December 31, 2008 - Jennifer the female ran 5K today!

history was made as i participated in the Resolution 5K Run today, my first running event registered as a female. it was a very slow and gentle run on account of me being just 14 days removed from major surgery, but it went well. no major concerns. i clocked in at about 36.40, which really isn't too bad given that i was essentially running with a limp.

there was a little social event afterwards where i got to chat with a few local runners i haven't seen for a while.

earlier in the day, i visited the duckies and video taped them running around the pond, check it out:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W964M9cupdk&feature=channel_page

happy new year!
Jennifer

December 30, 2008 - Impromptu Run

and for the record, i ran 1.6k today. i was late for a meeting and ended up running from office to office.. the run was actually a good one. the wound was not aggravated. i think the bleeding has finally stopped. i'm going to give it a go in the 5K tomorrow. even if it is a slow jog, that's better than walking the Resolution 'Run'

Jennifer

December 30, 2008 - the official year in review stats!

Ahh, i love stats and i love self-promotion. here's a review of some of my key running stats and running milestones, as well as some 2009 goals:

Month total running km / net annual running km

Jan 126.30 / 126.30

Feb 114.50 / 240.80

Mar 299.50 / 540.30

April 317.10 / 857.40

May 347.00 / 1204.00

June 352.60 / 1556.60

July 415.40 / 1972.00

Aug 572.80 / 2566.80

Sept 325.40 / 2892.20

Oct 300.90 / 3193.10

Nov 241.90 / 3435.00

December 176.60 / 3611.60 km (includes my anticipated 5k tomorrow!)

# of days in which i ran 42.2k or more: 33

most consecutive days running 42.2k or more: 4 (Aug 7-10) the infamous Quadzilla!

training - ultra calendar days: (days in which i ran more than 42.2k)

05/18/08 sun 52.80 km

05/31/08 sat 46.40 km

06/01/08 sun 53.60 km

07/01/08 tue 85.00 km

08/01/08 fri 42.70 km

08/02/08 sat 58.80 km

10/03/08 fri 44.10 km

24 hour periods which i ran 55k or more:

05/31/08 - 06/01/08 55.80 km run within 24 hours

07/01/08 - 07/01/08 85.00 km run within 13.52 hours

08/02/08 - 08/03/08 80.50 km run within 24 hours

08/07/08 - 08/08/08 69.20 km run within 22.30 hours

10/03/08 - 10/04/08 60.00 km run within 24 hours

multiple day training runs of significance:

08/07/08 - 08/10/08: 168.80 km

(4 marathon equivalents: 17 hours of running within 77 hours)

08/01/08 - 08/10/08: 329.40 km

(equivalent of 7.5 marathons + in 9.5 days!)

Official Marathons:

05/11/08 Mississauga Marathon (Mississauga, ON)

3.19.0606/08/08 Eastern Marathon (Portugal Cove, NL) 3.22.16

06/15/08 Johnny Miles Marathon (New Glasgow, NS) 3.43.10

07/20/08 Massey Ontario Marathon 3.16.59 (Personal Best and Boston Qualifier!)

09/14/08 Newfoundland Marathon (St. John's, NL) 3.36.16

09/27/08 Akron Ohio Marathon 3.50.05

09/28/08 Toronto Waterfront Marathon 3.42.26

Claim to Fame:

Unofficially, the only Newfoundlander and only out Transsexual in world history to complete 2 marathons in 2 countries in 2 days! (note i was 7 minutes faster on day two!)

2009 goals:

- use running as a way to get my weight down below 160 pounds, and keep it below 160 pounds for the rest of my life!

- training run of 126.6k in a 24 hour period, at least once!

- training runs of 42.2k seven days in a row, at some point.- run more than 5000k in the calendar year

- run 10 official marathons

- run 4 official marathons in 4 different states within 9 days - likely to occur as follows: Charlottesville 4/18/08, Boston 4/20/08, Louisville 04/25/08, Toledo 04/26/08 - still working out the logistics for this trip. i hope it happens!

- use my status as a marathon-running transsexual as a way to promote positive education, awareness, and acceptance among society regarding transsexualism

....you'll notice no time-oriented goals here. As i transition from male to female, my strength speed and endurance has taken a hit, and will continue to fall as i get deeper into estrogen therapy; therefore, it is essentially impossible to gain a clear understanding of time expectations. once i have fully transitioned, i will be able to start setting time goals again!

