10 Laps with Alex Bryan
presented by The PreRacePodcast
Age: 37
Hometown: Ypsilanti, MI
Day Job: Professional Tree Hugger
1. What's your favorite place to run in the Ann Arbor area?
I have a fondness for a loop that links Bird Hills, Kubler Langford, Barton Nature Area, that fun cutthrough under M-14 out to Black Pond Woods, down next to the golf course, onto Traver Rd. and Traver Creek, over the railroad tracks and into Dhu Varren Woods, spitting you out near Food Gatherers. I've seen snapping turtles laying eggs, mutually scared turkey and deer galore. It's a great reminder of how much trail and nature is available to us in/around Ann Arbor.
2. Post long run cravings?
I enjoy swinging into Argus Farm Stop after the Speakeasy Sunday run and getting a pint of chocolate milk and (hopefully) a Raterman Cheese Twist. That buys me enough time to get home and fight Rudy (aka Rudy F*ckFace, aka a very large Brahma rooster) for some of the ladies eggs. Then it's an omelette with whatever fun is coming out of the garden or fridge (Mediterranean Market off Stone School, has some amazing French feta, for example) and maybe a slice of sourdough or a small bowl of grits.
3. Craziest thing that's happened to you while running?
I met my partner, Kelly, while running the Great Lakes Relay at a small trailhead in the U.P. We were on different teams, waiting for our teammates to come in and tag off. (On second though, she may have been waiting for a teammate, as her team was much faster. My team was likely already running concurrent and consuming a few too many beers.) She noticed the veggie tats on my arm and the rest was history. Though, I thought I may have blown it with her when I passed her on that leg!
4. Favorite workout?
Probably the Warhurst special, The Michigan. Or, if I'm a bit out of shape the lower caloried version the Michigan Lite.
Michigan Heavy:
1600m (10k pace)
2k (tempo pace)
1200m (10k pace)
2k (tempo pace)
800m (5k pace)
2k (tempo pace)
400m all out
Michigan Lite:
1200m hard (5k pace)
800m tempo (half marathon pace)
800m hard (3k pace)
800m tempo (half marathon pace)
400m hard (mile pace)
800m tempo (half marathon pace)
400m all out
5. Show you are currently binge watching?
Rings of Power, Bob's Burgers, or Rick and Morty is what's on the schedule these days. Though Reservation Dogs is probably to make an appearance soon.
6. Who is your running hero? (can be past or present)
Michael Wardian is probably up towards the top of the list. I really like how the guy just runs. Like, all of the time. All of the long races. And then, a bunch of his social media content is like doing some PT so he can not get injured and keep doing all of the runnings. Otherwise, maybe the Bad Decisions Turtle Burger. I mean, if you were a turtle and a burger and auto-cannibalizing, would you still be out running? Total Inspiration.
7. Do you have any race day superstitions?
Beyond finding that toilet a few times beforehand...
8. Famous person you would most want to go on a run with?
It would be fun to run with Matthew Inman, of The Oatmeal fame. He's got this really great little comic about running, https://theoatmeal.com/comics/running, and is also a pretty decent ultrarunner. I think I really like how he bared a lot of himself in that comic and talking about the personal reasons for running. It's not always pretty or good, the reasons why. For him or for any of us. There are parts of it that are amazing and healthy and parts of the why can be selfish and destructive. I really enjoy dancing with that in my quest to be a better version of myself, including going to those dark spots.
9. Current goals / race you are training for?
I'm hoping to run my first Marathon at Indy, but still working on some logistics of work and such. Otherwise, I'd like to attempt another 100miler this next year. Though, if I'm being honest, I don't really enjoy racing all that much (outside of the fun themed Bandit Races!). So, I think my goal is to stay generally injury free.
10. One thing that most Bandits don’t know about you?
I am undefeated in eating contests! My chef at a restaurant I used to work at in New Hampshire kept signing me up for funny local eating contests from pumpkin pie to chicken wings (with a 22oz PBR shotgun to start...). Only, he wouldn't tell me until the day of, quite often. "Oh, Alex, I know you're here to prep some food but I need you to go to the Farmer's Market and eat this pumpkin pie. All the other chefs in town are competing. No, it's fine that you just ate breakfast. It's just our restaurant's glory that is on the line..." I sold the Celtics tickets I won on Stubhub and bought a ticket to the Bahamas to help a friend on his Master's in Geology research. I've been retired since.
