Local teacher to run in 50th anniversary “BMW Berlin Marathon”

COLUMBIA, SC (WOLO) — An elementary school teacher here in the Midlands will soon participate in her 17th marathon — and this one is all the way in Berlin, Germany!

Jennifer Lybrand has been a teacher now for 16 years, currently educating 4th graders at Meadowfield Elementary School.

“It’s so much fun when they come in and they’re so excited to still learn at this age, and so you’re just fostering that love and just nurturing them and getting to know them and they each have so many different personalities and it’s just truly a joy,” she says.

Another joy of Lybrand’s? Running!

Having been an avid runner now for 18 years, she says she’s competed in hundreds of races across Boston, Chicago, and Hilton Head — keeping all of her medals from previous races in her classroom as a way to motivate and inspire her young students.

And likewise, the students, she says, help keep her accountable.

“So we have these healthy discussions about goal setting and how you can’t be a winner every time but you feel like you win because you’re meeting your goals, so we talk about goal setting, so it’s a really good segue in how to goal set and set high standards for yourself. So we share that, they’re very invested in my running and so excited to hear about this experience so there’s an app called ClassDoJo, so I’ll be able to post pictures while I’m away and they’re already looking forward to that and asking me if I’m gonna post to that,” she says.

On Wednesday, Lybrand will travel to Berlin, Germany where she’ll compete in the 50th anniversary of the “BMW Berlin Marathon” — making this her 17th marathon but first outside of the U.S.

“So I’m just excited to experience another culture and bring it back and talk with my kids; we’ve had some discussion about Berlin. They’re going to write some narrative stories about me when I’m gone, so they’re gonna do those things when I’m back,” she says.

Lybrand has been training since June — alternating short and long runs to build stamina, and typically running six days a week.

While she’s running she says she doesn’t listen to music, instead preferring to take in the sights and sounds along the way.

“Exploring somewhere new and seeing all these amazing landmarks we get to run through, it’s just gonna be a very inspiring experience and just seeing your hard work pay off, it’s just an amazing feeling when you cross that finish line,” Lybrand says.

The “BMW Berlin Marathon” will take place this Sunday, September 29th.