MICHAEL BROWN | BIRMINGHAM, AL | Asheville Marathon Ambassador
“I find inspiration and motivation at some of the strangest places. A lot of times during a race I’ll gauge my opponents on how fatigued they appear. I know if… I could hear everyone around me huffing and puffing, struggling to regulate their breathing [and] I was smooth and controlled [I could] take these guys but only if I race the rest of this smart.
“I’ve spent most my life here in Birmingham, Alabama. I hung up my shoes after a successful high school running career with a 4:19 mile and 15:59 5k. I was tired and burned out, so I didn’t run another step for 10 years. Two years ago a friend convinced me to jog with him once a week to help him get ready for one of his first 5k races. After working through some injuries, I was hooked again. Running was fun. Training was as therapeutic as I remembered it being in middle school when I first started. 
Within a couple of months I felt the old desire come back to be competitive and really train (instead of just run). A couple of months later I signed up for my local running club’s Triple Crown Series, three half marathons in three months. I had never run a half before! I also signed on with a local coach, who I still work with and he laid out a training program for me.
“I’ve done five half marathons in the past year, my best being Mercedes Half in February 2014 here in Birmingham, AL 1:18:13. I have two half marathons left for 2014. Talladega Half in Sept, which will be my homecoming half. It was my first ever half marathon last year. Also the Middle Half in Murfreesboro, TN in October. Then the Vulcan 10k in November, I ran a PR there last year, 36:45. Then my primary goal for 2014, my first full marathon in December at the Rocket City Marathon in Huntsville, AL!!!
“I’m excited about the remainder of 2014 and plan to have some big PR’s in the half and 10k. I still have so much more potential to uncover as I’ve only been back for a little less than two years.
“My favorite pre race meal is a bagel with reeces peanut butter and a local honey poured on top. My racing fuel is Honey Stinger-brand gels. I’m a big fan of protein and carb shakes for post race and workout recovery.
| BLOG: CoffeeNerdRamblings | FACEBOOK: jittery.brown | INSTAGRAM: disracer06 |
“I’m an athlete ambassador for Earth Fare- The Healthy Supermarket, sponsored by Honey Stinger Brands,-honey based energy gels and protein bars, coached by Coach Will at RunningLane.com, and an active member of the Birmingham Track Club.
“You have to be odd to be number ONE”
“A goal without a plan is just a wish”
“Train like an athlete, eat like a nutritionist, sleep like a baby, win like a champion”
“The only person you should try to be better than, is the person you were yesterday”
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