55; Assistant Professor of Occupational Therapy at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center
I LOVE RUNNING: IRunning long distances gives me the grit and mental endurance that I wouldn’t have otherwise, and it teaches me that I can overcome adversity.
GO-TO GEAR: Men’s ASICS Cumulus shoes, a running belt to carry my phone, and a visor are absolute necessities.
FAVORITE MEMORY: Running the Jerusalem half marathon in 2018. I was in Israel visiting my parents. My father was dying. Thinking of his life, his struggles to survive, his own “marathon” helped me up those steep hills. I had no excuse to give up. My father broke his neck in a car accident when he was 31. He exercised every day of his life. He fought to stay mobile and understood the importance of exercise. He was a role model for discipline.
BEST EATS: La Michoacana. All the ice cream flavors are yummy, but my top three are RumRaisin, Tres Leches, and Strawberry Cream.
MY GROUP: I’m a member of the Memphis Runners Track Club.
PET PEEVE: People who use exercise as punishment for overeating.
UP NEXT: The 901 series culminating in the Germantown half marathon; the Little Rock half marathon the following weekend; Great American River Run; and the Suzuki Midnight Half Marathon in Iceland in June. Whenever a half marathon shows up in Memphis, you’ll find me there.
INSPIRATION: My parents were great role models. My father’s example gives me no excuse not to exercise.
ON MY NIGHTSTAND: Beloved by Toni Morrison
BUCKET LIST: I want to run half marathons in some of our National and State parks, like Yosemite, Zion, and Yellowstone, as well as in other countries—South Korea, Japan, and Paris.
FAVORITE FITNESS ACCOMPLISHMENT: Running half marathons. I’ve only been doing this for the past eight years. In July 2015 I had hip surgery to remo
Photo by Tindall Stephens


