Jen and J.R. Ward

Jen and J.R. Ward of Millsboro, Delaware are the first couple in our Featured Runner series. They run the shore and everywhere else! Read how they met and the astounding number of races they do a year.

When did you each start running?
J.R: J.R. started running the summer before his senior year of college. He started racing after graduation from college and competed in his first 10K.
Jen: I ran track in high school and college as a sprinter. I started running again in 2017 with my first 5k – this was an attempt to get back into shape/get healthy again.

How did you meet?
It was through running. J.R. first noticed “Sweaty Jen” on the deck of the Rusty Rudder on Memorial Day 2018. We shared an award stage together then became friends through racing together. We started dating in November 2019, married in July 2021. We even ran a 5K together the day we got married. 🙂

It seems you run races every weekend. Do you know how many you did last year?
We pretty much do at least one a weekend. Jen completed 87 last year, J.R. completed 57.

Do you always do events together or sometimes do you each do your own races?
All of the above. Sometimes we do races together, and sometimes we do our own thing. There are other times we may be at the same event but do different distances. We have always had an understanding that racing is racing, and we don’t have to “stay together” during a race. We both have our own goals and support each other’s goal, but that doesn’t mean we have run a race exactly together. Most of the time we don’t. 🙂 We have only done one race completely together – the Cherry Blossom Ten Miler. We have done the Tour De Salisbury together over the years, which is our time to really run together/spend time together.

How do you choose your events? Race distance? Location?
We both laughed at this question. There are so many ways; there are four local running organizers that offer events year-round. We live in a race-rich area, so pretty much every weekend we can find something. We also like to travel, and find races in other places when we do travel. We went to Salt Lake City, Utah, for a work conference (Jen) and both signed up for a marathon while there. Jen had originally signed up for the half marathon, but at the expo J.R. decided to sign up for the full marathon so Jen bumped up to the full as well. We have also travelled specifically for the purpose of a race – this is more Jen’s fault :). We recently went to Myrtle Beach and ran the marathon there (again- J.R. signed up for the marathon at the expo :))

J.R., you most recently rucked the Blades 10 Miler in Pocomoke. How heavy was your pack? Why did you start rucking?
J.R.’s pack was 20 pounds that day, however, sometimes he will train with a 45-pound pack, and he has done several 5ks with that weight. J.R. started rucking for cross training. He likes to do a lot of things for cross-training – lift, ride his bike -so it’s a great alternative to running for cross training.

Jen, do you ever join in on rucking?
Yes, I do. We have rucked together for training, and also have participated in some events rucking. We have both rucked the Mike Sterling 10k (separate years) and we did both ruck the Race4Warriors Heavy March Half Marathon together last year.

You two put on so many miles; how do you prevent injury?
Again – laughter. J.R. tried to cross train as much as he can. He listens to his body, and adjusts his training according to how he feels. Jen: I have been fighting through a lot of back issues so I TRY to listen to my body. I also do a lot of cross training and just try to stay as active as I can when injured.

Any running goals for the year?
J.R.: No specific goal. Just to stay healthy
Jen: I also do not have any specific goals. I pretty much “wing it” LOL. I would like to compete in different events in different states and continue to challenge myself.