Runner’s World+ Member: Jessi Morton-Langehaug
Jessi is a Runner’s World+ member. Join her and thousands of others chasing their goals with day-by-day training plans, expert advice from editors and coaches, and unlimited digital access. We regularly feature members online and in print!
Running is my meditation. It is a way for me to detach from my daily stress. It connects me to the earth and gives me the opportunity to reach deep inside. I love seeing what my body can do and I enjoy testing its limits. Running makes me happy. It is the one place I can go where there are no limits, no one telling me what I can and cannot do. It teaches me patience, hard work and appreciation of others and the world around me. Running is my love of self. That love allows me to love others. Running makes me a better mother, a better teacher and a better being.
I joined RW+ because I love reading the articles and staying up with the newest gear.
Once the sun comes up, my day is filled with chaos. I have a five year old daughter and teach high school. Getting out of the door before the sun comes up allows me to spend hours by myself. It gives me time to listen to my thoughts and spend time in nature. It also helps my body function better. On days I run, I find I am happier. I have more energy. I smile more. I can handle stressful situations better and I’m not so irritable. It gives me a feeling deep inside that the world is good and I am good. Running just makes me better
I run first thing in the morning. I do 2x day at least once a week, sometimes more depending on my schedule. Temple quarry/cottonwood trail is one of my favorite routes. It is a nice gradual incline (1700 ft in 3.5 miles). The trail runs alongside the river and it is usually protected from the elements. During the winter, the trees are a beautiful white and it feels like a magical winter wonderland. In the summer, it is a good mixture of technical trail and buffer trail. It is only a five minute drive from my house and isn’t usually packed with people. Plus it is a watershed which lessens the amount of people on the trail.
I have so many. My go to is my High-E hoodie by Voormi. It is so comfortable and so warm. I absolutely love the hood. It wraps my face when its really cold outside. The kangaroo pocket is also large enough to store my spikes. I also love the Hoka one one Carbon-X shoes. The shape of their soul makes speed feel effortless. Yesterday, I climbed a peak that ascends 3400 ft in under three miles. It was icy and steep. I put on my kahtoola microspikes and they dug into the snow and ice so good that I was amazed. Prior to this I had used yak traks and nanospikes due to a more minimal approach. After yesterday, I will stick with my microspikes. Lastly is my open head beanie from Lululemon. I don’t know if they make these anymore but I love how tightly it fits around my ears and doesn’t move. I love the open head because my head never over heats. I wear this on every single run in the winter. It also has reflective stitching which helps in low light conditions
To keep my body healthy so I can keep doing what I love. UTMB is #1 goal if I am lucky enough to get drawn.
You Might Also Like
