Jocelyn is a lifetime Athens native but spent her childhood weekends in Hiawassee, Georgia where she traveled to see her grandparents and enjoyed playing in the North Georgia Mountains. As a teenager, she attended and graduated from Clarke Central where she was a member of the Cross Country team. Jocelyn admits to not being very fast but she enjoyed and appreciated the camaraderie with team members. Her love for running was initiated during this period but she did not have the reward of personal accomplishments.
;)
Jocelyn’s education continued at the University of Georgia where she achieved Honors status and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in social science education. During her collegiate career, Jocelyn was a counselor at Rock Eagle and Wahsega 4-H Centers. Her running during these stints consisted of running to the cottages, hollering for recreation activities and hiking.
Jocelyn taught middle school for five years before returning to UGA earning a Master’s in Social Science Education degree acquired attending night classes. During this busy period in her life, she started entering Athens area 5K races. Like many of us, Jocelyn suffered from pre registration anxiety-if you registered for a race you show up! She enjoyed the Saturday morning races and their different routes through Athens. Jocelyn found racing acquaintances that transitioned into friends. Running and participating in the race series became like “supportive team”.
Jocelyn married husband Ryan, a firefighter, who got the hots for her.;)
She completed her Educational Specialist degree in School Leadership Administration from North Georgia. She currently teaches at Winder Barrow High School where she devotes extra curriculum time to coaching the cheerleading squad. When Ryan is occupied Jocelyn enjoys knitting, playing with her miniature schnauzer Roxie and serves as an advisor to her college sorority, the Delta Zeta chapter at UGA.
Running has become a constant in her life and she feels “out of balance without running with her friends”. She relishes her accomplishment of completing the Chicago Marathon with the Darius Goes West running group. Jocelyn’s favorite races include the Elberton Granite Bowl Twilight Stroll and the Naples Florida Half Marathon. Jocelyn doesn’t know her PRs but she is always “happy and feels good at the end of a race”. Jocelyn states that she appreciates the running community for “their gracious spirit and loving hearts.” She is also “delighted to stand on the starting line with them every chance she gets”.
;)
Jocelyn finished first in the competitive 30-34 female age group in the Clover Glove Race series and third in her age group in the Black Bag Race series.
Bob checking out from the back of the pack. Look for the profiles of retired but not yet exhausted UGA professor Bill Davis and Pine Mountain’s pride Barbara Nasworthy.