When contemplating the recent Christmas holidays, like George Bailey in “It’s A Wonderful Life”, Jill Floyd has concluded that she has had a Wonderful Life…and a wonderful “running” life. Jill was born in Sugar Valley/Calhoun (Gordon County) Georgia. Her parents, Faye and Jim, were both in the textile industry. Her father was employed by a company that made Women’s robes (and sold to companies like Saks, Nordstrom’s, etc.) and her mother was employed in the carpet industry. They were not runners, but they were very active and did a lot of things together as a family. Her father passed in 1996 but Jill’s mother, who is an inspiration to her, is still going strong at 80.
Jill graduated from Calhoun High School in 1981 and then attended Georgia State University, moving to the “big city” at the recommendation of a professor at Dalton College who felt that it was academically a better fit for her. In Atlanta, Jill began walking and a tiny bit of running with my newly found boyfriend Ken (who has been her husband since 1998). After graduation in 1986, Jill became a high school Social Studies/Economics teacher and debate coach at Gordon Central High School. During that time, she put on weight and decided to start running in 1991. Jill lost weight with the goal of participating in the 1992 Peachtree. Her first race in preparation was a hospital race in Calhoun; then came the 1992 Peachtree—her first of many and then the Atlanta Half Marathon.
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Later that summer, Jill ran races in Rome and then Ellijay that were part of the Run and See Georgia Grand Prix series. Jill enjoyed the Grand Prix races and the people she met. She continued to pick up a race or two here and there in different cities as she could. As the fall of 1992 rolled around, school was back in, so that meant less time to run with her debate responsibilities (her team traveled throughout the state and nation to tournaments every weekend). She squeezed in a ten miler and the 1992 Atlanta Thanksgiving Half Marathon.
In 1993, Jill applied to the Japan Teacher and Exchange (JET) Program through the Japanese Consulate in Atlanta and got accepted to go to Japan. Jill lived in Niigata, Japan from 1993 to 1996, living first in Joetsu and teaching in three high schools and then moving to Niigata City in 1994 to work for the Prefectural Board of Education (like the Georgia Department of Education) and coordinating the JET program for the prefecture as well as working with the High School Division in administration. She says “Running was a great thing because my first week in Joetsu, I couldn’t find anything as my Japanese skills were minimal at best. I ran everywhere, one time running round trip 12 miles just to see a friend from New Zealand in a neighboring city and riding a Granny bike (with basket) 50 miles to see another friend. When I moved to Niigata City, the job was much more stressful and there was only one person who spoke English in my office, so running was a great release. Niigata City is still one of my favorite places to run with the Shinano River, Sea of Japan and running paths that surround the city.” Jill ran what was her best 10K time for several years there. Running races in Japan was an experience—the Niigata Half Marathon had only one water stop and women were not allowed to run in the Marathon in 1993—they were allowed in 1994. She ran half marathons and even did one run of about sixteen miles after meeting a Japanese group doing an “ultramarathon”.
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In 1996, Jill returned to the states and completed a Master’s degree at Georgia State in Educational Administration and Instructional Technology. While in school, Jill secured an internship, and worked part-time for the State Department of Education while working other jobs, so her running time came to a halt. In 1998, after graduation Jill was employed by Centurion Systems as an instructional designer building “e-learning” systems for corporations and various agencies. Jill joined the Concourse Athletic Club that was near work and met some great people that helped start her again with her morning runs. In 1998, Jill married Ken and ran the New York City marathon after some arm-twisting from her Concourse exercise friends. Her feet hurt so bad, but she knew she would do another one and did the next year in Chicago. Jill trained a bit more and cutting over 30 minutes off her New York time.
From 2000-2002 her running was sporadic with work being quite hectic. She would run the Atlanta half and other 5 & 10ks, but not very well. However, in 2002, She ran a 10k and noticed that her time had improved, with no change in her training. From 2003-2010, in the 40’s age group, she ran her best times at all distances. Jill’s 5K PR was 23:45, 8K-38:00, 10K 48:00, Half marathon 1:48, and Marathon 3:55 which qualified her for Boston. Jill ran the 2003 New York marathon 1 hours and 20 minutes faster than in 1998, and the 2008 Boston with a cold in 4:09. In 2005, Jill heard about “ultrarunning” on a local sports radio station describing a race in Peachtree City that was eight hours, running around a track at night! She promised her husband she would do about five hours and then call it a day. Eight hours later, Jill had run 43 miles and set the women’s course record. Jill was hooked again and now has run 100+ marathons and ultramarathons, including a 100 miler the black hills of South Dakota in 2008 in 25 hours and 40 minutes. One of her best races ever was a 50 miler she ran in 8 hours 30 minutes, placing her 2nd overall—not just female, but overall in the race (a female won as well). Unlike most of us, Jill loves ultrarunning and trail/off road running to this day!
Late in 2010, Jill had a job change and her running came to a complete halt again. She was working a lot and became burned out. In 2012, she returned to running, but out of shape and slower after finding out she had lingering issues from newly diagnosed scoliosis. Jill alleges that she is still getting her feet back under her, and has run some half marathons, the Georgia Jewel 35 miler twice, a marathon, and a couple of short triathlons. Due to weight gain, being out of shape and just being over 50 (this is nothing, wait until she turns 70), Jill thinks everything is much slower, but that’s fine—She is still doing it! Jill is currently with Shaker Technology Group as a business analyst in tech so she works from home and has flexible hours. Jill decided to fulfill her goal of 1992—to do the Run and See Georgia Grand Prix series. Then she found out there was a Black Bag series and a Clover Glove series! “I’ve truly enjoyed this year, traveling all over the state and meeting so many wonderful people—It truly has been a wonderful year and a wonderful running life!”
Bob checking out from the back of the pack. Look for the profile on Gary Hosmer, and the profile on Victoria Patrick.