How old are you?: 57
Where do you live?: Spokane. Washington
Instagram Handle: Maberrybryant
When and why did you get started at an older age? Was there a specific moment in your life?
We joined a group in Spokane called Fleet feet. They have running groups. It helps to run with others! We also have family that live on the big island and every year we go and watch the world championships in Kona. The World Championship is the elite athletes who won their age group in an Ironman 140.6. Also pro athletes and a group of people who live on the island that won a lottery to race. At that time we were only running marathons and half marathons with Fleet Feet .
I ran my first full marathon the month before my 50th birthday. We did this a few years in a row. Getting more and more fit. Running the Portland Marathon the first weekend in October then flying from there to Kona to watch the World Championship. We would volunteer every year and be out there in the heat all day.
We decided we wanted to train for a triathlon and started doing small sprint and olympics near our home town. Then moved to doing a half Ironman 70.3 in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. We got a coach and trained and did that three years in a row. Then at 55, a friend of mine challenged us to a 140.6 so we all trained together for a year with a coach. We called ourselves “team trio “. We have documented pictures of every workout for the year and the week we traveled and stayed in Arizona for our first 140.6!!!
What do you enjoy most about it? Do you have an accomplishment that you’re most proud of?
The accomplishment I’m most proud of is my 140.6 race in 2018 IMAZ. The thing I enjoy the most the journey. The training with friends. The long hours of swimming biking and running. You’re in a club together and it feels great!
Have you experienced any challenges or obstacles as an older athlete?
I have never had any problems with training. I am able to eat what I want when training. I did find a great nutrition program I liked and used. All the running, biking, and swimming have kept me from injuring myself. Also following a coach. I did at first start to have some issues with my knees, but then switched shoes. Today there are so many great shoes to wear.
Now almost two years after my Ironman, I slacked off on training. After the year of hard training we took a year off. I still ride my bike and swim in the YMCA but nothing on a schedule. I recently ran as fast as I could for 5 miles after not running very much and hurt my meniscus for the first time ever. I recently had surgery on my meniscus when they say don’t quit training they mean don’t quit training!
What drives you? What keeps you going?
A group of people in my local area ride run and swim a lot so it is nice to join others. Also being on a team helps a lot. We were on a team for about three years. For the 140.6 we trained with a friend and coach alone. It was amazing and to be held accountable helps a lot.
What’s next? Do you have any short term or long term goals?
I do have a race coming up in September. I will start to train again in June. This is a 70.3.