specifically at the marathon level, recently. Can you tell us about how you started running, and what made you interested in doing marathons?
Jeni Henrickson: I’ve been running for almost two years now. I started in late December 2008. Crazy time of the year to decide to start running when you live in Minnesota, I know, but I had just started back to graduate school that fall and I was really needing a way to manage my stress levels and to get in some outdoor time too. I took up running because it would get me exercising outdoors, because it was relatively inexpensive, and because it was super flexible. I could do it almost anytime and anywhere. In order to make sure I stuck with it, I decided I needed a goal and that goal was to run a half-marathon that coming spring. If I made my goal, I’d try to run a full marathon come fall. I finished my first half in May 2009 in a time of 2:13, then ran another a month later in almost 90-degree humid-as-heck weather in 2:07. I was hooked. In October 2009 I ran my first full marathon. I was drawn to the longer distances because of the challenge, I think, the focus on endurance, and a sort of “romantic” fascination with long-distance running, a fascination that sticks with me to this day.
PR: I know that you are also a wife and mother, as well as a graduate student finishing your studies. How do you balance all these responsibilities yet still find the time to run the miles needed to successfully complete marathons?
JH: I work a full-time job, am a full-time graduate student, and am a wife and a mother of two kids, ages 9 and 12. The only way I’ve found I can successfully fit in the miles needed to train for a marathon is through the predawn run. It allows me to get out the door when everyone else is still asleep and before any of my daily responsibilities begin, get my run done, and get home when everyone is just waking. It helps tremendously too that my husband is willing to assist with the kids and household chores. He didn’t used to help out as much, but since I started back to school and then started running, he’s really chipped in and I so appreciate that, and so I try to keep the running from impacting family time too greatly.
PR: I didn’t realize you were also working full-time, and as the spouse of a doctor, I’m a big believer in fathers putting in their share of the child-raising and chores. What are you studying, and what do you hope to do with your degree once you are finished?
JH: I just completed my master’s degree and am now working toward a PhD in learning technologies. I hope to ultimately teach and do research at a university, studying ways to design and develop online and face-to-face learning environments that incorporate a variety of technologies, engage learners, and inspire creativity, active participation, collaboration, and lifelong learning.
PR: Over the summer, you shifted to become more of a predawn runner. Why did you make that change, and how do you see the time you put into running changing with the impending Minnesota winter?
JH: I made the change this summer in order to be able to better manage my time and responsibilities, as well as to try to avoid the worst of the heat and humidity. It’s going to be a challenge once the snow flies. It will also be the coldest time of the day to run during the winter. I’m not sure how it’s going to go, to be honest. I’ve not trained for a marathon over the winter before, and with the Austin Marathon happening on February 20, it means I’ll be putting in my peak miles during the peak of winter’s fury. I don’t have access to a treadmill, and frankly, don’t have a desire to run on one either. So, it’s going to be an adventure!
PR: We’re of a similar mind when it comes to treadmills and winter training, though the Cleveland winters don’t get quite as bad as Minnesota. What have been your biggest running accomplishments to date?
JH: I set new PRs in both the half and full marathon this fall, and am really proud of that as I worked hard this year. I’m no speed demon by any stretch of the imagination, but I ran Twin Cities Marathon in early October in a time of 4:22, which was an 18-minute PR, and I recently ran the Monster Dash Half Marathon at the end of October in 1:54, about which I was super excited (my first sub-2:00 half!). I actually won a third-place age group award in a 10-mile race back in February this year, but that was only because it was so cold that day (temps in the low single digits and subzero windchills) and the course was so snowy and icy that not too many people chose to participate (there were 11 runners in my age group)! Oh, and my Dailymile avatar photo came from this race.
PR: Well, the first part of any successful endeavor is showing up, so kudos for the AG finish! I know that you have had some ups and downs in your running, specifically, on the latter, at the Grandma’s Marathon earlier this year. What happened there, and how did you bounce back to a successful Twin Cities Marathon later this year?
JH: Yes, Grandma’s was a real low in my running life. I did not finish, pulled myself out of the race at about mile 14. I had started having heart palpitations and was just feeling completely out of sync and worn out. I think it was a combination of factors, both mental and physical. For one, I think I didn’t manage the training cycle leading up to the race well, pushed every run too much and really wore myself down. I think I also had way too high expectations for my abilities at that point. And admittedly I was feeling a lot of pressure to perform well too. I did go out and run a solo marathon a week later, needing to prove to myself that I could still go the distance, but it was a bittersweet accomplishment, as the run was slow and in a vacuum. That whole experience, that very public “failure,” taught me so many lessons, however, and I found that I really relaxed my attitude about a lot of things related to running after that. As I trained for Twin Cities, I ran even more miles than I had for Grandma’s, but I didn’t push myself so hard every run. I focused more on endurance and not wearing myself out mentally or physically, and I didn’t make myself a slave to a particular training regime, but rather did some experimentation with daily and weekly mileage. And I tried to get in more runs with other people too, so I wasn’t so fearful of running in the “public eye.” In August, I ran my first team event, the Ragnar Great River Relay, with a very fun and inspirational group of runners, and learned a lot from them as well. I’m learning to appreciate that what constitutes success or struggle, speed or slowness, varies greatly among us runners, and I love that the running community cheers and supports all who give this sport a try.
PR: You know, I did notice that the “tone” of your updates seemed different this summer, maybe more serious and focused, though it was clear you still enjoyed what you were doing. What kind of goals do you have for your running going forward?
JH: My goal is to run a sub-4-hour marathon by the end of 2012. I’d love to reach that goal in 2011, but we’ll see. I’m trying to have patience and take my running progress slowly as my overarching goal is to stay healthy and injury-free. I’d also love to run an ultra one day as well.
PR: What advice would you have for someone who thinks they are too busy to run yet wants to somehow make time to train for a marathon?
JH: I’d say if you really want to do it, then find the time. You may have to run in the predawn or postdusk dark, you may have to give up another activity to make it work, it may not be easy, but I think for many people, it can be done if you’re willing to make a commitment to it. I think I’d also suggest that they join Dailymile, because you can’t help but be inspired by the commitment and hard work and successes and struggles of all the everyday athletes there!
PR: Can we check in later for an update on progress towards your goals?
JH: Yes, thank you, and thanks also for championing and inspiring and celebrating the predawn run.
