NAME: Gregory Brown
Age: 34
Chapter/City: Sacramento
Years w/BMR: 2 months 😅
What started your running journey? A few things, but they all led to better health! A few years ago, I had adverse effects from the COVID vaccine and have since gone through trials of medication. I finally found some stability and can now exercise consistently.
Where do you like to run? It’s still pretty early in my journey, but I enjoy sunrise runs at Garcia Bend along the Sacramento River.
Can you describe a typical week of training for you? I commute four hours a day for work, except on Wednesdays. I do resistance training at work and run on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
What has been your biggest challenge as a runner, and how did you overcome it? Slowing down to speed up. When I started running again, I just wanted to complete a mile as fast as I could. That would leave me unable to run for at least three days! A friend told me to take it slowly and walk if needed. They reminded me that the person who can exercise daily gets stronger faster than someone who works out only twice a week and needs five days to recover. That advice really helped me listen to my body instead of pushing too hard. As I get faster and stronger, I can challenge myself more but not to the point where I’m sidelined for days.
What’s something without which you cannot run? Water!
What keeps you motivated? My wife and children. My wife looks good, and I want to look good too! When my children get older, I want to be able to move and keep up with them.
Do you have a favorite race and/or favorite distance to run? Right now, a 4–5 mile run feels best for me. I did a 6.3-mile trail run recently and I really enjoyed that challenge!
Favorite post-race treat? Watermelon!
Best part about being a member of BMR? The brotherhood. I thought we were just going to run, cheer each other on, and go home. At my first run, an older gentleman passed me when I was tired. I said I needed to walk, and he told me, “Just keep moving.” That stuck with me because it showed he cared about my well-being. In the short time I’ve been with BMR, we’ve shared laughs, broken bread, networked, and even had playdates with our children. Building community isn’t easy, but it’s powerful to always feel welcomed.
