This is a very special episode. Tomorrow is my two-year podcast anniversary. It is also the day my mother transitioned from this world due to breast cancer. I wanted to do something positive and meaningful during the midst of COVID and I started this podcast. I thank you so much for listening, a special thank all of my past and future guests. Thanks for all the suggestions, the recommendations. I appreciate all the love. This week’s guest I met shortly after I moved to Chicago. Thanks to Gabrielle Barber who I met in Berlin who told me about Men Run Deez Streets. They were the first group I ran after I moved to the city. Although they were lightning fast, and I am not they were welcoming all the same. Terrance Lyles is my guest this week.
Terrance L. Lyles AKA The Machine, AKA Optimus Prime, is a marathoner, triathlete. Found of Men Run Deez Street.. His father is Bernard Lyles, a previous guest on this show. Terrance has completed over 30 marathons, 50-mile ultra-marathon and more recently a half IornMan distance race, 70.3 triathlon.
After Terrance witnessed so many women of Black Girls Run taking on the sport, he became inspired to recruit men from social media to start his own club. Terrance’s goal was to bring more black men into marathons. He formed Men Run Deez Streets (MRDS) in 2013. He uses every opportunity to promote health and fitness through running.
Episode Highlights:
Terrance in the midst of a life crisis started running as a coping mechanism.
Terrance pays tribute to his dad, Bernard Lyles, who inspired him to run.
Some memorable marathons, the good and the bad.
Terrance talks about his 50-mile ultra-marathon.
How Men Run Deez Streets (MRDS) came to be.
Terrance’s first triathlon .
Terrance talks about some obstacles he’s faced and what drives him.
Terrance shares some final words of inspiration.
Guest Bio
Terrance L. Lyles, “The Machine” AKA “OPTIMUS PRIME” was born and raised in the streets of Chicago. He attended Neal F. Simeon High School and later attended Southern Illinois University Carbondale where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering Technology. He returned to Chicago to pursue a career in engineering and has worked in state and city government for over 20 years. He is currently employed as a Senior Project Manager for the Chicago Transit Authority leading multi-million-dollar infrastructure projects.
Terrance began his running experience in 2006 after having many personal and financial issues. He believed that he needed something to keep his mind off of stress and needed a positive outlet. Knowing that his father, Bernard Lyles, was an avid runner, he consulted him and was advised to join the Maxfitness Marathon Training Program led by Coach Rudy Christian. Terrance trained for his first Chicago Marathon that year and completed it with a time of 4:07:28. This is when he developed the passion for running. Terrance went on to complete over 30 marathons in various cities that includes Detroit, Indianapolis, Miami, Little Rock, Atlanta, St. Louis, New Orleans, and overseas in Negril, Jamaica and Berlin, Germany. He has also completed a 50-mile Ultra-Marathon in Chicago, and most recently, an Ironman 70.3 triathlon.
With many years of accomplishments and a continued passion for running, Terrance became inspired to help bring more men of color into the sport. After witnessing many women of Black Girls Run taking on the sport, he became inspired to recruit men from social media to start hisown club. With the many urban and professional men that reached back to him, Men Run Deez Streets (MRDS) was born in 2013. From there, he has helped train many men, and even women, to become long-distance runners and half marathon/marathon finishers. Terrance is a Road Runners Club of America (RRCA) Certified Adult Distance Running Coach. He is also an avid cyclist and swimmer.
Terrance believes in helping people become their best selves. He is passionate about volunteering in the community for charity events and he is an advocate for social justice. He is dedicated to bringing about change to the community and helping others become healthier by running.
He lives by and adheres to a famous quote: “Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world” – Harriet Tubman.
Valerie Tyler is one of my former coaches. She taught me how to swim and how to overcome my fear of the deep end of the pool. A self-proclaimed tomboy, Valerie has been active all her life but she only got into running at the age of 50 on a dare.
