2019 Pub2Pub Ambassador Jenny Wickham training with children Holly and Josh

Local northern beaches mum, Jenny Wickham, has been appointed as the final Ambassador for the 2019 Pub2Pub Charity Fun Run & Festival.

Jenny has always been a runner… well at least since the age of 18. In fact, she’s always loved all sports. “At school I played every sport on offer”, says Jen who has now been a P.E. Teacher at Stella Maris College in Manly for some 17 years. She’s also married to a P.E. Teacher.

Jenny is a member of the renowned Sydney Striders running group and has run distances in competition ranging from 3,000 metres to full marathons. She and her husband have four children aged 9-19, all of whom share their parents’ love of sport and their mum’s passion for running in particular.  The younger kids compete in cross country events for Sydney Striders Juniors.

Jenny is presented as Female Winner of Pub2Pub 2017 13km event

This year Jenny will be competing in her “14^th or 15^th“Pub2Pub – (it’s hard to keep track when you’ve done so many). She’s already won the main event, “8 or 9 of the times I’ve run”. Most recently, Jenny has won the 13km Dee Why to Newport event in 2008, 2010, 2011 and 2017. In 2019 at age 44, she’s out to regain her title.

Jenny’s a little different from other runners. “After finishing university and starting full time work, I found less time to fit in all the team sports I played, so I started to run each day to keep fit. A few years later I was badly injured in a car accident and was told I would probably never run competitively again. That’s when I realised how much running meant to me and I was determined to prove the doctors wrong. My running sort of went from there.”

Since that time, among many other achievements, Jenny has become a three-time winner of the NSW Half Marathon and was crowned Australian Marathon Champion in 2004. In 2008 she ran her Personal Best time for the marathon of 2 hours, 48 minutes and 22 seconds. In 2012, at 37 years of age, Jenny claimed the prestigious Athletics NSW Female Distance Runner of the Year award. She had to win the last race of the season – the NSW Marathon – to win the title and duly delivered. (The lady can run!)

“I love the Pub2Pub”, says Jenny. “I’ve run a lot of events both here and overseas, but nothing has the community feel of the Pub2Pub. And yet with the beach start and hills it’s still a very challenging course… though the beautiful scenery makes it somewhat easier.

“I also love the way it raises so much money for many worthy charities while teaching young runners like my kids the importance of leading a healthy lifestyle and being part of their local community. And the atmosphere along the way is always great too, with spectators cheering you on.”

Jenny will add to her long list of Pub2Pub appearances this year, with her two eldest children (daughters aged 19 and 17) likely to join her in the 13km event. Her two younger children (14 and 9) will probably run the 6km event with their dad, so the 25^th of August will be very much a case of ‘the family that runs together, has fun together’ for these guys.

“I’d definitely encourage all local mums to take part in the Pub2Pub. The time spent training and the run itself is real ‘my time’ and all the mums out there will know how important that is. Every day is so busy, but running gives me the time to just put everything in perspective. I can get out of bed with so many things on my mind, yet they’re all pretty much sorted in my head by the time I get home!

“I also love the positive influence that my running has had on my family. Seriously, get your kids involved. Running teaches them so many life lessons… and with its three course options from 3 to 13km, the Pub2Pub is perfect for families with kids of all ages.”