It’s time to meet another one of the members of ESNW: Laura Jackson

Name: Laura Jackson

Age: 34

Where are you from? I grew up in Oak Harbor on the north end of Whidbey Island. After college I lived a couple years in Seattle, Bellingham then Arlington.

How long have lived in this area? I have only lived in Mukilteo since July 2009.

What’s the story behind your wanting to run a marathon? Growing up I was overweight and out of shape. I was the kid who hated PE and did everything in my power to get out of it. I couldn’t jog ¼ mile. When I joined the Navy Reserves in 2001 I was terrified that I had to run 1.5 miles. I built up to it and that was probably when I began to really enjoy running, realizing that with a little training I could actually do this. In 2006 I needed to lose weight after my daughter was born, so I set a goal to complete my first 5K. I walked half of that 5k, but over the next 2 years I worked towards improving my pace and endurance. Spring 2008 I completed my 1st half marathon with the help of a coach. I ran 3 more, so the natural progression seemed to run a full marathon. I decided to train for my first marathon, Seattle Rock & Roll in 2009. Unfortunately, I ended up with severe knee pain due to chondromalacia (bad cartilage). I was highly discouraged and had doctors telling me I was not built to be a runner and I should give up running. I switched my focus to cycling to give my knee a break. I eased back into running this past year without any pain. I believe cycling and physical therapy exercises helped build different muscles to support my knee. I was thrilled and felt like it might be time to give the marathon another try. I was scared and fearful of failing again, so I joined ESNW and began to work with coach Cari. I chose the Whidbey Marathon in Oak Harbor to prove to myself that I had changed since my childhood days there. I am no longer the couch potato who spent summers watching television, while convincing myself that the reason I couldn’t run is because I must have asthma or something. In reality, I was just out of shape! I guess the marathon is something that I would have never believed I could accomplish given my non-athletic youth.

Was there ever moments of doubt in your abilities to complete a marathon? Absolutely, especially considering I had failed at it less than 2 years prior. I would say there was always a little doubt in the back of my mind.

How did you overcome those fears? Surrounding myself with supportive people was really helpful. Working with Cari of Moxie Multisport I felt confident knowing I was following the training plan and had her to consult at any time. The majority of people I know haven’t run a marathon, so having the encouragement of ESNW members who have was invaluable. This was also my husband Tim’s first marathon and I felt like despite my fears I didn’t want to let him down. We were in it together.

What was it like the night before, morning of the race? I was anxious the night before, obsessing over everything and worrying that something might go wrong and I wouldn’t finish. I just kept thinking I just want to do this and get it done. The morning of the race I was much more calm. I felt like it’s here and there’s no going back, so lets do it!

Was there anything that really helped you stay motivated during training and the actual race? During training I was motivated by following a plan and being accountable to a coach. During the race it helped having Tim by my side and looking forward to seeing our kids at mile 18 and  at the finish line. I also had a few friends who came out to cheer us on, which was great!

Do you think you’ll ever run another marathon? I hope so! I think I might be hooked!

What is the memory you don’t want to forget about this experience? My sister sent me a text message after she and my kids were cheering us on early in the run that said “the kids are now playing make believe marathon running.” How adorable! I was happy to know that this experience had inspired them. Our seven year old son even ran two miles with us the day before. I was amazed. It made me realize how much influence we have on our children. The importance of an active lifestyle is something I want to instill in them and it looks like we’re off to a good start!

Are there any more races you want to shoot for this year? I’m looking forward to the See Jane Run ½ marathon and the Lake Padden Duathlon, which will be my first multisport event. I’m not a swimmer, so I’ll stick to biking and running!