By Jon Jonckers
Cover photo courtesy of Jon Jonckers
Without a doubt, Jackie Van Allen proves that decades of running is one of the greatest investments that one can make in oneself. Whether it’s miles on the road or personal milestones, she keeps going with heart and grit, and her journey is an inspiration to everyone watching from near or far.
Jackie stands taller than most runners, frequently wears sunglasses and a running hat with a floppy brim, and she beams a wonderful smile whenever any conversation turns toward running. Since she doesn’t harbor any vanity or ego, people listen whenever she speaks. She features a recognizable gait wherever she runs. It’s usually easy to pick her out of a race crowd, because she really loves pink running shoes. Some even argue she has the largest collection of race t-shirts in Spokane. She’s been running with the Spokane Swifts, a women’s running team, for a couple of decades, and she recently completed her 75th marathon and 80th half marathon.
“I didn’t start running until I was 21,” recalls Jackie. “Back in the 1980s there was the Jane Fonda workout VHS tapes. It included limited cardio, but I read in a magazine that Jane trained and ran a 10km fun run. I thought if she could run it, I should be able to run it too. I was living in Dickinson, North Dakota, a rural area with few runners. It was common for people to stop their car and ask if I needed a ride. They must have thought running was my only mode of transportation.”
Photo courtesy of Jon Jonckers
After just a few months’ training, Jackie ran her first Bloomsday in 1985. Shortly after, she picked up “Galloway’s Book on Running” by Jeff Galloway, an All-American collegiate runner and a 1972 U.S. Olympic Team member in the 10,000 meters. The book proved to be a pivotal moment, because “he made training for a marathon sound easy! So, I ran my first marathon in 1988.” Like most runners, Jackie enjoyed some fabulous accomplishments in her career, along with some significant heartaches, but she remained deeply committed to running as regularly as possible. She also likes to point out that running with friends creates some of the most powerful relationships. She adores the talking and sharing that unfolds organically after several miles running together, and she still recommends Galloway’s book.
Bloomsday holds a special place in her heart, but Jackie definitely appreciates a lot of the newer races that have been popping up in recent years. She loves trail runs, especially the super popular Hiawatha Trail Run, hosted by Negative Split, as well as the Sunflower Marathon in Mazama, Wash., and The Rut in Big Sky, Mont. She figures, the greater the challenge, the greater the reward.
Whenever people learn just how much running is a part of Jackie’s life, they inevitably inquire about her tips and tricks for staying healthy and injury free. She doesn’t have a secret formula, but she returns to the same core elements over and over again. In no particular order, she emphasizes consistency in running routines, she encourages people to rotate shoes frequently to let shoes ‘recover,’ and she definitely believes in the power of massage and foam rolling. For the record, she burns through about six pairs of running shoes per year. Jackie also begins each morning with a fruit milkshake.
Photo courtesy of Jon Jonckers
Perhaps the greatest testament to Jackie’s involvement in the local running community stems from other runners in the region. Her friends and peers on the Spokane Swifts team absolutely adore her, and many of them were eager to say things like “she’s an inspiration,” “she’s the perfect mentor,” and “the world needs more people like Jackie.” Swift teammate Annelie Stockton says, “She is always so kind and has a very positive attitude. You can’t help but feel happy around her.” Swift teammate Heather LeFriec says, “I call her Queen Jackie! Her longevity as a marathon and ultramarathon runner is like no female we’ve ever known. She is someone I’ve known and looked up to for over 25 years. She’s always brought strength and consistency in everything she does, running and personally.”
Jackie does most of her running in the cool and peaceful mornings because “you encounter fewer scheduling issues.” Since she started tracking her mileage in 1988, she recently surpassed 64,000 miles, and she is on pace to surpass 65,000 miles by the end of the year. Even though she doesn’t run every single day, she still averages around 45 miles per week. When asked what’s the one thing you wish more people knew about running, Jackie responded, “Give running a chance. The first three months are tough, and you may wonder, how could this ever be fun? But it will be fun, just be patient!”
A quick search on the Out There Outdoors website brings up over 200 articles written by Jon Jonckers. He’s been a constant contributor since 2006, and he still enjoys sharing his love for the region with anyone willing to listen.
The post The Queen of Spokane Running: Jackie Van Allen appeared first on Out There Outdoors.
