Ready to Run Richmond
Native New Yorker Jen Masa is embarking on her first marathon and chose Richmond because of the course, sights, and crowds.
By: Nan Turner
Jen Masa was born, raised and went to college in Albany, N.Y. So when it came time to choose the site of her first marathon, it made sense to do it in… Richmond, Virginia.
The New York native started running four years ago with the primary goal of losing weight. However, almost 30 races later, she has now found herself embarking on something entirely different.
“I wasn’t ever that serious about it but then I started running 5ks and I really liked it,” Masa said. “I decided I wanted to run a half, and I’ve now run eight half marathons. I never thought I would run a marathon but I figured it was time to step it up.”
As she began to shop around for race sites, Masa stumbled across a blog entry where someone mentioned just how much they loved the Anthem Richmond Marathon and that it was the perfect event for first time marathoners.
Jen Masa
Albany’s marathon, the Mohawk-Hudson River Marathon, features paved trails running along the Hudson and Mohawk River. Picturesque, yes, but the location is also where Masa does most of her recreational running and training.
“I wanted to run the half, but I missed the sign up,” Masa said. “I didn’t want to run on the trails I already run on for 26 miles in my first race. I wanted somewhere with better sights and better crowds.”
Eager to see something new and fresh, Masa, and her friend Melissa, took the advice of the blogger and signed up for the Anthem Richmond Marathon.
“I’m looking forward to the whole experience and seeing Richmond since I’ve never been,” Masa said. “It’s a great way to see any city.”
No stranger to social media, Masa has had a blog herself for almost two years and announced her decision on it, explaining the many reasons why Richmond made the cut. Masa has found writing about her races to be an enjoyable way to connect with others.
“I started the blog because people wanted to know how I lost weight, what my motivation was, what I was eating,” Masa said. “So I started it as a way to keep my friends and family up-to-date with my exercise and what I was doing. I then realized I liked having it because I liked the social media aspect. I’ve met a lot of friends. It’s a great way to hold myself accountable because if I say I’m going to run a race on my blog, then I have to do it.”
And she’s doing just that, running between four and seven miles during the week and then doing a longer run every Saturday.
“Training has gone pretty good,” Masa said. “I’ve done a half, and so far the running hasn’t been much different than that, but it’s about to get more intense.”
As November nears, Masa has one goal for herself: finishing, and finishing strong. She won’t have her eye on the clock, but she wants to enjoy herself and feel comfortable.
Completing a marathon is a challenge for anyone, but as Masa wants the naysayers to know, it’s far from impossible.
“I come from a background where I never played sports, never liked to exercise and I’m running,” Masa said. “That’s kind of my motto; if I can do this, anyone can.”
The Anthem Richmond Marathon is Saturday, November 10th. For more information and registration details, visit www.richmondmarathon.com.