Category Archives: News

NAME: Terrel White

Age: 38 

Chapter/City: BMR HRVA

Years w/BMR: 4 years

What made you start running? We were in a pandemic, and I was picking up weight and I needed to do something to get myself back to being healthy and active.

What does your training week look like vs a regular week of running? Training weeks for me are my runs increasing and more weight training. Regular weeks are running 2-3 times a week. 

What is your favorite race distance? Half marathons are my favorite distances. Enough distance to empty the tank, but not far enough that I am exhausted. 

Toughest race you ever completed? My virtual Richmond full marathon. I was not trained like I was for my second one. I went out with one other member who was doing 18 miles that day. No real nutrition, it was just tough. I finished, but it was rough.

The worst thing to happen to you during a race? Stopping at a gas station for a Gatorade and not realizing that the race did not stop because I did. Lesson learned, I never let that happen again.

What is something[s] without which you cannot run? My apple watch, I need to see what I am doing. I like it as well because it is my phone too, so if I need to be reached, I can.

What keeps you motivated? Knowing that I am keeping myself healthy and that I am doing this for myself and my family. Running is my quiet time, so I am grateful that I can just have that time to listen to body and God.

Best part about being a member of Black Men Run? The brotherhood. We are more than just a run club, not just a saying. I have been blessed with great brothers out here and I would not have it any other way.

Advice for new runners? Come out! Does not matter how many miles, how slow or how fast. Your race, your pace. We are here to support you, do it with you and just be your biggest support if you need it.

NAME: Delvecchio Parks

Age: 42

Chapter/City: Atlanta

Years w/BMR: 6

What started you running?

Even though I had a background in sprinting with AAU as a kid, I never imagined running anything beyond 100m or 200m. I started running in 2014 while living in Los Angeles. It began to get out of the house as I was becoming too lazy. I needed an exercise regimen, but I grew tired of paying Planet Fitness to not use the gym. I was not a fan of being cooped up in a gym in Los Angeles with such beautiful weather, so I started running at a local park on their gravel track. Fifteen minutes turned to 30 minutes and before I knew it, I was up to about 5 miles before I maxed out. This casual approach to running grew into something much bigger over time becoming a means of therapy for me. It is where I got to relieve stress, meditate, and think through the legal strategies for my cases, or get clear thoughts on other matters.

What does your training week look like vs. your regular week of running?

In the past, I never took running seriously, so I had no routine or training schedule. I had just run when I felt like it. In 2020, I set a goal to run 1,000 miles which made me stick to a regular running routine. The routine was flexible, but I would run 3-4 times a week for 4-6 miles each session to hit a 20-mile weekly goal. Last year, I wanted to increase the distance I could run and my endurance. I set a schedule where I ran three times a week, but each time was 10 miles or an hour and a half. In a regular week with no goals, I still go by how I feel. I may run once, or I may run 30+ miles.

Now that I am training for my first marathon, I stick to the structured schedule provided to me. It calls for 5 runs a week and I adhere to it but listen to my body and take an extra day off if needed.

What is your favorite race distance?

My favorite race distance is the 10k. I can settle into the run and then push myself without worrying about exhausting myself. The time passes quickly since I have become accustomed to running for an hour or more during training.

Toughest race you ever completed?

The toughest race I have completed was the PNC 10-Miler during BMR’s 10th Anniversary in 2023. I ran the 5k for the PNC but was not in the best shape that year because I did not run at all that year until around August. I started running with two of the fastest members from my chapter, which caused me to burn out within the first mile. Between a massive 5-minute hill climb on Northside Drive and shin pain that started around mile 2, I struggled to finish with my poor conditioning. Despite the difficulty, it reignited my motivation to get back to consistent running.

Funniest thing to happen to you during a race?

I have run many races. Before 2024, I had never run more than one race in a year. So, my stories are limited now. The funniest moment I can think of was during a race where a guy pushing a stroller passed my friend and me in the last mile. He came by smirking. My friend said, “we are really going to get beaten by a guy with a baby.” I am not, I told him! I was chasing him for the next mile, and he knew it because he would speed up as soon as I got next to him. I do not think I would have beaten him but for his son dropping sometime on the course. That moment gave me the extra push to finish strong and amused me at the same time.

