Jill Kline

Jill Kline
Resides in: New Smithville
Years running: 15 years

Jill is a 31-year-old mom of 3 sons and works full-time as a registered nurse at Lehigh Valley Hospital. She’s been a runner since the age of 14 and ran on her high school’s cross country team. In addition to running, Jill enjoys anything outdoors including cross country skiing, hiking, camping, and gardening, as well as writing and baking. She is active in her church and feels blessed to live on a family farm with many of her relatives having homes on the same acreage.

Jill says:

“Running is my stress relief, my time with God, and something I have always loved. I am so excited to enter the world of ultra marathons, but feel that the time I put in training (consistently over 50 miles per week for years, now over 60 and rising) can be used for good. So I am taking sponsorships and running the donations through my church so that they are tax exempt.”

Fundraising Effort: https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=120237288052037
Riverbend Community Church (donations) www.riverbendonline.org
cjkline4@verizon.net (email)

What do you enjoy most about running?
I absolutely love to run outside on country roads and towpath trails. It is my stress relief, my time with God, of prayer and praise, and one of my very favorite things to do in my free time. Running makes me feel free and alive. It helps me reflect on my blessings and keep a sense of perspective when it comes to my challenges.

What are your favorite training foods?
Bananas. Lots and lots of bananas. I also use Clif Shot gels with caffeine on my long runs.

What is the strangest/funniest thing that has happened to you on a run?
On several occasions I’ve run out so far that I’ve had to stop and ask for directions, which earns me very strange looks. I’ve also been aided with water bottle refills by perfect strangers, usually sweet older ladies working in their flowerbeds.

What is your biggest running accomplishment and why?
Running the Marathon for Via full marathon (4:16) this past September. I’ve done half marathons and have always wanted to do a full. I really like distance over speed, and honestly enjoyed the training as much as the event itself, although I would often set my alarm for 3 am and strap on my headlamp to get the long runs in! My life has been full of challenges such as raising my sons on my own and recently completing nursing school while working. Running the marathon required me to develop my mental determination and endurance while relying on God which has changed the way I live my life in general. I am so thankful for the ability and opportunity to run, and for my children who are very supportive of their runner mom!

Favorite race distance?
So far the marathon has been my favorite, although 10-mile races and the half marathon are definitely the most fun!

Current running goals?
My goal is to use my running to help others. I am currently training for the Dirty German Endurance Fest 50K on May 22nd. This will be my first ultra marathon and I am very excited about that. I am running this race to raise funds for CRASH Japan, a relief effort to help meet the basic needs of those devastated by the recent disaster in Japan. I am taking sponsorships per mile, which will be accepted and forwarded through my church, Riverbend Community Church, as tax-deductible donations.

Do you have a favorite race?
My favorite races are any of the ones run by Uberendurance Sports.