Over the next 20 years, Valerie has run thirty-five marathons qualifying for the Boston Marathon four times. She also started competing in triathlons, also on a dare. After she learned how to swim, she started with sprint triathlons. She progressed to the Olympic distance, 70.3 distance and ultimately to the full ironman 140.6 distance. She even podiumed after placing second in her age group at IronMan Chattanooga.
Currently, Valerie focuses on coaching other athletes wanting to promote good health to the next generation. Her business partner is Coach Mo, who was a previous guest. She also helped start the Southside CARA (Chicago Area Runners Association).
Her favorite mantras are;
(1) Keep It Moving and stay active.
(2) If I can set an example for a healthy lifestyle, my work is done!
(3) Be bold and live life to the fullest in love, health, spirit, family, and friends!!!!
(4) You can choose to be healthy and fit…it’s a choice!
Valerie becomes a triathlon athlete, again, on a dare.
Some memories and tips from her experience competing in triathlons.
Valerie is challenging herself in an endurance swim- Big Shoulders.
She talks about her coaching journey.
Valerie shares some final words of inspiration.
Guest Bio
Growing up as a tomboy competing with her older brother, Valerie was always active physically. She played baseball, climbed trees, participated in tag races, played monkey bars, participated in long jumps along with mud biking, and on and on. Then she transitioned to African dance, ballet, and jazz in between, tennis, roller skating, skiing, and aerobic classes. She has always been active, always competing, and always challenging herself.
Fast forward to many years later, she was dared to run a marathon at the age of 50. Valerie really found her groove….so for the next 20 years, she ran 35 marathons all over the world and more half marathons than she can count. During that period, she also was approached by Chicago Area Runners Association (CARA) to build a south side base leaving from LaRabida Hospital. So under pressure, Valerie founded that running group and built it up to sixty plus marathon members. During those 5 years of being the ‘Site Coordinator’ for CARA South Side, she qualified for the Boston Marathon 4 times, and led the 9:30 and 10-minute Pace Groups.
Valerie was dared to race in Triathlons at the age of 52. Over the years, she has participated in many sprints, Olympics, Half Ironman, and 1 Full Ironman. She learned to swim, earned her Life Savers Certification, and began coaching swim lessons with Chicago Blue Dolphins. Her first Ironman at the age of 67 was in Chattanooga, and she placed 2nd in her age group behind a woman that had done 9 and this was her 10th competition. What a proud moment to be on the Podium and invited to Kona! However, she was one and done. Ironman training was by far the most difficult, challenging, and mentally draining experience she had ever done. She was exhausted but exhilarated enough for a lifetime.
In the past few years, Valerie has retired from Corporate America and earned certifications in Yoga, Personal Training, Fitness Training, and Nutritional Training. (She primarily follows a vegetarian diet with an emphasis on protein). She founded her own company, VTFit, 7 years ago and now teaches strength training on Zoom 5X a week with a base of approximately 60 students, most of whom have been with her for more than 3 years. She has received numerous first and second-place age group awards and hundreds of medals from racing events of all types.
As she moves into her senior years, Valerie feels the desire to extend herself and her energies into motivating and training the next generation. She was blessed to have an amazing racing career, and she wants to see more ‘people of color’ pushing the envelope and representing the US in marathons and triathlons around the world. So, she continues to train – coaching swimming and track under the guidance of her stellar coach, Mo Wills, of Infinity Multisport. This game is about ‘getting comfortable with being uncomfortable’ – his favorite saying.
Her favorite mantras are;
(1) Keep It Moving and stay active.
(2) If I can set an example for a healthy lifestyle, my work is done!
(3) Be bold and live life to the fullest in love, health, spirit, family, and friends!!!!
(4) You can choose to be healthy and fit…it’s a choice!
Today the focus will not be on post-race recovery, but on post-surgery and post-injury recovery. I have received many questions regarding rehab and physical therapy related to my latest surgery and I will attempt to answer them in this episode as well as give an update on my own recovery journey.
I have had a plethora of injuries in my running and triathlon career as well as some from ski racing. I have had plantar fasciitis, meniscal tear, tendonitis, iliotibial friction band syndrome etc. I have had surgeries as a result of some of these injuries and the most recent one was in April 2022. It was a microfracture surgery to address a cartilage knee injury. I am still recovering from this injury.
