Need some "Turkey Trot" inspiration? We sat down with Ridgefield resident and Immaculate High School senior, Jenna Gasparrini who was just named one of the top ten runners in all of New England,. Find out what fuels Jenna to go the extra mile.
You are one of the top 10 runners in all of New England - 5 states! How did you accomplish this?
I ran a lot over the summer so I came into the season with a strong base and throughout the season I had a lot of teammates to motivate me during workouts and runs. On race day I put myself in a good position from the start and let everyone else push me to a good finish.
Did the All New England's race play out as you had expected?
For the most part, yes, I expected the race to go out really fast and be very tight for the first half mile or so before spreading out. I was caught in a lot of traffic in the beginning and I had to work my way up before settling into a position.
Clearly, running is more than a sport to you, it’s a way of life. Tell me about what running means to you.
Running is something that I've come to appreciate more and more over the past few years. It gives me confidence, whenever I finish a run I feel like I can do anything. Also, it has introduced me to an amazing community and I've been able to meet a lot of like-minded people.
How do you prepare for a race?
I prepare for a race by doing some sort of light run the day before, getting to bed early, having a nutritious pre-race meal and running through the course in my mind.
What do you think of when you are running a race?
I'm not really sure what I think of, I think I just focus on the section of the course I'm running and take each separate part when it comes.
Tell me about your running future. Do you want to run in college?
I would like to run in college, though I'm not sure where I'm going yet!
You are part of a large family. Did that inspire you to be the runner you are today?
Yes, my mom's passion for running helped me to develop a similar passion. And my older brother ran for ten seasons in high school and that helped me to be more open to starting cross country in the first place.
Will you run the Turkey Trot in Tarrywile?
I will be running on Thanksgiving morning, but in Ridgefield! Good luck to all those running the Officer Donald Hassiak Turkey Trot in Tarrywile Park!