Jenna Dickey, who will pour it on at the ZOOMA 10k for a good cause.
After having been in Colorado Springs for just two short days, 23-year-old Jenna Dickey and 21-year-old Liz Gayer and nine fellow students from The Focus Leadership Institute (FLI), a summer Christian family and marriage program, ran the local two-mile Nielsen Challenge. Four weeks later, the duo has upped the challenge: not only have they wrangled a group of fellow student runners to run the ZOOMA 10k, they’ve also plunged into raising funds for Charity:Water, a nonprofit whose focus is getting clean drinking water to African villages. We caught up with these busy ladies somewhere in between fundraising, training runs and heaps of schoolwork.
How did you each get started running?
Jenna: Two years ago, my mom, who loves to run, called me one summer day out of the blue telling me that she had signed up the entire family for the Turkey Trot 5K so that we could all get in shape. Having never run more than a mile, training for a 5K was a long but rewarding process. It was neat to see the progression of being out of breath after running down the block to being able to run 3.1 miles with ease.
Liz: I started playing soccer–and running–at age 6, and have been playing ever since. I signed on to play soccer at the University of Missouri – Columbia, completing two years there. I have since transferred to NAIA Central Methodist University in Fayette, Missouri. I have one more year of soccer left.
After two days at altitude and a two-mile run, still all smiles.
Why did you choose ZOOMA 10k as a race?
Jenna: When I first found out that I would be coming to Colorado Springs for the summer, I went online and looked for races in the area. This was one of the first ones that came up on my search. From the website and the testimonials from other women, I got the impression that this race was well organized and worth participating in. I also liked the t-shirt design. Everyone in my group is doing the 10k; running a half-marathon is definitely on my bucket list but I don’t think that I’m ready to do that kind of distance yet.
Liz Gayer, whose talents also include running.
What made you select Charity:Water as your cause?
Liz: We found out about the organization through FLI and wanted to help villages in Africa who don’t have close sources of water to drink. Mostly women and children hike 2-3 miles across rough terrain to the source, then return with a container filled with water that is infested with bacteria and germs. Charity:Water is an organization that builds clean water systems for these villages; not only does it decrease the workload for women and children, they also have more time to go to school and can learn a trade to help their family financially.
What are your goals for fundraising and how have you been raising funds?
Liz: Our goal is to build one well, which is equivalent to $5,000. So far, we’ve had a family carnival, put up posters in coffee shops and setting up booths at events and races around the community.
What are your goals for race day?
Jenna: Since I wasn’t prepared for my first 10k race, I walked and ran throughout the entire time. My goal for this race is to run the entire time, even though it will probably be at a snail’s pace.
Liz: I want to finish under 50 minutes.
Coming from sea level, what does it feel like to run at altitude?
Jenna: All of us are coming from sea level; I’m from Michigan and Liz is from Missouri. We’re are better adjusted to the altitude than we were when we first arrived but it is still challenging. The only way that I can describe the two-mile race is by quoting my favorite comedian Brian Regan: “I feel like all of my insides want to be on my outside”.
