by OuiLife2017 | Aug 22, 2022 | Uncategorized
TJ Bryan is a career educator, an author and a runner who continues to run well into her seventies. TJ is a member of a small group of women over 70 who run in marathons. She is a rare African American woman competing at this distance. After TJ retired from a 30-year career in higher education, she became a runner. She was 64 years old at the time–hardly the point at which most people embrace a demanding sport. No one was more surprised than she was when she demonstrated ability as a runner at a wide range of distances. At 78, she has completed 53 races. Even more impressive are her ten marathons and qualifying for the Boston Marathon on eight of these marathons.
She is the author of two books, Saving Myself One Step at a Time: A Running Memoir and Black Girl in Red, White, and Blue America. She is currently working on a third one. Prior to retiring, TJ served as a professor, academic administrator, and university chancellor. She has a bachelor’s, master’s and a PhD in English, Language and Literature.
Episode Highlights:
- How TJ started running at 64.
- Dealing with injuries and how they tried to derail her running.
- TJ speaks about her most memorable races.
- What’s on TJ’s bucket list?
- What motivates TJ to run, and some of her fears.
- Some wise words from TJ.
Guest Bio
Born on August 21, 1945, T. J. Bryan is a member of a small group of women over 70 who run in marathons. She is a rare African American woman competing at this distance. After T. J. retired from a 30-year career in higher education, she became a runner. She was 64years old at the time–hardly the point at which most people embrace a demanding sport. No one was more surprised than she was when she demonstrated ability as a runner at a wide range of distances.
From 2009 to 2019, T. J. completed 53 races. Regularly, she won age-group awards irrespective of the distances—in 5Ks, 10Ks, 15Ks, half marathons, and marathons. Of her races, ten were marathons—eight of which she ran fast enough to qualify for the Boston Marathon. This marathon is one of the most prestigious 26.2-mile races in the world because competitors must qualify by running fast times in earlier marathons and must be accepted before they may register.
Initially, T. J. planned to run in the Boston Marathon only once. She changed her mind and registered five times. She ran the race three times. Injury prevented her from competing in the April 2013 and October 2021 versions of the race. T. J. has written about running in two books. In Saving Myself: A Running Memoir, she captures her running journey. The memoir is available through Amazon. Readers praise this book, citing its honesty and its inspirational qualities. In her five-star novel titled Black Girl in Red, White, and Blue America, T. J. devotes several chapters to her main character’s late-life running experiences; these sections are based on her own adventures.
Before retiring and becoming a runner, T. J. served as a professor, academic administrator, and university chancellor. Her academic credentials include bachelor’s, master’s, and PhD degrees in English language and literature.
Connect with TJ Bryan
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by OuiLife2017 | May 10, 2022 | Uncategorized
From the boardroom to the pavement Kimberle Smith is an accomplished coach. Who has helped many businesses thrive and also trained many people to achieve their athletic and fitness goals. She is also a published author of the book Millions of Possibilities; Taking your Ideas from Inspiration to Monetization.
She believes that business coaching and fitness/health coaching are basically the same thing with the only difference being the product. She is an accomplished marathoner, ultramarathoner, triathlete, conquering many personal feats.
We discuss in-depth her journey into
coaching, her journey as an athlete, her
approach to nutrition and fitness, among
many other things.
by OuiLife2017 | Feb 16, 2022 | Uncategorized
Annette Melecio, an Ironman Triathlete, shares her journey of finding triathlons and how it saved her life. Annette is my very close friend and one of my favorite triathlon people. Annette has been on active military duty for over fifteen years and is currently serving as, a Military Police Officer in the army. She has four years of service left before she retires.
Annette has always been a runner. She always liked to run and wanted a challenge so she progressed to running half marathons. She even made her unit run a half marathons while on deployment. Following a really bad deployment where many people were lost, she was not in good headspace. She suffered from survivor’s guilt and went through a rough patch mentally. Anette even contemplating taking her life. It was then that she discovered triathlons. She liked the structure, and loved the group of people. Annette felt it was similar to the military with a lot of camaraderie. Everyone motivated and pushed each other and encouraged each other. It was the first time that she ever felt welcomed and accepted in the civilian world. Annette loves triathlons and is so dedicated. She has qualified for the Legacy Program for the Ironman World Championship at Kona by competing in 12 Full Ironman Championships, and one extra one just for fun. She has also competed in one half-Ironman 70.3 race, two 55k ultra-marathons and a 50k ultra-marathon with hopes of competing in a 100k ultra-marathon.
Episode Highlights:
- Annette started running in high school.
- Annette joined the army and continues to run
- Annette started her endurance sports career to help cope with her depression.
- Annette memorable races
- Endurance sports and mental health.
- The importance of finding the right coach
- How Annette committed to Kona Legacy Program.
- Annette tells us how she does it all, being a mother, career, triathlons
- Dealing with injury.
- Annette life lessons and words of wisdom
Guest Bio
Annette Melecio is active duty Army as a Military Police Officer. She has been on active duty for over 15 years and has 4 years left to retire. She has always been a runner and being in the Army running and rucking has always been something she is used to. She has completed 13 full Ironman triathlons, 1 Ironman 70.3 triathlon, two 55k ultra marathons, and one 50k ultra marathon. She completed IronMan #12 in September for a chance to apply for a legacy spot for Kona Ironman World championship. Her goal is to complete a 50 Miler maybe next year and a 100 Miler once she has competed in Kona IronMan World Championship.
Connect with Annette
· Connect with Annette on Facebook.
· Connect with Annette on Instagram.
Did you enjoy today’s episode?
Please subscribe and leave a review.
If you have questions, comments, or possible show topics, email
runningischeaperthantherapyolb@gmail.com
To subscribe and review use one links
of the links below
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Get a copy of the book Running Is Cheaper Than Therapy: A Journey Back to Wholeness. It is available in hardback, paperback, and newly released audio form.
Connect with Dr. Ouida Brown
Instagram @ouilifeouilove
Facebook @ouilifeouilove33
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by OuiLife2017 | Jan 25, 2022 | Uncategorized
You can concentrate on being perfect so much until it takes the joy out of the process. Life is hard. We all have struggles, but if you stress out about being perfect all the time, you never have joy because nothing you do will ever be good enough. Growing up, my mother was the epitome of excellence in everything that she did. I did not realize the pressure that I had put upon myself to be perfect, until I was diagnosed with peptic ulcers in 8th Grade. I had been seriously stressing myself.
Listen in to learn the things that I’ve had to unlearn as a child, medical student, physician, athlete, triathlete … each phase of my life!
