Jenn Walton Kicked Her Smoking Habit and Started Running Marathons

Today I’m going a few easy miles with my friend and coaching client Jenn Walton.

Jenn Walton

Marathon Seeds Were Planted Early

As a kid, Jenn’s family lived in a house that was on the route of the Manitoba Marathon. Jenn can remember sitting in the window and watching the race, and thinking to herself that it would be amazing to run a marathon one day.

Jenn wasn’t an athletic kid and as an adult the marathon goal was seemed as far fetched as the childhood dream of flying.

But when her brother lost a lot of weight and ran the marathon, she revisited the idea of whether or not running could be possible.

Her brother’s success inspired Jenn to start her own training, which began with kicking her smoking habit, and before long she ran her first marathon.

Relationship Between Playing Piano and Running a Marathon

Jenn has been a musician for most of her life, and there are definitely some parallels between being a high level/touring pianist and a marathon runner.

When I asked Jenn about any parallels, I was thinking that she would touch on the dedication/discipline required to put in the necessary training/practice in order to reach your goals.

And she did, but Jenn also shared something that I wasn’t expecting: the importance of being able to control your adrenaline.

The excitement at the start of a race is a recipe for going out too fast and blowing up because of it, but Jenn mentioned similar levels of excitement/adrenaline that she would experience at the beginning of the ballet performances that she was playing for.

As a pianist, the preperformance nerves/excitement can cause the tempo of the song to be increased, which can pose quite the problem for the dancers on the stage.

Jenn talked about learning how to control herself behind the piano in order to play the expected tempo of the piece, and how that helps her avoid going out too fast in a race.

Tips for Cold Weather Running

Once it gets past -30 (degrees), that's when I go inside! ~@PrairieJenn #runchat #running Click To Tweet

Living in Canada, Jenn is no stranger to running outside in the cold.

With winter approaching, I thought it was prudent to ask Jenn to share some tips for those that are new to running and are getting ready for the first winter of outdoor running.

By far, Jenn’s biggest recommendation is to invest in quality gear. 

Hypothermic Half Gear for Jenn Walton

Even though high quality thermal gear may give you a case of sticker shock, it’s worth every penny when you’re out on a run and you don’t have to worry about over heating or being cold.

Jenn recommends a good buff and a good pair of mittens or gloves to keep your face and hands warm while you’re out on a run.

One recommendation that Jenn made that I would have never thought of was getting a flip belt to hold your phone while you’re running outside.

If it’s really cold, putting your phone in a pocket may not be enough to keep it warm enough to prevent it from dying really quickly. But having a belt that can go under your layers and keep your phone close to your body keeps it warm enough that in an emergency you’d still be able to make a phone call.

And in certain conditions, being able to make that phone call could literally save your life.

If you haven’t done so already, make sure you connect with Jenn on Twitter!

As Always, I’d Love to Know What Stood Out to You From this Episode! Let Me Know Your Takeaway in the Comments Below!

 Want to Support the Continued Growth & Production of the Show?

Check out the support page for ideas and suggestions of ways you can help me grow the show. And remember, not all support involves money. Some of the best ways you can show your support are 100% free.

Subscribe to the Show

Never miss another episode of the Diz Runs With podcast by subscribing to the show, and for my fellow Apple fans out there, it’s never been easier now that the podcast app is native on the new operating system. iPhone/iPod/iPad users click here. Android users click here. SoundCloud users click here.

Please Give Me Some Feedback!

Take the 6 question listener survey to help me shape the future of this podcast.

Register for a Free Race Training Plan

Every month, I’m giving away a FREE training plan for the race of your choice. For details/information, and to sign up, just click here.

Join The Tribe!

There’s always room for more members of the tribe! Both the Facebook group and the email group provide opportunities that can’t be found anywhere else. The Facebook group is still small, but it is a great way to connect with fellow runners and foster community amongst like minded individuals. The email group is THE way to stay up to date about future guests on the show, as well as getting some other freebies and offers that aren’t available to anyone else. If you’ve got questions about either/both, just let me know!