December 29, 2008 - Glass City Marathon Accepts Jennifer as a female!

Over the holiday season, i decided to get in touch with race directors of several marathons for which i might consider running in 2009. One of which was the Glass City Marathon in Toledo, Ohio for April 26/09.

The race director has agreed to let me participate as a female, but with the understanding that i will wave my rights to accept female awards (not that i would likely win one anyway). This is exactly what i was hoping to get. I consider this a huge victory and a precedent which i hope will lead to future acceptances elsewhere.

Attached is a thread of my e-mail request, and the response i received from the race director.

---------------------------

Jennifer,
Yes, we would allow any transgender to participate in our events. However, due to software limitations, we are required to enter a value for sex; either Male or Female. My recommendation for you would to enter under the female category as this is ultimately your goal. Should you fall in place of any awards we will pass the award to the next recipient. We look forward to seeing you in April, and good luck with your marathon challenge!

Clint McCormick
Race Director

-----Original Message-----

From: Jennifer McCreath Sent: Tuesday, December 23, 2008 8:41 PMTo: racedirector@glasscitymarathon.orgSubject: Glass City Marathon - transgendered athlete policy?

Dear Mr Clint McCormick,

i am a transgendered athlete who is currently in the process of transitioning from male to female.
i just recently had part one of two sex reassignment surgeries performed (bilateral orchiectomy), so i am technically neither 100% male nor 100% female at the moment (i haven't had full vaginoplasty yet)..

i'd love to run the Glass City Marathon this year as part of a mega marathon challenge (i am planning to run 4 marathons in 9 days this April, including Boston).

it could reasonably be argued that it would be unfair for me to register and compete against males or females, given my current status of transitioning. from that standpoint, i do not have any natural testosterone flowing thru my body, but i have been taking estrogen pills on a daily basis for several months, simulating female levels. running for me isn't about competing against others, it's about me running for myself and to prove that transgendered people are capable of being great athletes. i don't even care whether or not i would be eligible to win awards for age/sex categories. i'd just like to get the t-shirt and finishers medal like everyone else!

would you consider allowing a registration and participation for me without assigning me to an official sex category? (either put me in a 3rd sex category, or leave it as undefined/unclassified?)
Jennifer

December 28, 2008 - longer run!

well, i couldn't help myself. i went for three separate short runs today over to the pond and to the Running Room. i registered for the Resolution Run for Dec 31, a 5k Run that is not technically a race. the big news is that the Running Room has sanctioned me in the female category. Even if i have to walk this 5k, due to my surgery, it is important for me to participate as i would love to be able to claim to have completed at least one official event as a female!

the other runs were over to the pond to see the duckies. most of the pond was frozen over but there is a small patch that doesn't freeze due to a stream flowing in. this is where the duckies hang out. there were about 60 of them today! overall, i ran 7.5k but i think i opened up my wound a bit more as there was a little bleeding. i will not be running again until Dec 31 as a precautionary measure.

Jennifer

December 27, 2008 - back home

just got back in town after a few days visiting family over christmas. first time in 6 trips that my flights to and from Newfoundland were not delayed or diverted due to weather issues. amazing planning on my part... lol

i am now on day 10 since the surgery and i went out for a light 2k jog to test my mobility. things are still awkward down there. but it is my hopes to participate in the Running Room's Resolution Run on Dec 31, a 5k informal jaunt around the pond. i've asked them to consider accepting my registration without a sex marker and they have yet to respond. must be on an extra long Christmas break!

Jennifer

December 25, 2008 - Thumbing your nose?

yes the thumb is still sore. it has now been 12 days since the injury. i am convinced it is a partially torn ligament that really should require imobilization for 4-6 weeks. my fear is that the legament may be completely torn and requires surgery. i am going to follow up with my doctor after the christmas holiday.

the joke all along was that "you know something's wrong with your thumb if that's the major focus of you r cocnerns just hours after having an orchi!"

no running today. but a nice walk outside. won't be running tomorrow either. want to make sure this orchi wound heals properly. won't run until there have been 3 days in a row with no bleeding.

Jennifer