Running is and has been a family affair for Jennifer Funk for a long time.
It’s not that she wanted to be a runner when she was younger, but her father and three sisters were all involved and she got started as a result of peer pressure from her family.
Jennifer will celebrate her 45th birthday on January 1. She played a lot of sports as a student at Maryville High School, but never ran before graduating in 1988. She went on to acquire an accounting degree at Tennessee and even got her Masters, but running was the last thing on her list of things she wanted to try.
She’s now a certified public accountant and has been a financial analyst at Erlanger Medical Center since 2001.
“It had to be more shame than anything else, but I didn’t find running enjoyable then like I do now,” she said after an early-morning workout this week at the downtown YMCA.
Her father is Charlie Raper, a 78-year-old pediatrician who is still practicing and still running. Through his influence and his example, Jennifer slowly got involved in the sport and has completed some 45 marathons and two ultras since her first 5K race in 1987.
“The Chickamauga Chase 5K in 1987 was my first race and it was hillier than I expected. It sort of reminded me of running in Cades Cove,” she said recalling that first race.
“When I was younger, I was a child who played the piano. I was also involved in ballet and gymnastics. I tried swimming for a while, but I have an older sister who was an excellent runner.
“I also used to enjoy archery and was the best in my class in high school. I still enjoy shooting, but that’s something not many people know about me,” she stated.
“My parents always preached the importance of being active, so that’s how I got started. I’ve done at least 12-15 marathons with my father and have never been to Boston without him. Running has really brought us together, but we’ve been on some amazing trips as a result,” stated Funk.
One of the most amazing trips they took happened in 2000 when they went to the Grand Canyon. It was long and tough, but at the same time, one of the most beautiful places she’d ever been.
“That was about 50 miles total, including 22,000 feet in elevation change. We stopped along the way and snacked. We also took a ton of pictures as some of the views were simply spectacular,” she recalled.
Jennifer’s first marathon was at Kiawah Island in 1999. It’s been a family tradition for many years and it’s relatively flat, so it was a great place to begin.
“My father runs it every year and just did it again a few weeks ago at age 78. I was too slow to be competitive in the half-marathon and I was full of doubt that I could even go the distance. My sisters were there too and that added more pressure.
“I remember a really strong head wind that day, but Dad encouraged me. It was an out-and-back course, so we were able to see each other along the way. I do remember that the post-race food was good,” she remembered after finishing with a very respectable time of 3:52.
Another memorable marathon trip took place in 2010 when the family signed up for Big Sur in California.
“My husband Marc agreed to do it before I did, but that was the year after Dad had prostate cancer. The view was gorgeous and those waves crashing on the shore below were unbelievable. And that guy playing the Grand piano was also pretty special.
“I knew that Marc was slower than me so I took one for the team that day and stayed with him. We finished in about 4:30, but that was a great event as well,” Funk said with a smile.
Jennifer’s marathon personal best came at Chickamauga last month when when posted a time of 3:29:07.
It’s not that she was shooting for her best time, but it just sort of worked out that way.
“I never really tried to run fast when I was younger as I’m a world-classed procrastinator. I was on course for a 3:28 in 2012, but my legs turned to lead in the last three miles and I finished with a 3:31.
“This year we did more speed work and longer long runs, so that helped,” she explained.
When asked about her best marathon – not necessarily her fastest – she mentioned Kiawah in 2008 when she had a 3:37.
“That was the first time where everything lined up just right on race day. I didn’t have any doubts that day and I picked up my pace toward the end,” she stated.
Another one of her favorite long runs is an annual event she does with her family near their home in Maryville.
“We call it the pancake run, but we park our cars just outside Cades Cove and run to Gatlinburg. Mom usually meets us at the end with dry clothes, but we eat our weight in pancakes at the end. I’ve done that one at least five times,” Funk said with a laugh.
But for a woman who is deceptively fast on a regular basis, what’s next on the schedule.
“I’ve been having a little problem with my heel, but I’ve already signed up for the Rock-N-Roll Mardi Gras Marathon at New Orleans at the end of January. I have my limits as to what I’ll do, but I still want to do Pikes Peak. And I hope to go back to Grandfather Mountain as I broke four hours there for the first time this year,” she said with pride.
She and Marc are the proud parents of two children – 12-year-old Elizabeth and Liam, who is 9 – so their time is dedicated as much to those two as anything.
Marc has already signed up for Ironman Chattanooga in 2015, but Jennifer hasn’t gone quite that far just yet.
“Triathlons just aren’t my game as I’m afraid of falling off my bike," she stated. "But I still do some local races.
“Running has become a very important part of my life as it’s a way I can relate to my father. These days, I run because I want to and not because of pressure from someone else.
“Running is my outlet and time I have to myself. It’s just something for me.
Jennifer is one of those dedicated folks who get up early, get their workouts done before dawn, work a full day before going home to fulfil family responsibilities.
Running is just one of those activities she can fit in almost any time and any place.
She has gotten much closer to members of her own family as a result of her running. And that in itself is a good reason to keep going.
(This is the 43rd in a series of runners in the Chattanooga area. If you know someone who might make an interesting story, email John Hunt at nomarathonmoose@comcast.net)