Jennifer Bressette is one busy Mother Runner. This mom of four (two tweens and two teens!) tackled running—she started with a 5K and soon racked up half marathons—just as she’s taken on life’s numerous challenges. This Fourth of July she ran the Peachtree Road Race in Atlanta, the nation’s largest 10K. She recently registered for her first marathon, the Country Music Marathon in Nashville in April 2013.
I run because I can. When I was 20, I had half my right foot amputated as a result of infection. This left my leg with just a stump below my right ankle. The day I was able to put pressure on my foot I looked straight ahead and slowly put one foot in front of the other. I kept walking into my wonderful life graduating from college, graduate school, and marrying the love of my life.
Fast forward 12 years. I am now the adoptive mom of four children under five years old, three who arrived in the same year. I am overwhelmed. I had always been successful in school and went back to graduate school obtaining a Master of Education degree to conserve brain cells. My children’s diagnoses started coming in. One was micro cephalic, one asthmatic requiring around the clock breathing treatments, and one ADHD. I kept putting one foot in front of the other.
I started teaching full time and was as stressed as any first-year teacher and mother of four could be. I gained quite a bit of weight. A gym had advertised its boot camp so I figured, why not? I have challenged my brain; I should challenge my body. During the boot camp I decided to sign up for a 5K to benefit the college my husband teaches at. It was tough. I was in awe of the half marathoners at the event. Over the next several years I did three more 5Ks. Meanwhile, more diagnoses come in with regard to my children: autism, mood disorder, learning disabilities. I was in a very gray place.
I was laid off from my teaching job and that place went black. I decided I was going to run the half marathon in my town. It gave me a reason to get up and dressed in the morning. I was petrified. I was not a runner! I found a group of runners and was tickled when I saw they had a 12-minute mile pace group. I could do that! My mantra became “13.1 miles one and one half feet.”
I completed my first half! If I could do that, I could certainly handle any of the challenges that my wonderful, chaotic, blessed life brings me. I have since found another job I love: working with the severe and profoundly handicapped. I’ve also completed four more 5Ks, and two more half marathons. I keep a running log. I am planning races for the rest of 2012, including a variety of 5Ks, the Peachtree Road Race in Atlanta (10K), and the Chickamauga half marathon.
When life with two teens and two tweens gets crazy, I lace up. I run because I can.
Thanks for an amazing story! Wishing you many more running miles.
Inspiring and I am so happy that you found happiness thru running. One foot in front of the other
Jennifer – plain and simple, you rock. I’m so glad that you CAN, and so you do!
Wow, sometimes there aren’t enough words – I’m glad you have running and that the world has you!
4 children under 5 are now 2 teens and 2 tweens! Run, Mamma, run! I bow down to your bada$$ness.
Jennifer you are an inspiration. Congratulations on not letting anything stop you!
this has been a week of getting up off my feeling bad for myself butt. When I see gals like this, I realize that if someone can get into running with such and injury, I most certainly get back to running post back surgery. It’s going to be different, and I know it won’t be easy, but I can do it.
Thanks for the motivation gals!
Super inspiring story! Keep on running!
Really wonderful!!! You are blessed….
Amazing story. Congrats for all you have done and will continue to do!!
keep it up!
keep it up mom! we all love you and your doing great! your the reason i run. love you mom.