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MEMBER OF THE MONTH - AUGUST 2020

JENNIFER KOZAK

(Jennifer pictured here with her husband, Jay, and children, Winter & William.)

How did you hear about Pacifica Runners?

I was looking for local races having just moved to Pacifica and found the St. Patrick Day's race (2016). I didn't hesitate to become a member!

How long have you been a runner?

It has been on and off, but I would say I started to run more seriously around 2012. I took some time off to have my two kids in 2015 and 2018. Now I'm consistently back at it, thankfully!

How did you get into running?

It isn't quite clear. I had always done a few runs here and there through college/grad school without much regularity. Then I did my PostDoc in Boston which was obviously riddled with serious runners. I think their drive rubbed off on me. I'm also a sucker for a training plan so when Garmin and RunKeeper came out with theirs I started training for the Nike Women's Half Marathon in 2014 and never looked back.

Do you have a favorite race(s)?

Probably the Nike Women's Half that I ran in 2014. It was my first big race. Also, incidentally it is my half PR! I also have a soft spot for the Lululemon Seawheeze Half Marathon in Vancouver, which is a city I lived in for almost 10 years. I love going back. This year it was obviously cancelled so I'll be running it virtually on August 15th.

What are your favorite running trails/routes?

The Hazelnut Trail is my favorite local spot. When I'm trying to keep the heart rate down, anything along the ocean either in Pacifica or Half Moon Bay.

What are your future running goals?

I'm still trying to beat my pre-kid half marathon PR! I'd also like to try my first marathon. I'm signed up for CIM as my first this upcoming December, but I can't imagine it will happen. I'm going to train like it will but then maybe wait to find another one post-pandemic.

What do you enjoy most about Pacifica Runners?

I seriously love all the events that are put on, from the races to the clinics, and the group runs. I still have one kid in diapers so all the times haven't worked for me to join many of them, but I really hope to participate in more in the future!

Any other cool info about yourself?

I'm Canadian and grew up in a small mountain town in BC (most serious skiers will know it). I love backcountry skiing in the winter. So much that we named our daughter Winter. She is born in July. :) Summer sports I love include windsurfing, surfing, and mountain biking. I wish there were more hours in the day to do all the things!

Previous Members Of The Month:

July 2020 - Katharine Xiao

June 2020 - Michelle Forshner

May 2020 - Vicki Zettler

April 2020 - Max Esquivel

March 2020 - Lucy Chow

February 2020 - Tamar & Sage Powell

January 2020 - Pamela Garfield-Jaeger

December 2019 - Rolf Heimes

November 2019 - Pacifica Resource Center

October 2019 - Kevin Reese

September 2019 - Olga Munoz