Jennifer-Lynn Schneider, 30, a recovering drug and alcohol addict, has used running and exercise to chase a new kind of high: the runner’s high. Qualifying for the Boston Marathon at last year's Waterloo Marathon was a dream come true.
Over the last few weeks, she had been training hard covering 100 kilometres each week during the most intense part of her training for the marathon on April 18.
Everything changed in an instant last Friday when Schneider was struck by a car while riding her bicycle.
“I saw the car coming, and then I tried to brake, and that’s all I remember,” said Schneider, who noted that accident happened on Gordon Street, near Waterloo and Wellington at approximately 3 p.m. “I’ve been training for about a year now for the marathon, and I was doing really good in my training lately.”
“I obviously had a concussion, bruising on my body, twelve stitches on my face, but luckily no broken bones,” confirmed Schneider. She remembers one of the police officers telling her about the severity of the accident. “The officer told me I could have died.” She remembers regaining consciousness while in the ambulance, just a couple minutes away from the hospital.
For now, her training has been put on hold. But Schneider is eager to get back to running as soon as she can. “Right now I can’t run, for at least a week. My leg is still stiff,” said the marathoner, who also works as a personal support worker. “It’s killing me not being able to run, but I am so thankful for the community support.”
Schneider is no stranger to injury. While running her first marathon, where she qualified for the Boston Marathon, she injured herself at the half-way point. “I found out later that I had a stress fracture,” she said. During that race, Schneider was the first woman to cross the finish line, and clocked in at 3 hours 29 minutes and 34 seconds.
Impressive for a women who two years ago was homeless.
Schneider had been previously diagnosed with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder and has struggled with addiction throughout her adulthood. A popular face in the downtown community, Schneider's success in running and facing her personal demons is a story of hope, and proof that with the right support, addiction and poverty can be overcome.
Schneider said achieving her dreams would have never been possible without the help and support of the community, most notably Hope House. “They have been a huge support, before the accident and after too,” she said.
Although it’s been a tough road, the challenges have never stopped her. She views the recent accident as one more bump in the road and refuses to let it stop or hinder her from her goal.
“I will run Boston. I’ll limp across the finish line if I have to,” she laughed.
There are many supporters in Guelph who will likely cheer her on, whether she’s racing or limping her way to the finish line. The week following they will have a chance to cheer her on once more. "I’m doing back-to-back marathons,” said Schneider, noting she will be returning to the Waterloo Marathon, where her success story began.
“I’m so blessed to have this community,” said a thankful Schneider.
