Monumental Runner – Bryan Steverson

Name: Bryan Steverson

Self-described age group: 40s

Residence: Loudoun County

Occupation: Federal Employee

Volunteer roles in the running world: (as applies) I’ve helped with a few local 5ks and am on a steering committee for a new to be announced local race in LoCo

Why you run: To eat! Actually I’ve been running since I was in middle school, so its just a habit that has taken over my life (in a good way). Cooking is a hobby of mine so running helps me think I’m justifying some of the food I’m cooking (I like to cook french food).

When did you get started running: 6th Grade – I was a miler at first. Then I switched to run the 400 meters and relays. Relay races are where I did the best and had the most fun. I always enjoyed running with a team and competing with other teams – takes the burden off of myself a bit. Plus there is just something about running with a baton and trying to beat your competition to make the handoff that drives me to run faster.

Have you taken a break from running:  Only when recovering from injury

Training shoe: Asics Cumulus for road running and Brooks Cascadia Trail shoes

Coach or training group: South Riding Running Club

The hardest race you’ve ever run: I’ve run 4 marathons (trained for 5). I’ve run in 5 Ragnars with another one on tap in April. The hardest race I’ve ever run was probably my very first Ragnar. It was the DC Ragnar in Oct 2015 when we had that nor’easter come up the coast and hit us with sideways flooding rain. The night run up and over South Mountain (Leg 18) was pretty ridiculous.

Most adventurous decision you’ve made with your running: To run my very first marathon from just running a half previously.

Running mentors: Bart Yasso, Shalane, Desiree Linden, Meb, Kara Goucher, Michael Johnson. I follow running pretty closely and am a self-professed running nerd. You’ll catch me in front of my computer screen streaming the Boston Marathon on Patriots Day. I will also watch the London Marathon and NYC Marathon too. I read a lot of what the elite athletes suggest for training and try to follow as closely as I can.

My favorite place to run in the D.C. area is:  The Mall – between Arlington Cemetery and the Capitol.

Favorite local trail:  Capital Crescent Trail or WO&D Trail

My best race was: 2015 Richmond Marathon

Favorite local race: Rock and Roll – takes me through a different route in D.C. that I don’t normally run.

Ideal post-run meal: Breakfast taco!

Favorite flavor of gel, gu, etc: Lemon

Pet peeve: Bikers who take up both lanes of the path

Goals: Run NYC this year. If that doesn’t happen, then PR in another marathon TBD and run 365 days in a row.

Your advice for a new runner:  Start out slow and find your pace. Oh, and shoes. Yes, they can be very expensive (I often find older models online and save a lot of $$ that way), but if you don’t have the proper shoes, you will quickly find yourself nursing shin splints or something worse. Invest in the shoes – it is worth it. And be up for flexing your runs to later if you just don’t have it in you to run right now. I’ve been finding if I wake up early to get a run in but just don’t have the motivation, I tell myself that I’ll just get it in later after work. Running later is much easier for me than coping with the 0-day guilt.

Favorite running book: I’m reading Born to Run right now

Song in your head during a run: I listen to Pandora and I have a wide-range of musical taste. Sometimes I listen to Daft Punk or Bloody Beetroots. Sometimes I listen to Rise Against. Sometimes I’m up for RTJ or Childish Gambino.

Have you dealt with a major injury: Major no. No broken bones or anything. Hip Flexors, shin splints (see my comment above about shoes). A hip flexor issue kept me out of a marathon in 2017.

Running quote: “Dreams are free. Goals have a cost. While you can daydream for free, goals don’t come without a price. Time, effort, sacrifice, and sweat. How will you pay for your goals?” Usain Bolt

Why is the D.C. area a great place to be a runner:  There are a lot of really interesting trails in the D.C. area and you get to run through history. I work in downtown D.C., so on my lunch break, I normally run around the Lincoln Monument, Washington Monument and other sites. On some days, I have to pinch myself that I get to see all of these amazing landmarks that a lot of people only get to see once in their lives.