When I first visited with Jenny about a story I gave her an assignment. I asked her what she wanted people to take away from her story and I must say Jenny opened her heart to inspire others not to ever give up! Jenny and her family moved to Kingfisher in 2003. She had gotten her MBA at SWOSU and had a job in Oklahoma City. Jenny first came to Oklahoma on a rodeo scholarship at SWOSU. She met her husband while working on her master’s. She had tried to join the Marines but due to MVP (Mitral Valve Prolapse heart condition), she couldn’t meet the requirements to join. Jenny gave up rodeoing and riding horses. She found a new passion in running. She said her husband ran her first marathon with her. When she went to sign them up for the next, he said “Nope” he ran the first one so she didn’t have to be alone, but she had it from then on. That was 20 years ago. Jenny had 3 miscarriages between her two boys. She said running helped her through the pain. After her 3rd miscarriage, she ran a half marathon 2 weeks later. She fractured her pelvis 2 years ago during the Chicago marathon. Jenny prayed if it was God’s will she would keep running. She entered her next marathon while on crutches and ended up having her best time in the 10k 7 months later. Jenny and I visited about our military veterans. Her Uncle served in the Marines and her Grandpa, an army vet who served in the Korean War. She told me her Grandpa passed away at 93 this last summer. He always told her “You are enough!” She told me the last year has had many trials, she decided things needed to change. Jenny decided to surrender and let God take the lead. She said she’s still learning that sometimes you just need to stop forcing things and just go with it. She and her husband say that’s why she did so well running the Marine Corps Marathon on October 27th, 2024. Her time was 3.42. Even though there’s a chance it won’t be enough to earn a spot in the Boston Marathon she ran free, no pressure to perform, and just had fun! Jenny said she wants 1st-time marathoners to know there are times it’s rough but you can fight through. In her Marine Corps Marathon, she told herself this for the first 5 miles then she thought about her Grandpa and Uncle, those on the Blue Mile. She ran in appreciation and thanked God for that day. Jenny said the running community is similar to the rodeo community. Both are more than willing to help where they can, encouraging and offering suggestions. Jenny says she runs to be free and to be herself! I’m pretty sure her Grandpa and Uncle’s angel wings are saluting their girl Jenny! Jenny, keep doing you! It’s inspiring!
