Homemade marathon: Jill Pearson finishes in 4 hours 39 minutes.
By Tom Peterson
“I had to remind myself that I was not dying or crying,” said Jill Pearson after crossing the finish line in her homemade marathon on Saturday morning. The 29-year-old high school teacher said running the 26.2 miles was her way of celebrating her birthday that occurred several weeks ago.
Fellow Teacher Mary Jo Commerford cheered her on from her bicycle that she packed with water bottles for Pearson.
Brother Grant hung a medal around his sister's neck after she broke the tape at 908 E. 7th Street. Her official time: 4 hours, 39 minutes.
Pearson was scheduled to run the Newport, Oregon, marathon, but it was cancelled. She did not let a little pandemic get in the way of her marathon. She started it this morning at 6:30 a.m. Her parents Becky and Swede Pearson used Dry Hollow Elementary colors to build Jill a balloon arch to start from. Go Vikings!
What do you have for breakfast before a 26.2 mile run? Coffee, a banana and cereal. Pearson was joined by Mandi Fritz-Gustafson Williams for the first several miles of the run this morning. She was also joined by Mairéad Beane Kelly for several miles.
Pearson finished the run, running. She was able to stand and converse but was exhausted.
“I started out a little too fast,” she said. “I was running with two good runners in Mandi and Mairéad.”
A head wind on Highway 30 also knocked her back some but she made it to the turning point, a painted rock on the side of the road placed there by she and Grant. And determination delivered her to the finish line where she was met with cheers and an Otter Pop from a neighbor’s child.
She also ran with a personalized shirt with the names of The Dalles High School track and cross country athletes written on it.
“Today would have been the state meet for track,” she said.
And then, there was this. The original marathon was originally about 25 miles, Pearson said. However. 1.2 miles was later added on when the Olympic Games were held in London in 1908, and the Royals wanted their children to see the finish from their nursery, which was in front of Windsor Castle. Thus the 26.2 mile race has been ever since. It’s good when your marathon runner is also well equipped in history and humanities.
Hey, Jill Pearson, now that you have completed The Dalles marathon, what are you going to do next?
“I’m going to learn how to swim and do a triathlon.”
Here is the route Pearson is running this morning, May 30
Becky Pearson takes a photo of her daughter and son at the finish line.
No other medal like it. Pearson’s run was a personal challenge with built in family trinkets, balloons and finish line.
Names of The Dalles High School Cross Country and Track athletes and coaches adorned Pearson’s running T. Today was slated for the State Track meet.
