 |
| Jessica Johnson Sherwood |
How long have you been running?
I went for my first run about nine months ago, in the beginning of October 2012. I ran/walked a ½ mile down the street – came home and collapsed on the kitchen floor!
How often do you typically run?
For the first few months, I ran 3.1 miles a day, 5 days a week, skipping weekends. As a full time working mom to a 3 year old – the incentive for going to the gym during my lunch hour was that I got to take an uninterrupted shower and fully dry my hair every day! I didn’t even have to play peek-a-boo from behind the shower curtain, yelling out every few minutes, “are you okaaay?” I currently try to run 3 miles at least every other day.
What do you listen to when you run? Is there a favorite song on your playlist?
Music is huge for me. If I forget my headphones, forget it. I’m definitely not the type that can run in silence, alone with my thoughts. It’s like trying to get a massage when I’m super stressed – I just lie there thinking of all of the things I should be doing. I have a ton of songs on my running playlist – it’s quite the variety. Until I can record a drill sergeant yelling at me to KEEP MOVING, DON’T YOU DARE START WALKING! – I like fast paced songs. Current favorite is probably My Songs Know What you Did in the Dark by Fall Out Boy. My favorite song to anchor a run is definitely Warrior’s Call by Volbeat or Diamond Eyes by Shinedown. The most embarrassing song on my playlist is probably Jai Ho from the Slumdog Millionaire soundtrack, closely followed by Spice up your Life by the Spice Girls and The Final Countdown by Europe. I’ve learned through trial and error that if I’m playing the air drums or busting out in dance moves during my run – I need to slow my pace because I’m going to burn out.
Do you have a favorite running or race-day memory?
I was probably the most excited and felt the greatest about myself when I first ran 3.1 miles. I took a picture of the treadmill! The first time you run a distance that qualifies as an actual race? Psshht. I might as well have just won a marathon. Same goes for when I first ran 6.2 miles. I posted it on my Facebook I was so proud!
Proudest running accomplishment?
The week before my first 5k was a super stressful time in my life. The night before, I got about 3 hours of broken sleep. My husband was out of town and just trying to get me and my little guy and all of his paraphernalia out of the house in time to drive 45 minutes to the race and then find my bib and pin my number on (no Sammy, you can’t play with the pins buddy, they’re sharp) and find the starting line and stretch and wait in line to pee and then wait in line to pee again because the first one was just nerves and hand my son off to my mom who was going to watch him while I ran (Yes I drank a lot of water mom. No I don’t need your gardening gloves, I’m not going to be cold) all while trying to explain to my son that mommy is going to run a race in a few minutes (Aww, sorry bud, you can’t come with me, this race is only for mommy’s and daddy’s … oh, and that kid right there in the running stroller. Damn it! ) If any parent wants some great motivation to run a fast race – have your child peeled out of your arms and then hear him cry for you as the gun fires and you start to run. That’s pretty solid motivation right there.) So my proudest running accomplishment was finishing my first 5k with a great time, under less than ideal life circumstances and being met at the finish line by a hug from my biggest fan (see picture)
 |
| Jessica and her son Sammy after her first 5k |
Any advice for new runners?
Uhm, probably that your first few runs aren’t going to be enjoyable, but to stick with it. I always hated the thought of running and after my first several runs, I still hated the thought of running. Keep trying new ways to run until you find something you actually enjoy –the treadmill in an air-conditioned gym, a path in the woods, down a busy street. Set a goal yourself – tell yourself to run to that telephone poll. Run to that telephone poll and then run right by it. Or tell yourself to run for 5 minutes straight, and then run for 6. See how that makes ya feel! It was worth it, right?
Nice job double J 😛