Runner Spotlight – Mario Vazquez

Hey there. I am Mario Vazquez. I was born and raised in Bryan, and I wouldn’t trade my city for the world. Well, maybe Cancun. Bryan Lake doesn’t quite do it for me. I joined BRC at the start of the year and have enjoyed every second of it. The club meets weekly and occasionally has socials that are always a blast. There’s nothing better than running; you’re burning calories, then turn around to stuff your face, well, my face, after our Saturday long runs at Torchy’s Tacos. I recommend their Diablo sauce!

I was born with a sweet tooth, which is not always a good thing. Especially if you procrastinate, as I often did throughout my 35+ years. I went through some ups and downs when it came to my weight. I was never great at any sports, so the weight would stick until I discovered running. It didn’t cost me a thing; I already had a pair of shoes, and that’s all I needed to get started, along with some motivation. Unfortunately, for me, as it so often happens, my body tries to give me warning signs to slow down, but the macho me waves that off, which has caused me some injuries. This led me to gaining the weight back, plus some. This time around, I’m trying to do things right, and the BRC helps me abundantly with this. There are occasionally opportunities to sign up for some classes to prevent and avoid injuries. BIG thanks to our sponsors, College Station Physical Therapy and Performance, & etc., for the encouragements.

I mostly train for marathons; the 26.2 miles is always a challenge. It’s funny because there are times when I say to myself, what was I thinking signing up for this? Only to prove to myself that I am stronger than what I originally thought and am truly capable of achieving great things. And you are too!

A year and a half ago, I ran into someone who once ran a marathon in all 50 states, which inspired me to pursue this crazy idea. Although I am a beginner in this journey, the most important thing is starting. Currently, I’m three states down in writing this. You know, I have a shirt that says, “You don’t have to be great to start; you have to start to be great.” This is so true! So start starting. You can achieve anything you set your mind to.

In closing, I want to express my gratitude to everyone who inspires me to excel. My loving, God-sent high school sweetheart who became my wife, my teenage son, whom I affectionately refer to as the “man of the house,” and my adorable four-legged pug, Gansito, all play a significant role in my motivation. This running community, comprising like-minded individuals, truly inspires me too. With their support, I’ve overcome my fear of running in the rain.
Join us! We have a diverse group of runners at various paces, so you’ll find a place to fit in.