I had another knee surgery in 2020 on my knee for a partial ACL tear, cartilage injury and a meniscus tear. I found that I still could not get back to running at full force as there was still some pain. I got a second opinion and the MRI showed a cartilage defect. I took the risk to have another surgery to address the defect in my cartilage in 2022. Surgery is always a risk and one should do a thorough risk benefit ratio before proceeding. I decided to take the risk because I love running for so many reasons. One is the high I get from it, another is the health benefits of running, and last but not least is the community of people.
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After the surgery, I had to be on crutches for six weeks. I was lucky that the injury was on a part of my knee that is not load-bearing and so I could put some weight on my toes versus being non-weight bearing. I have learned that rehab is not a linear progression. Everyday is not necessarily better than the day before the goal is steady and progressive improvement.
Episode Highlights:
Some of my past injuries.
My most recent injury and surgery.
Why I took the risk and had a second surgery on my knee.
My journey of rehab and recovery.
Some lessons from my journey.
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Shauna Anderson is a Mechanical engineer and mathematician who has taught for 25 years in the United States, Ethiopia and Taiwan. She is a a graduate of an HBCU, Howard University. She obtained a master’s degree from Harvard University. Shauna considers herself a citizen of the world having visited forty-seven countries and with the full intention of seeing more.
Not only has Shauna completed all of the six major world marathons, but also, run a marathon on all seven continents. She has also completed a triathlon, actually with only four days of training.
She has run twenty full marathons, thirty-one half marathons, bungee jumped in New Zealand, and driven herself 10,000 miles across the United States among many other adventures.
Her motto in life is a quote by Eric Thomas: “When you die, die on “E”…leave no dream left behind…leave no opportunity behind! Accomplish everything you can.”
Episode Highlights:
How Shauna started running .
Shauna’s first marathon – Boston Marathon.
Some memorable marathons, the best and worst of her experience.
The Antarctica marathon.
Shauna experience bungee jumping
Shauna shares her bucket list.
Shauna shares some of her wisdom she has obtained over the years.
Guest Bio
Shauna Anderson is a mathematics teacher of 25 years who has taught in the U.S., Ethiopia, and Thailand. She has completed the world marathon majors and a full marathon on all seven continents. She did her first ever triathlon with four days’ notice just last year and spontaneously bungee jumped while in New Zealand, one of the 47 countries she has visited. She considers herself to be a citizen of the world. Her motto in life is a quote by Eric Thomas: “When you die, die on “E”…leave no dream left behind…leave no opportunity behind! Accomplish everything you can.”
Liz Yerly has been my physical therapist since 2014. I initially saw her with plantar fasciitis but she has since seen me for a plethora of other injuries as well as post-surgery. She sees many endurance athletes and has a world-class facility. I enjoy working with her because she challenges me and keeps me from getting bored. She also uses a variety of methods to help me reach my goals.
Besides being a physical therapist, Liz also is a certified athletic trainer and massage therapist. She teaches her clients the best ways to avoid injuries. She sees many common orthopaedic injuries, including overuse injuries, and post-surgery patients. Liz has a vast knowledge of biomechanics, which allows her to examine athletes’ movement patterns and resolve dysfunction to help decrease injury and improve performance.
