Mary Brann was never much of a runner. Scratch that, she never ran. But in 2012 with her 50th birthday looming over her head, she decided to lace up running shoes and set a goal to run a 5K in each of the 50 states by her 50th birthday, which is this July 2. Her final run is this Friday's AJC Peachtree Road Race, where she will finish her 50th race in her home state, adding an extra 5K (since it is a 10K) to grow on. Brann shared her motivation and feelings in accomplishing her goal.
What inspired you to choose running as your challenge?
I was at a phase in my life where I knew there were issues that I would have no choice over. I wanted to set a goal to accomplish that I knew would be a mental and physical challenge, and I didn’t particularly enjoy running.
You say you’ve never been a runner before?
That’s right. And even through my time training, I only trained inside on the treadmill.
So the only time you ran outside was in your races? Did it feel different?
It did. I like the treadmill because I get good feedback on what I’m doing, but when I ran outside I was faster. And I made it a point to visually take in my surroundings. The one thing I never did was looked at the weather, because I knew I was going to run the race no matter what.
How did you pick each of the races?
The biggest challenge for choosing races was logistics. I was trying to pick multiple races that were in driving proximity so I could do them in a weekend.
How many races did you do in a single weekend?
My sister and I did one in Oklahoma in the morning and then drove three hours to Texas for an evening twilight race. That schedule was mentally and physically taxing.
Did you see an improvement in your times throughout the 50 races?
I have to say, my times were consistent. I never got better. All my races were 30 minutes, plus or minus. That’s what my body decided was a pace I liked and it never deviated from that. My goal has always been just to finish.
What were some of your memorable races?
When I ran in New York City they closed down the roads from Times Square to Central Park. I’ll never experience the setting- no taxis, no honking- again in the city. But my favorite race was right before Thanksgiving in 2013. It was a YMCA Turkey Trot. The race fee money went to supplying Thanksgiving food for those in need. As we ran the race, along the way were all the items for dinner that runners would carry. The items got heavier as they went, and it ended with the turkey. I always get choked up when I talk about it.
What advice do you have for others who want to pursue a goal like yours?
Start with a measurable goal that you will feel good about. When I started I didn’t think I would complete the races until I got to 40.
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