19 days to go! Over the next few weeks, our TGP blog will be profiling some of our awesome MCM runners! Todays spotlight is on Ryan Flynn.
More running? Yes, that’s right! In 19 days, 17 awesome runners will embark on a 26.2 mile journey in D.C., The Marine Corps Marathon. For the past few months our runners have not only been training for the MCM, but also raising money for Grassroots in the process.
Check out Ryan’s story below and donate to his run by clicking here .
1.Ryan, tell us a little about yourself…
I am 25 years old from outside of Boston. Went to college at Trinity College before moving to DC 2 years ago. Now I work for a consulting firm and the travel makes a training schedule a bit tougher.
2. At TGP we use fun nicknames to engage the kids, what would yours be?
Ry Fly Guy
3.What made you want to run a marathon with TGP?
I was introduced to TGP by my friend (and fellow MCM teammate) Tyler. I was taken with the cause and am excited to run with the team and support the project.
4. What is your athletic/running experience?
I had some athletic experience before starting training for the MCM, I rowed in college and was all-conference my senior year, but would certainly not have defined myself as a runner. I did run cross-country in high school, proudly coming in NOT LAST (second to last) for my school at New England’s my senior year, and have run two Tough Mudder’s in the years since. That’s it. Longest run was maybe 7-8 miles (once) when training for the mudder.
5. How was training for this marathon?
Training for this marathon was a new experience for me. I’m no stranger to committing to hard work in pursuit of an athletic goal, but the running mileage necessary to prepare put strain on both my body and my schedule. Getting the requisite rest while staying on track was difficult as I balanced work travel and time at home. Although I haven’t gotten in the “long runs” typically included in a training plan (18+) I think that I’ve prepared well and will be ready to go on race day!
6. Do you have a favorite athlete role model?
My athletic role models have been my coaches and teammates throughout my career, but I look at Sir Steve Redgrave as the pinnacle of athletic achievement. He won gold medals at 5 consecutive Olympic Games rowing for Great Britain (1984-2000), in addition to numerous other honors in between. Since retiring as the most successful oarsman in Olympic history, he has been heavily involved in charity (including running marathons, raising almost $3,000,000 running the London marathon in 2006). If he can run a marathon at 6’5″ 210+, age 49, I should be able to gut this one out!
7. At TGP we give SHOUTOUTS to people we want to praise. Who would you give SHOUTOUT to right now?
I have three shoutouts: To my INCREDIBLY supportive friends and family who were indispensable in achieving my fundraising goal, to Tyler for getting me involved and convincing me to run this marathon with him, and to my buddy Joey for training with me throughout the process… even running much much slower to make sure I get my miles in. Couldn’t have gotten this far without everyone!
8. If you were trapped on an island and could only bring 3 people with you, who would they be?
Might as well be productive while I’m there… my three people –
1. Dwayne “the Rock” Johnson- because he would help me get HUGE.
2. Mark Wahlberg- see above and the Michael Bay epic Pain and Gain.
3. My best buddy Rashad- because he would owe me forever for a chance to hang out with the Rock and Marky Mark… and get huge.