Liz developed the Chicago recovery room. In order to be seen there, clients don’t need a prescription. The recovery room has compression boots, and ice baths, and they do a lot of education for athletes at all levels. She tries to work with clients who may not be able to afford therapy due to no insurance and those that may have issues with their insurance. Her goal is to provide access to as many people as she can
“I believe as physical therapists we have the unique ability to provide a missing piece in the healthcare spectrum. I want to be a resource for athletes and patients during all aspects of their care, whether for injury rehabilitation, preventative maintenance, or performance enhancements. We offer a skill set that should be utilized on a continuum that will ultimately result in overall improved function and continued wellness over time,” Liz Yerly
Education
Marquette University, Bachelor of Psychology
Marquette University, Masters of Physical Therapy
Certifications
Certified Athletic Trainer
Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist
Full Body Certified in Active Release Technique
Licensed Massage Therapist
Certified Graston Technique
Professional Interests
A licensed practitioner in physical therapy, athletic training, massage therapy and personal training, Liz offers a unique perspective on injury prevention, maintenance, and rehabilitation of her patients and athletes. Liz has experience treating everyone from the collegiate athlete to the weekend warrior. She also sees many common orthopaedic injuries, including post-surgical patients and overuse injuries common in endurance sports. She has a vast knowledge of biomechanics which allows her to examine patient/athlete movement patterns and resolve dysfunctions to help decrease injury and improve performance.
Liz provides individualized, hands-on patient care with a focus on soft tissue dysfunction. She completed her full body Active Release Certification in 2008; she is trained in administering intramuscular trigger point dry needling and also administers Graston Techniques which utilizes an instrument to detect and treat soft tissue fibrosis or chronic inflammation and restore range of motion.
She has volunteered at numerous triathlon and marathon races, including the Madison, WI Ironman. She is also part of the medical staff for the Association of Volleyball Professionals (AVP) and Broadway in Chicago Performing Arts team.
Liz also developed the Chicago Recovery Room concept, which is an open-to-the-public athletic training room providing access to state-of-the-art recovery tools and services for athletes. The Chicago Recovery Room provides athletes of all levels with affordable access to cutting-edge technology and treatment options to help speed up recovery, prevent injuries, and continue to train like the pros.
Coach Maurice (Mo) Wills is the man who is responsible for getting to the start and finish line of all my major races minus my one DNF ( did not finish). Mo, taught me to swim and believed I could do more than I ever thought possible. I also told him he was the first coach that didn’t fire me- long story.
Mo is a USA Triathlon, a level two coach, certified total immersion swim instructor, certified Chi running instructor, and master trainer for heart zones. He is a two-time Boston Marathon finisher, ultra-marathoner and 11-time full-distance Ironman finisher. He had more than 25 years of race experience and over 20 years of coaching experience at all levels and distances. He has coached hundreds of athletes in person and remotely to their finish lines.He always says “hate me now, love me race day”.
He ran competitively in high school and college. He burned out and took a hiatus after college until his mother told him he was fat. He then started running again. It was from there his passion grew and grew. He went from running, cycling, to triathlon racing and coaching.
When winter comes, Coach Mo likes to play in the snow being an accomplished snowboarder and skier. He is a certified Tier 1 snowboard instructor. Besides being a coach, Maurice Wills is also an active CPA and holds a BS in accounting from North Carolina A&T State University.
Episode Highlights:
Mo running history in high school along with other sports.
After a long hiatus in college, Mo takes up running again after his mother calls him fat.
His first triathlon race.
Coach Mo gives us his take on triathlons.
He gets hoodwinked into becoming a coach.
How he connected with his present business partner
Mo shares some words of wisdom
Guest Bio
Maurice (Mo) holds a BS in Accounting from North Carolina A&T State University, where he ran Track & Field and Cross-Country. He is a USA Triathlon Level II Coach, certified Total Immersion instructor, certified ChiRunning Instructor and Master Trainer for Heart Zones. Mo is a two-time Boston Marathon finisher, Ultra-marathoner and 11-time Ironman finisher on 5 of the 7 continents. He has completed 10+ marathons and numerous triathlons around the world. Mo has 25+ years of race experience and over 20 years of coaching experience at all levels and distances. He had coached hundreds of athletes (in person and remote) to their finish line goals from 5K to Ultramarathon, including 100+ ironman finishes.
Mo started coaching a competitive swim team in 2017 and is now a certified lifeguard instructor. He also likes to play in the snow. He is an avid snowboarder, skier, and snowmobile enthusiast. He is also a Level 1 certified snowboard instructor.
Mo is a CPA, so not only will he coach you through a successful triathlon season, but he can find you some good tax deductions on your next return.
