THEIR STORY
Judiann and Marcus Jones’ story began online and came to life over their first date at Huey’s, which is still a sentimental favorite 15 years later. Married for 13 of those years, they’ve built a full and joyful life together in Memphis, raising three children ages nine, six, and three, alongside an ever-growing menagerie of fish, shrimp, and lizards. Between work, parenting, and packed schedules, they cherish simple moments together, like a nice dinner and people-watching.
PATHS TO FITNESS
Judiann’s fitness journey began nearly 17 years ago, when she moved to Memphis and started running local 5Ks, eventually working her way up to half marathons. After having children, she shifted toward a more sustainable form of movement, discovering reformer Pilates at Club Pilates and Hot Pilates at Sana Yoga. For the past four and a half years, Pilates has been a near-daily practice for Judiann, supporting both her physical and mental well-being. This year, she’s setting her sights on returning to running alongside her Pilates routine.
Around the time he met Judiann, Marcus began running and steadily increased his mileage. With guidance from his best friend and running coach, Derek Morgan, Marcus trained for and completed his first marathon at the Rocket City Marathon in 2014, followed by two more. Running has remained his primary form of exercise ever since.
STRENGTHS & ACCOMPLISHMENTS
With three young children, much of their daily movement happens organically through chasing kids, biking, and walking around Germantown or Shelby Farms, and spending summer days at the pool. Still, they are intentional about supporting each other’s routines. Judiann often takes on the morning chaos so Marcus can get his run in before work, while Marcus helps her stay on track to make it to her Pilates classes on time.
They deeply admire one another’s consistency. Marcus praises Judiann’s dedication to movement while balancing being a parent and her career as a clinical psychologist and owner of Insight Behavioral Wellness. Judiann calls Marcus her rock and appreciates that his commitment to running allows him to show up fully as a partner and role model for their children.
Their accomplishments speak to their consistency. Judiann has completed over 1,000 reformer Pilates classes in four years, while Marcus has qualified for the Boston Marathon, a milestone he hopes to one day run.
GOALS & ADVICE
The couple has found success and progress through consistency, which they have discovered supports both their physical and emotional health. Looking ahead, Judiann aims to reach 1,250 Pilates classes and also return to running, while Marcus plans to average five hours of running per week. Together, they’re committed to staying active and setting a lifelong example for their kids.
By Zoe Harrison
Photo by Tindall Stephens
