Start Line Stories: Motown to TrackTown
Last fall we asked you what stories get you to the start line. We wanted to know what inspires you, what motivates you and what prepares you to get into the start corral for your first or your 50th race. You responded (and your responses were awesome and inspiring)! So today, and over the next 10 weeks, as many of you begin your training build to the 2023 Eugene Marathon, we will be sharing your Start Line Stories.
First up is a duo from Detroit, Michigan: Gary Koutsoubos and Aaron Barnett, whose journey to a PR in Eugene is being documented by Tommie Runz (who will be running a little race in Boston in 2023, but promises to come back and run Eugene in 2024).
Eugene will be marathon #9 for Gary and #4 for Aaron. Why did they choose Eugene?
“Eugene’s got a great reputation and to finish on the track was an opportunity that I didn’t want to pass up,” said Gary.
“I went to Oregon22 (World Athletics Championships) watched the men’s and women’s marathons and the races on the track and did the Uplift Oregon 5K (during the men’s marathon),” Aaron said. “I set a 5K PR there and I really wanted to come back.”
Both Aaron and Gary will be shooting for sub-2:55 PRs in the 26.2 distance in Eugene and they have embraced a tried-and-true plan to get there: a Hansons-based 14-week plan with the added benefit of getting the opportunity to work directly with Luke Humphrey.
“It’s worked well in the past, so I’m keeping with what works” said Gary (age 47) whose marathon best is a 2:55 finish in Boston.
Aaron will be following a similar timeline and training plan along with strength work in the gym. Tommie, who will be running Boston just 13 days before Eugene, will be right alongside them.
“It’s great to meet up and have that camaraderie, even when we’re not doing exactly the same workout,” Tommie said. “The pandemic showed us how great it is to be together with friends who have the same goals.”
And while Tommie, Gary and Aaron enjoy training together, each one gets out of bed to tackle those below-freezing, winter runs for a different reason. A lot of it has to do with health and fitness, the challenge of the marathon, and making a space for themselves in the running community.
“I ran my first marathon in college, then took a while off and came back to running about five years ago,” Gary said. “I like the challenge of the marathon, and I like the process of it – it’s structure for me – and it’s about knowing that I can still do it, I’m fast, I can compete, and it brings me joy.”
For Aaron: “the challenge of the marathon distance is the lure of it. Not everyone can BS their way through it – there has to be training and discipline. “And there’s a component of representation. Every time we toe a line, I try to find as many people of color in the corrals, to encourage them, to stake a claim to our presence in this community.”
“Growing up, I didn’t see many people doing this,” Tommie said. “The moment that I had the thought of something that crazy – to run a marathon – I became attracted to this thing that previously wasn’t an option. I was also one year sober when I started and running a marathon parallels the sober journey – it’s like the physical journey of the sober walk.”
Want to check out more of Tommie, Gary and Aaron’s road to the start line? Find them on Instagram – @tommie_runz, @garyisarunner, @aaronxworldwide – and follow their #Motown2TrackTown journey and, who knows? Maybe you’ll see them in your start corral on a special Sunday morning in just under 15 weeks.