Runner’s World+ Member: T.J. Bryan
T.J. is a Runner’s World+ member. Join her and thousands of others chasing their goals with day-by-day training plans, expert advice from editors and coaches, and unlimited digital access. We regularly feature members online and in print.
I began in the sport when I was almost 64 years old. Since then, running has added a new dimension to my life. I always run outdoors. In this setting, I have honed my ability to practice mindfulness, an approach that now permeates all aspects of my existence. As a result of running, I have developed an enhanced appreciation of life in general—especially my good fortune to be able to run at my age—and a heightened appreciation of nature’s bounty—especially the chirping birds, scampering squirrels and chipmunks, ambling groundhogs, and burbling streams I encounter regularly.
I joined RW+ so that I may connect with other runners. I enjoy reading about their experiences, and I love being a member of this worldwide community. I am buoyed by other runners’ grit, their determination, and their successes.
Running centers me. As an older person, I might be expected to be sitting, but I run at least four days each week. As I move along, I keep despair at bay, and I deepen my appreciation for what I have and what I have accomplished during my existence. I am also a competitive person by nature. I push myself to win age-group awards and to qualify for Boston (thus far, I have qualified for Boston in eight of ten marathons). I have been injured, but I have worked with physical therapists and chiropractors and returned to the sport. Most recently, I broke a toe while running and shortly thereafter suffered a pelvic injury tied to overuse. Thus far, I have begun from square one five times. I will follow this pattern again and again for as long as I can.
I run in two places most of the time. I run on the Northern Central Rail Trail, an approximately 40-mile route that begins in northern Maryland and ends in central Pennsylvania. Alongside the trail, wildflowers, streams, squirrels, chipmunks, and a tuxedo cat always under the same tree are among the sights. Much of the trail is fairly flat, but the sections where I run include two steady hills about a mile long each. Often, as I run, I encounter regulars who are biking or walking or running. Since I run solo usually, the presence of these people is comforting. Also, I run on the streets of my hilly town. When I run in this setting, I encounter people who have become acquaintances or friends. These neighbors may be tending their flowers or raking leaves. If I stop for a minute to remove my jacket or for some other reason, occasionally, some of them tease me because I am not running.
When I train and race, I wear two watches—currently a Garmin Forerunner 230 on my left wrist and a Garmin Forerunner 645 Music on my right wrist. I began this practice almost four years ago after the band of my Garmin 310XT watch became disconnected from the watch face and the pieces fell onto the ground at the start of the 2016 Boston Marathon. From that time on, I decided to run with a backup watch.
I wrote a book titled Saving Myself One Step at a Time: A Running Memoir (2020) that captures my running experiences thus far. I hope to add many more chapters to my running story as the years pass.
I want to run my eleventh marathon. I qualified for the 2021 Boston Marathon and hope that my application will be accepted whenever the race is run.
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