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Darryell Randle is the Chief Technology Officer of Black Men Run and a former Head Captain of the Detroit chapter. A lifelong athlete, Darryell’s early years were filled with sports, including baseball, basketball, tennis, and golf. His journey into running began in his early twenties after a diagnosis of hypertension, leading him to start with a simple walking program that evolved into light jogging and then to a full commitment to wellness. This commitment culminated in his first race, the Race for the Cure 5K in Downtown Detroit, which he completed in honor of his late mother, who passed from breast cancer. Although he hadn’t planned on running additional races, the experience sparked a lasting passion, and he has since completed numerous races.

In addition to running, Darryell is an avid cyclist and swimmer, training as a triathlete to maintain peak fitness. To Darryell, Black Men Run is more than an organization—it’s a fraternity and a brotherhood that he deeply values and feels honored to serve.

With over 20 years of experience in IT, Darryell has built a robust career in systems administration and now specializes in application cybersecurity. As an application cybersecurity professional, he focuses on safeguarding digital assets by protecting sensitive data and securing applications, essential for the privacy and security of Black Men Run’s digital platforms. His role as CTO merges his technical skills with his commitment to the running community, as he designs innovative solutions that empower members, protect personal information, and ensure seamless digital engagement. Darryell’s deep understanding of technology and his strategic vision have been pivotal in creating a secure, tech-driven infrastructure that supports the Black Men Run community, helping members to connect, inspire one another, and stay focused on their fitness journeys.

James Hale is currently an Administrative Case Manager at the 11^th Circuit, United States Court of Appeals in Atlanta, Georgia. He has been in several roles with the Court since 1997. While attending Morehouse College, James started a career at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution newspaper and was there for 15 years.

A mentor at heart, James has served in several volunteer endeavors: 10 years as a ‘Big’ in the Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Metro Atlanta, 10 years as a reading mentor in the Everybody Wins reading mentor program, as well as volunteering at the Safehouse Outreach Center.

Before joining Black Men Run, he had three or four 5K races. Since joining Black Men Run’s Atlanta chapter in 2013, he has also served as Captain for the Atlanta chapter for 4.5 years and is currently serving as one of three National Vice-Captains over the organization since 2022. 

As part of the Senior Leadership Team, James serves as Communications Director. In this role, he produces several newsletters throughout the year, articles for the BMR website and he co-hosts a podcast called Black Men Run’s The Healthy Brotherhood Experience. This podcast highlights various men in the organization and covers a variety of topics affecting those men.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/j-t-hale-85198270

BMR Blog

Bryan D. Castleberry presently works as a Powertrain Manufacturing Engineer at Ford Motor Company in Dearborn, Michigan. Over his twenty-one year tenure at Ford, Bryan has worked in various capacities in Product Development / Engineering, Manufacturing, Strategic Project Management, Materials Management, and Supply Chain and Logistics.

Outside of work, Bryan has volunteered in a multitude of servant leadership roles over the years in organizations including the Morehouse College Alumni Association – Detroit Chapter, Southfield Public Schools STEM Advisory Board, National Society of Black Engineers, Empowered Young Men (EYM), United Way Detroit Leadership Next, and Empowerment Church. In addition to volunteering in his local community, Bryan enjoys physical activities such as running, cycling, and yoga as well as cooking, reading, mentoring, and listening to music. Bryan served as the Founding Captain of the Black Men Run – Detroit chapter, but now serves as Chief Operating Officer and Director of Strategic Partnerships for Black Men Run, the largest African American male, long-distance running group in the country. Along with serving in his capacity with Black Men Run, Bryan is an advocate for improving health outcomes for people of color and looks forward to sharing his experiences with Hypertension and Bell’s Palsy with the larger community.

Bryan holds two Bachelor of Science degrees in Industrial Engineering and General Science from Georgia Institute of Technology and Morehouse College, respectively. He currently resides in the metro-Detroit area of Michigan with his wife, Princess, and two children, Edward and Christopher.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryancastleberry

https://www.facebook.com/bcastleb

Alan L. Noel is a seasoned Certified Public Accountant who has been licensed in New Jersey since 1986. Over the course of his career, Alan has held notable positions including Auditor & Tax Supervisor for Coopers & Lybrand (now Price Waterhouse Coopers), Tax Director for Hunter Douglas, a leading global window coverings manufacturer, and Senior Tax Manager for Mitchell Titus, the largest minority-controlled accounting firm in the U.S. Today, he runs a small CPA practice in South Orange, NJ, where he provides tax and accounting services to small businesses, nonprofits, churches, and individual clients.