Cover photo courtesy of Jon Jonckers
Without a doubt, Jackie Van Allen proves that decades of running is one of the greatest investments that one can make in oneself. Whether it’s miles on the road or personal milestones, she keeps going with heart and grit, and her journey is an inspiration to everyone watching from near or far.
Jackie stands taller than most runners, frequently wears sunglasses and a running hat with a floppy brim, and she beams a wonderful smile whenever any conversation turns toward running. Since she doesn’t harbor any vanity or ego, people listen whenever she speaks. She features a recognizable gait wherever she runs. It’s usually easy to pick her out of a race crowd, because she really loves pink running shoes. Some even argue she has the largest collection of race t-shirts in Spokane. She’s been running with the Spokane Swifts, a women’s running team, for a couple of decades, and she recently completed her 75th marathon and 80th half marathon.
“I didn’t start running until I was 21,” recalls Jackie. “Back in the 1980s there was the Jane Fonda workout VHS tapes. It included limited cardio, but I read in a magazine that Jane trained and ran a 10km fun run. I thought if she could run it, I should be able to run it too. I was living in Dickinson, North Dakota, a rural area with few runners. It was common for people to stop their car and ask if I needed a ride. They must have thought running was my only mode of transportation.”
Photo courtesy of Jon Jonckers
After just a few months’ training, Jackie ran her first Bloomsday in 1985. Shortly after, she picked up “Galloway’s Book on Running” by Jeff Galloway, an All-American collegiate runner and a 1972 U.S. Olympic Team member in the 10,000 meters. The book proved to be a pivotal moment, because “he made training for a marathon sound easy! So, I ran my first marathon in 1988.” Like most runners, Jackie enjoyed some fabulous accomplishments in her career, along with some significant heartaches, but she remained deeply committed to running as regularly as possible. She also likes to point out that running with friends creates some of the most powerful relationships. She adores the talking and sharing that unfolds organically after several miles running together, and she still recommends Galloway’s book.
Bloomsday holds a special place in her heart, but Jackie definitely appreciates a lot of the newer races that have been popping up in recent years. She loves trail runs, especially the super popular Hiawatha Trail Run, hosted by Negative Split, as well as the Sunflower Marathon in Mazama, Wash., and The Rut in Big Sky, Mont. She figures, the greater the challenge, the greater the reward.
Whenever people learn just how much running is a part of Jackie’s life, they inevitably inquire about her tips and tricks for staying healthy and injury free. She doesn’t have a secret formula, but she returns to the same core elements over and over again. In no particular order, she emphasizes consistency in running routines, she encourages people to rotate shoes frequently to let shoes ‘recover,’ and she definitely believes in the power of massage and foam rolling. For the record, she burns through about six pairs of running shoes per year. Jackie also begins each morning with a fruit milkshake.
Photo courtesy of Jon Jonckers
Perhaps the greatest testament to Jackie’s involvement in the local running community stems from other runners in the region. Her friends and peers on the Spokane Swifts team absolutely adore her, and many of them were eager to say things like “she’s an inspiration,” “she’s the perfect mentor,” and “the world needs more people like Jackie.” Swift teammate Annelie Stockton says, “She is always so kind and has a very positive attitude. You can’t help but feel happy around her.” Swift teammate Heather LeFriec says, “I call her Queen Jackie! Her longevity as a marathon and ultramarathon runner is like no female we’ve ever known. She is someone I’ve known and looked up to for over 25 years. She’s always brought strength and consistency in everything she does, running and personally.”
Jackie does most of her running in the cool and peaceful mornings because “you encounter fewer scheduling issues.” Since she started tracking her mileage in 1988, she recently surpassed 64,000 miles, and she is on pace to surpass 65,000 miles by the end of the year. Even though she doesn’t run every single day, she still averages around 45 miles per week. When asked what’s the one thing you wish more people knew about running, Jackie responded, “Give running a chance. The first three months are tough, and you may wonder, how could this ever be fun? But it will be fun, just be patient!”
A quick search on the Out There Outdoors website brings up over 200 articles written by Jon Jonckers. He’s been a constant contributor since 2006, and he still enjoys sharing his love for the region with anyone willing to listen.
The post The Queen of Spokane Running: Jackie Van Allen appeared first on Out There Outdoors.