Mt. Lebanon woman running 24 hours for COVID-19 relief fund
Jillian Stephey started running to get in shape for her wedding, which was held at Lake Como in Italy nine years ago.
Since the birth of her children, Jonathan, 5, and Tommy, 2, the Mt. Lebanon resident may have lost some speed, but not her motivation.
At 4 p.m. Oct. 10, she will run a 24-hour marathon to raise money for her church’s COVID-19 Response Fund. The event begins and ends at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, located at 1066 Washington Road.
“Running can be a very selfish thing because of all the miles and time it takes but I realized there are things bigger than myself,” she said. “Through running I can fulfill my purpose on earth, which is to try and help others.”
During the coronavirus pandemic, Stephey realized others were hurting and in need. She said her awareness stemmed in part from “reading the news” because she did not know anybody directly impacted by the coronavirus until she connected with one of her running friends.
Kelley Forestell operates East End Community Center in Uniontown. Her husband, Julio Palma, is an ultra marathoner. He recently completed a similar fundraiser by running 110 miles in a 24-hour period.
“He’s amazing. Much more accomplished than I,” Stephey said.
Stephey said she has been “touched” by the impact of COVID-19.
“The pandemic has resulted in widespread loss and suffering. People have lost jobs. They don’t have child care. They can’t afford food. The people most impacted did not have a safety net to begin with,” Stephey said.
St. Paul’s created the response fund to provide food and security to local organizations such as South Hills Food Pantry, Trinity Walk-In Clinic, St. John’s food program, Casa San Jose, Hello Neighbor, Jubilee Kitchen, Meals on Wheels at the Crossroads, Shepherd’s Heart and Family Promise. So far, the COVID-19 Fund has provided more than $30,000 in donations to meet the needs of the most vulnerable neighbors.
“Church provides a great community,” said Stephey, who has been a member for three years, “but what really spoke to me was the amount of outreach St. Paul’s does.”
“To put it plainly, many children, including those in local communities, are hungry,” she continued. “Imagining the distress of these families pulls on my heart.”
To prepare for her run, Stephey has logged approximately 50 miles a week. On weekends, she completes back-to-back long runs, covering as much as 24 miles Saturdays then perhaps 14 Sundays.
She has mapped out a 10-mile loop that runs through Mt. Lebanon and Robb Hollow Park, which features some of her favorite trails.
“I’ve never done a 24-hour continuous run before so I don’t have a philosophy on this,” she said.
Stephey, does however, have a game plan.
She hopes to cover 100 kilometers or 62 miles. She intends to walks at some point, most likely on the uphills. Additionally, there is method to her madness regarding the timing of the event.
“I am a little nervous about running in the dark so I am doing that first while I am the freshest. Mentally, that will help too because the sun will be coming up. I want to be finishing while it’s light,” she said.
Stephey knows preparation is the key to success. She has learned from previous runs.
After competing in her first half-marathon in 2012, she started focusing on longer distance events because she lost a step or two because of pregnancies. Stephey has participated in three 50-kilometer events since.
“My parents think (running ultra-marathons) is nuts,” said the 35-year-old daughter of Tom Stephey and Wendy Long.
During her first ultra-marathon, a race around the Grand Canyon, Stephey admitted to being “woefully” unprepared, particularly regarding training and nutrition.
“I finished but it was tough,” she said. “I cried.”
Still, Stephey persisted because she’s passionate about running and traversing trails.
“It’s very interesting and I love to push myself,” she said.
“After my first race, there was nothing like the feeling. I don’t know how I keep going but you keep going. If you keep going long enough something happens and things get easier. You can stay in pain for quite a while but typically it gets easier.”
Running is easiest when Stephey reflects on her religion and family.
“I always feel closest to God when I am running in the woods by myself,” she said. “It’s so quiet and peaceful.”
Tranquilty flows from within Stephey said her friend, Beth Kelly.
“Jill is one of the best people I’ve ever met,” Kelly said. “She has a pure heart.”