Alan earned his bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with an Accounting Concentration from Monmouth University in West Long Branch, NJ. Health-conscious by nature, he spent years strength training at the gym before discovering his love for running. Alan began his running journey in October 2013 at the age of 53 by completing his first 5K with his daughter, and he hasn’t looked back since. His favorite race distance is the marathon (26.2 miles), and he has a personal goal of running at least one marathon in as many states as possible.

In November 2015, Alan became the founding Captain of the North New Jersey Chapter of Black Men Run. He currently serves as the CFO-Treasurer of Black Men Run, Inc., helping to support the organization’s mission.

Outside of running and work, Alan is deeply involved in his community. He served as a Deacon at the First Baptist Church of South Orange, NJ, and has served on the boards of various community-based nonprofits. Additionally, he has coached a local Pop Warner youth football team and mentored young Black college students aspiring to become CPAs.

Alan has been married to his college sweetheart, Patricia, since January 1983. Together, they have two children and four grandchildren. Alan also enjoys spending time in the kitchen, where he cooks specialty dishes and explores new recipes.

Edward is a multifaceted entrepreneur, passionate about both physical and digital realms. As the visionary co-founder of Black Men Run and BMR Foundation, he has pioneered a movement empowering African American men to prioritize their health and wellness through running.

Edward understood the pressing need for initiatives that fostered physical fitness and camaraderie among men of color. Driven by his own experiences and a desire to create positive change, he established Black Men Run  as a platform for solidarity, support, and shared achievement. Under his leadership, the organization has grown exponentially, touching the lives of countless individuals and inspiring communities nationwide.

Beyond his commitment to health advocacy, Edward Walton is also a seasoned cybersecurity professional. With a keen understanding of the importance of safeguarding digital infrastructure, he has dedicated himself to the protection of sensitive information and the prevention of cyber threats. His career in cybersecurity has spanned over 20 years, during which he has honed his expertise in risk assessment, network security, and incident response.

Edward’s unique blend of entrepreneurship and cybersecurity expertise positions him as a dynamic leader at the intersection of technology and wellness. Whether he’s empowering individuals to lead healthier lives or fortifying digital defenses, Edward remains steadfast in his commitment to making a positive impact on the world around him.

Jason L. Russell is the co-founder of Black Men Run who was born and raised in Memphis, TN. At an early age Jason took to sports under the tutelage of his father, James Russell who is an active runner and community servant. Jason’s first love was basketball and he spent many days and nights shooting hoops with his neighborhood friends in the backyard of his childhood home. Jason played on local recreation teams in his youth and always understand the benefits of a healthy lifestyle.

Jason discovered running from his fathers who was one of the few black men in Memphis is in 70’s and 80’s to take running seriously as a sport and form of recreation. Jason remembers his first real race being on May 2, 1987 as a part of a Fun Run for the annual Memphis in May events. After that first race Jason understood what all the fuss was about. There was a shared sense of comradery amongst the runners throughout the race. Even then Jason noticed a lack of youth and diversity on the race course.

When Jason moved to Atlanta to obtain his MBA from Clark Atlanta university, he was once again hit by the running bug and noticed something very interesting and that was the lack of African American men that were participating in distance races around the city. The few men that he did see seemed to have no comradery and did not seem to know each other. He quickly had a conversation with his co-worker and friend Mr. Edward Walton who had recently coached Jason on completing his first 10k on the Silver Comet trail in Atlanta. Both men understood the need to create an organization where black men could train together but also have an avenue to fellowship so they launched Black Men Run and created what we know today as the Healthy Brotherhood.

Since the creation the organization has been featured prominently in Men’s Health and Runner’s World magazine along with numerous television appearances by member’s recruiting for others to join the Healthy Brotherhood and to spread the message.

In 2017, Jason suffered a massive stoke and a ruptured brain aneurysm that left required months of rehabilitation and recovery and in a wheelchair. Thankfully, Jason is back running today and has become an advocate for stoke awareness and recovery along being an active fundraiser for the American Heart Association. He thinks that his health prior to the injury aided in his being able to walk and run again. Jason’s 16-year-old son Miles is a soccer player and was league MVP his sophomore year and enjoys road racing like his grandfather, father, and uncle.

Jason believes that Black Men Run has the capability to transform countless lives promoting a tangible sense of health and wellness physically and mentality throughout the African American community.