Jenna’s marathon year keeps on running

A Dundee University student who has taken on a marathon challenge in memory of her late mother will line up for her 15th today – on the anniversary of her birth.

Jenna Maudlin, who is in her third year studying digital interaction design, had never run further than 10k before this year but decided to pull on her running shoes to pay tribute to her mum Carolyn, who died of breast cancer in 2007.

Having run through a thunderstorm in Helsinki, persisted over 18 miles of hills in Athens and survived the scorching heat in Croatia, Jenna is putting her best feet forward closer to home in Dundee to raise money and awareness for the charity Breast Cancer Care.

Jenna also plans to run her 16th marathon in Pisa, Italy on Sunday before crossing her final finish line of the year in East Anglia on December 30 to fulfil her goal of completing “17 in 17”

Balancing her studies with two jobs and an internship at Dundee clothing brand Dreamland, the 33-year-old will run marathon number 15 in the Santa Run tonight.

She said: “I know it sounds crazy but I’ve loved every minute of it.

“It’s not been easy. In my first marathon I ended up in A&E because my foot had swollen up so badly. But I’ve just kept my head up and kept going.

“My mum always told me I can do anything I wanted to if I put my mind to it and I wanted to prove her right. It’s been an incredible year, I’ve met so many supportive, wonderful people in the running community but it’s not over yet.”

She aims to keep on running in the New Year as she enters her final year at university.

She added: “Actually, I keep meaning to join the Dundee Roadrunners, so hopefully 2018 will be the year I sign up and maybe even take on some ultramarathons.”

To support Jenna’s marathon effort, donate at justgiving.com/ fundraising/17in17

Younger. Picture: Dominic Jenna Maudlin has got the running bug.