What is something without which you cannot run?

I cannot run without my running watch to track my data. I also never leave without my ID and credit card, just in case.

What keeps you motivated?

I am a goal fanatic! I like the challenge of pushing myself to accomplish things I never thought I could. That is my biggest motivation. I have set a goal to run in all the major marathons within the next few years so that is what is driving me now.

Best part about being a member of BMR?

The brotherhood is the best part of being a member of (BMR). The group members inspire me with their incredible achievements. I have met some amazing people with fascinating stories. It is not just about running; it is about the camaraderie and support we share.

NAME:   Claude Umuhire

Age: 34

Chapter/City: London, England

Years w/BMR: 2 years

What started you running?

I was introduced to running as a 19-year-old homeless young person. I struggled a lot and went through countless periods of depression, which at its worst led to drug abuse. I was then introduced to running by an organization called The Running Charity, using running as a catalyst to build vulnerable young people’s mental resilience and general life skills. After graduating from the program with TRC, I was no longer homeless and worked as an intern for the UK Civil Service. I was motivated to give back to TRC and the community that changed my life. I volunteered with TRC for 2 years. I have been working with TRC for 10 years and manage the London team supporting young vulnerable people going through similar challenges I faced at their age.

What does your training week look like vs

Your regular week of running?

I am currently about 14 weeks out from the London Marathon this spring. My training is very structured, ensuring I cover all weekly bases, including interval sessions, recovery runs, and long runs. During my normal training weeks with no races, I am a lot more flexible and run based on how I feel, trying to keep the intensity moderate. However, the biggest difference is that I would be in the gym a lot more when I am not deep in training for a race.

What is your favorite race distance?

My favorite distance must be the Half Marathon.

Toughest race you ever completed?

My first marathon was the hardest race, I was completely underprepared and started too fast, suffered through the rest of it but finished, I learned a lot about myself that day.

Funniest thing to happen to you during a race?

I remember starting a marathon and seeing someone dribbling two basketballs. I passed them and thought to myself, “That was the last time I will be seeing them.” 20 miles in, I could hear him getting closer to me with every step until he ran past me at mile twenty-five. I remember laughing, thinking, “How did he even train for this?” 

What is something without which you cannot run?

On solo runs I find that I cannot run without my headphones, music keeps me going on those dark early morning winter-long runs  

What keeps you motivated?

The biggest thing I have taken away from running is the feeling of accomplishment every time I go out for a run, after every run no matter how difficult my life is becoming, I feel like a better person and that keeps me motivated.

The best part about being a member of BMR?

Part of the reason I never took up running when I was younger, although I was an active teen, I never saw myself represented in any running clubs in my city, the sport felt like it wasn’t for me. Being part of a brotherhood of Black men from all backgrounds pushing a positive message about self-betterment I feel privileged to be a part of this community.

NAME: Brian Jones

Age: fifty-eight
 
Chapter/City: Baltimore

Years w/BMR: two

Can you tell us about your running journey and how you got started?

My running journey started in 2016 as a means of recovering from surgery to remove prostate cancer from my body. At that time, I weighed 308 pounds with uncontrolled type two diabetes.

What keeps you motivated? I am motivated by the drastic changes that I have experienced with taking control of my health and knowing that a healthy diet and exercise can assist me with maintaining in remission from cancer. I am also grateful to have another day to run even thought I have three sets of titanium rods and hardware that fuses my cervical spine after three spinal fusion operations.

What is your favorite race distance? The 5k is my favorite distance for now.

Toughest race you ever completed? The Tropical Miami 5K 

What is your approach to nutrition and recovery? As far as nutrition I follow a vegetarian diet and drink a lot of water with freshly squeed citrus fruit juices.  For recovery I use compression boots, massage therapy, stretching and CBD/THC Relief balm.

Funniest thing to happen to you during a race? Running with my son (Jordan) who takes off quickly then when I catch up to him, he takes off again, but he never lets me out of his sight. 

What is something without which you cannot run? My Power Beats Pro (playing my smooth jazz playlist)

Best part about being a member of BMR? The strong brotherhood, the leadership and being a part of an organization that promotes health initiatives, unity and serving our community.