At 361°, we know that the most powerful running stories aren’t just about finish lines or fast times, they’re about the people behind them. The moments of resilience, heart, and courage that push someone to go One Degree Beyond, even when life gets hard.
Jennifer Romanowski is one of those runners. A mother, entrepreneur, and 361° ambassador, she turned her own challenges into purpose. In this interview, she shares how the Heartbeat Ultra was born and how running became her way to inspire change, one step and one heart at a time.
How did your running journey begin?
My running journey started in childhood when I was more or less forced to join my running-enthusiast mom on her jogs. Much later, running became my way to find balance, to clear my head, stay fit, and tire out my hyperactive dog.
How has it changed since becoming a mom?
Since becoming a mom, running has taken on a whole new meaning. It’s become my therapy, my space to breathe and recharge. Especially as the mother of a child with a severe heart and lung condition, running is my anchor to stay strong. What started as a sport has turned into a passion that connects, inspires, and carries me. Today, it’s not only my job – it’s my calling.
What helps you to stay consistent when life gets chaotic?
Honestly, chaos is my normal.
That’s exactly why I need running, it’s the one moment that truly belongs to me. Every run resets my mind. It’s not about discipline, it’s about self-care. When I run, I’m calmer, more balanced, and simply a better version of myself - for me, for my kids, for everyone around me.
What inspired you to create the Heartbeat Ultra, and what makes it so special?
The Heartbeat Ultra was born out of a moment of crisis. My son was born with half a heart, and the past years have been a constant mix of hospitals, fear, and hope. Running has always given me the strength to keep going.
One day, we faced a life-threatening situation that might not have happened if communication between doctors, hospitals, and countries had been better. I wanted to raise awareness and support research. I’m not great at many things but I can run, far and long. So I decided to run for donations, supporting Fontanherzen e.V., a charity improving care for children with congenital heart defects.
When I told other runners about it, many wanted to join but couldn’t run the planned 112 km (which symbolizes the German emergency number).
I wanted everyone to be able to help, so I created the Heartbeat Ultra: a charity run on a 6 km loop, where endurance, willpower, and compassion come together to support children with half a heart and their families.
How does this mission shape the atmosphere of the event for participants?
What makes this run so special is the atmosphere, you can feel that nobody runs just for themselves. There’s a unique energy in the air during Heartbeat Ultra. Every step carries meaning. Some of the children and families affected even run themselves, including people with disabilities or blindness. It gives you goosebumps. Every lap feels like a gesture of solidarity, a tribute to all the little fighters who can’t run themselves. It’s not about winning, it’s about feeling. About community. About hope.
361° stands for “One Degree Beyond.” What does that mindset mean to you?
“One Degree Beyond” describes me pretty well. Everyone who knows me says: "Jenny is always a bit extra".
And yes, that can be exhausting for the people around me. But that little bit “too much” is exactly what brings people together for a good cause. That one extra degree inspires others. It also pushes me out of my comfort zone and helps me keep performing, even as a single mom, a full-time entrepreneur, and an athlete.
It’s that extra 1 percent you give when your legs are tired but your heart is still on fire. As a runner, it means pushing through when it hurts. As an organizer, it means answering emails at 3 a.m. because you know it matters. That one extra degree, that’s where the magic happens.
What would you tell runners, parents, or anyone chasing big goals to help them find their own “One Degree Beyond”?
Don’t wait for the perfect moment, if you feel that spark, go for it!
Start with what you have, right where you are. Progress is rarely pretty, but it’s always powerful. Whether you’re training for your first ultra or taking five quiet minutes for yourself as a parent, every small step counts.
Change happens the moment you stop doubting and start doing. Go one degree beyond, not to prove anything to others, but to discover what’s truly inside you.
Fulfillment comes through acceptance or change. Once you understand that, that’s when the real shift happens.
Join and Support the Movement
You can connect with Jenny, join the Heartbeat Ultra Virtual Challenge and if you’d like to support the cause, you can make a donation. Every click, share, and step helps move hearts forward. ❤️
