Bloomfield Woman Overcomes Eating Disorder With Joy Of Running

BLOOMFIELD, NJ — Holding “pasta parties” with homeless teens from Newark is just one way that Bloomfield running enthusiast Jacqueline Murphy is giving back to the Essex County community. But it’s also one of the most poetic, considering that she’s personally struggled with an eating disorder in the past.

In April, Murphy will be taking on the iconic Boston Marathon as a member of Hyland’s Community Builder team.

Murphy, a school counselor and marathon enthusiast, was named to the team after she started a running group for homeless teens in Newark. She’s also been a huge advocate for the sport and the camaraderie it inspires.

• See related article: Tears, Smiles For NJ Running Buddies At Marathon

Murphy’s interest in long-distance running started after college, as she struggled to recover from an eating disorder.

“Running became a great way for me to build my self-esteem and also a time for me to reflect on my thoughts,” Murphy said. “It teaches you this ‘I can do it and I won’t give up’ attitude.”

“It saved me,” the former Verona resident emphasized.

Murphy’s passion for running only grew; she’s conquered five marathons and 27 half-marathons. But it’s the sport’s close-knit community that moved her to take the leap into advocacy, she said.

“I know there's a need very close to where I live,” Murphy recently wrote. “There are people who are on the streets. There are people who are looking for homes. There are people who have lost a lot of faith. And I've seen how faith can come back to us in running. Sometimes we just need a community to help us see the best parts of ourselves.”

She’s since helped to spread “the power of running” by volunteering with numerous clubs, including Girls on the Run New Jersey, New York Road Runners’ Run for the Future and Team for Kids, the MS Society (NYC), Achilles International, Covenant House, and Back on My Feet NYC, an organization that empowers people who have experienced homelessness or addictions.

Murphy said she first became aware of the need for a running community while working at Covenant House, a Newark-based shelter for homeless teens.

“I would go for a run after work or sometimes on my lunch hour, and a few of the residents asked if they could run with me,” she recalled. “Another staff member and I decided to start a running group. Homeless teens who had never run before all of a sudden had a goal. Several of them were from rival gangs, overweight, had health issues, or were fighting addictions and other battles – but they would show up religiously to run.”

Kids that didn’t have family members became each other’s brothers and sisters, she remembered with fondness.

“I was so moved to watch them run their first 5K and cheer each other across the finish line,” Murphy said.

Murphy has coordinated community donations of shoes, apparel, bibs, and pasta parties so that the teens can continue to train and run races. But she hopes to do much more. Her ultimate goal is to start a running organization in New Jersey and teach others to tap into the same strength she’s found in the sport.

So far, she’s off to a good start.

Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com

Don’t forget to visit the Patch Bloomfield Facebook page. Learn more about posting announcements or events to your local Patch site. Sign up for Patch email newsletters.