Celebrating Resilience: Antoinette Jones and Her Inspiring Journey Through Valley City

Maryland runner, Antoinette Jones, celebrates resilience during the Bill Jansen Road Race.

This year, the Bill Jansen Memorial Road Race had the honor of welcoming a truly inspiring participant: Antoinette Jones. Antoinette, a dedicated nurse living in Maryland, has spent over 35 years in healthcare. Her personal story is interwoven with profound experiences of loss and resilience, including the passing of her grandfather, aunt, and father to cancer, and her mother’s kidney transplant.

“In 2020 as we all struggled with the pandemic, I had my own cancer scare and it stopped me in my tracks. Thankfully God had a different plan and what was believed to be cancer was benign but It gave me pause and served as a reminder that there is very little that we control, in life, but for those few things that we can control, we should at least try.”

These experiences have fueled her commitment to health and fitness, which she has embraced throughout her life.

In November 2023, to celebrate her milestone 60th birthday, Antoinette set an ambitious goal: to run 60 10K races across the country within a year. Antoinette’s decision to run the Bill Jansen Road Race was influenced by her extensive background as an oncology nurse and her desire to honor the legacy of Bill Jansen.

“I chose this race in part because I saw where the timing worked with my schedule but having spent many years as an oncology nurse and reading about Bill's experience with cancer, I was all for it. I didn't realize the extent of the race in this community until I arrived, and it made me even more pleased that I was able to participate.”

She was touched by the community’s warmth and support, and her experience in Valley City, marked by an unexpected transportation glitch that was resolved through the kindness of strangers, reaffirmed her belief in the goodness of people.

“I left Valley City reassured there are still kind, good people in the world and some of them live right here in Valley City.--without a doubt. I will never forget my time here and would come again.”

Counting the Bill Jansen Road Race, Antoinette has run 39 races in 29 states including Hawaii, New Mexico, Michigan, and California. We are incredibly proud to have been a part of Antoinette’s journey. Her story inspires us to continue fostering a supportive and healthy community, and we hope that her example will encourage others to pursue their goals.

“My advice is to go for it. Most people will cheer you on, some will tease you (if I had a nickel for the times I've heard Run Forest Run) and some won't get it and might throw a little shade your way-- that's all OK because it's not their goal, it's YOURS!

You don't have to have it all sorted out to get started.  I sure didn't. Someone asked me once,  did you win?  I sure did, I said, I crossed the finish line. Each time I complete one it's a win…You have nothing to prove to anyone but yourself. Setting a fitness goal and working toward it, you are honoring yourself and this precious life you've been blessed with.”