Runner’s World+ Member: Terry Mann
Terry is a Runner’s World+ member. Join him 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 live a much healthier lifestyle. I eat healthier, because I don’t want to spoil a hard run with a lot of bad food. I rarely get sick, and when I do, I’m not sick very long. I sleep better, my weight and blood pressure are better, I have more energy, and overall I’m just a happier person. I’ve also had a positive effect on people around me. I inspired my wife to begin running, and my daughter, who cried when she saw me finish my first marathon, now runs marathons with me. There is absolutely nothing like running a marathon with your daughter.
To get better! I’m no elite runner—I’m constantly on the lookout for ways to improve my running and my race times. I’m always curious about other runners’ training plans, and I dive deep into the Runners World website every morning. I’m inspired by other runners’ stories and causes, and I use that for motivation.
I started running when I turned 50, entirely for health and longevity. But, within just a few weeks, I grew to love it. Now I hate to miss a run. It’s my opportunity to escape the office, and to get in tune with myself, physically, emotionally and mentally. It’s very zen—almost meditative. I gather my thoughts, mentally compose to-do lists and calendars. Oftentimes I pray. Oftentimes I talk to my Dad, who I lost to a heart attack 30 years ago. More recently I talk to my cousin, who I lost to cancer last year. It’s cleansing and therapeutic. And then, the endorphins kick in!
I’m a born and raised Southerner, so heat and humidity are in my blood. My best 10K ever was in 104 degrees. I’m a lawyer, so my time is often very limited, but when I can find the time, I occasionally run twice a day on weekends, or cross train in the morning and run in the afternoon. I always run with my beloved Garmin. I can’t imagine even running to the foot of my driveway without it.
My favorite place to run is a greenway just south of Nashville, known as the Brentwood Greenway. Lots of tree canopy, enough hills to keep my legs strong, and many animals. The Greenway is large enough to be able to stick to areas with better tree canopies on days with a hard rain, or hilly areas when I need hill work. It’s rare that I don’t see deer, but I also see raccoons, chipmunks, mink, hummingbirds and more. Once I saw a family of miniature albino deer. And once a young deer ran side by side with me for nearly a mile, under his mother’s attentive eye. What a treat!
To keep running marathons until I’m 65, and to keep running until I’m 100.
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