Running Past Adversity

A beautiful run through the pines of Prescott, Arizona and Jolene Jones was sure her shortness of breath was due to running in the much thinner air of this mile high city.  The sharp pain preventing her from sleeping the next day led her to believe it could be more serious. Jolene didn’t know what was wrong, she couldn’t breathe, her doctors prescribed anti-inflammatory medication and she worried that she may have a broken rib or a strained muscle. However, a CAT Scan would point to something much more serious – Pulmonary Embolism – or blood clots in her lungs, not only affecting her breathing, but her body’s ability to transport life giving oxygen.

In just three short days after her Prescott run, she would be on oxygen and blood thinners fighting off blood clots that had invaded her lungs due to prescribed medications.  Jolene would spend the next three weeks almost in a daze, very lethargic, with daily trips to the doctor followed by oxygen and almost constant sleeping.

So begins Jolene’s New Year 2009, a scary episode in the life of this vibrant, active and determined young Tucson woman.  Leaving her to think what no 27-year-old should ever have to consider, “I don’t want to die, it’s not supposed to be like this.”

Surrounded by friends and family, Jolene could see the look of concern on their faces.  She tries to avoid it, but it seems everywhere she turns, there is another story of someone like her, someone that didn’t make it. But Jolene has a unique outlook on life, much older than her 28 years.  She does not shy away from letting you know she has faced many challenges in her life, but is proud that this does not define her in any way.  “It gives me a good perspective and I wouldn’t change any of it” she says. 

Slowly the oxygen and blood thinners begin to work.  She begins to walk with friends, but is still concerned that a blood clot may find its way to her heart or brain.  Six weeks after Prescott, she returns to work full time.  A clear CAT scan in April gives her hope, but does not erase the fear of running, of taking those first tentative steps.  Encouraged by her running partners in The Workout Group, Jolene does take that first step.  Later that month, she decides to run in her first race.  She runs the whole way and finishes.  Paced by her Workout Group friends, two more races follow in May, each faster and stronger than the last.  As her health improves, Jolene begins to think “what if…?”

Jolene began running several years ago to stay in shape, running fast was never the plan, “never on the radar” she says.  By June she is feeling as strong as ever.  The thought comes back, “what if…?”  She decides to go for it, tweaking her diet, adding miles to her weekly total.  By July she is running 40 miles a week, slim and feeling stronger than ever. Many of us didn’t see much of Jolene in the summer, but rumors were flying as reports of Jolene getting stronger and faster filtered in.  “Jolene is running 60 miles a week!”, “I ran with Jolene and she wasn’t even breathing hard”, “Jolene ran a 6:20 mile at the track meet”.  Each report always accompanied by a sense of awe and admiration.

Jolene set her sights on the 40^th Annual Saguaro National Park Race this past Labor Day.  She wants to run fast, but is unsure as the weight of her own expectations and those she perceives from her friends and family overwhelm her. “I’ve never been so nervous before,” she says.  To add to her jitters, Jolene has been selected as the recipient of the Southern Arizona Roadrunners’ Rob Bell Award.  Given to a local runner that embodies the spirit and the passion for running, the award memorializes local runner Rob Bell who passed away in 1999.  The jitters come because the recipient is announced at the Saguaro race to the crowd of 800 runners at the starting line.

Jolene after her race in September 2009

Jolene’s race day goes by in a daze; she finishes the race in just over 61:00, on the hilly, eight-mile, gut wrenching course, far and away a personal best.  Then she's on to the official presentation of the Rob Bell Award from Rob’s family and past recipients.  Plaques, gifts, crowd recognition, all seem to go by in a blur. She reflects on her journey a few days later, “This has been the best year ever.  As crappy as some things have been, I have a real appreciation for what I’ve accomplished.”

So do we Jolene, so do we.

Oh yeah - Jolene took first in her competitive 25-29 age group…by nearly a minute.  But in reality, she has already accomplished much, much more than that.  She has her dreams back.

Edited September 10, 2021: I didn't edit this story as it ran on the TucsonCitizen.com page in 2009. But you should know that Jolene is married, has an awesome kid named Sophie and lives in Tucson. She is getting ready to open The IceBox in St. Philips Plaza in November 2021. It makes her friends happy that she is happy. ~ TB

What it Takes To Run a Race...

[caption id="attachment_46" align="alignleft" width="150" caption="The sun is not up as Gary Denny places water at Sagauro National Park"][/caption]

People start arriving for the 40th Annual Saguaro National Monument Race a little after 3 a.m. on Monday morning, Labor Day.  And no, they’re not there to get a head start on ‘running’ the race, they are there to volunteer to help the race ‘run’ smoothly. It’s pitch black, the full moon casts a blue haze across the desert.  Now it’s easy to understand The Moody Blues poem at the end of Days of Future Passed - “Cold hearted orb, rules the night, removes the colors from our sight…”, but I date myself.  From the light of lanterns, flashlights and bicycle headlights, volunteers are taking last minute  registrations, looking up names, handing out t-shirts and pointing people to the Porta-Potties (nearly 20 in the area). More than 800 people are pre-registered, and another 100 or so will sign up the morning of the race.  Their needs are many, including race bibs (and safety pins to hold the bibs), t-shirts, race information, mileage signs, post race snacks and my job today: delivering water to the aid stations along the course.








Gary Denny is a past board member and SAR president, he no longer runs due to aching knees, but helps set up and tear down the water stations each year.  Race Director Randy Accetta gives us the  formula for calculating the amount of water each runner will need throughout the race, “6 oz. per runner, taking into account the heat, number of cups and the amount of ice, etc, etc. etc.” Let’s just say it is A LOT. Gary and I take the loaned moving truck with all the requirements for 4 aid stations: 2000 gallons of water, 12 coolers, 4,000 cups, 4 tables, 4 trash cans and 4 rakes.  If the truck breaks down, we could survive for weeks in the desert, plus our little oasis would be both tidy and well manicured.

[caption id="attachment_48" align="alignleft" width="150" caption="Sahuaro HS Super Heroes handed out water"][/caption]

The Sahuaro and Santa Rita High School XC teams each run a water station.  The Sahuaro team gets into it and goes Superhero mode, wearing capes, masks and sporting superhero monikers.  To many of the runners, they will be superheroes, handing water to passing runners, ensuring none spills before it is either gulped down or tossed on the racers head.  I realize the rakes are to help collect the cups that runners will discard like leaves in the road as they zoom by. Probably a lesson learned in one of the previous 39 renditions of this race.

Back at race central, many of the registration volunteers excuse themselves to prepare for the race, as most are pulling double duty, volunteering AND racing.  Meaning they arrive much earlier than other racers, assist them with their needs and then move on to the race. I am smart, having elected to volunteer, and then volunteer some more.

Saguaro is a loop course, meaning once you begin, the only way to get back to the Ranger Station is to keep moving through the 8-mile course.  This makes communication a challenge, as cell phones are spotty at best.  The amateur ham radio club brings their crew out, calling in race splits, runner’s progress and alerting emergency personnel in

[caption id="attachment_47" align="alignright" width="150" caption="The Pima Cross Country Team timed the race"][/caption]

case of problems. Along with the Pima Cross Country team timing the race, the Park Rangers directing traffic and random people generously lending a hand, 800 runners get through the course and have a great experience.

So at your next race remember, running the race is the easy part, actually ‘running” a race takes 100s of volunteers, support teams and donated time.  Be sure to say thanks to the volunteer across the table, maybe next time they’ll let you operate the rake.