Saving Myself One Step at a Time: A Running Memoir

Bryan, T. J.

ISBN 10: 0578768941 / ISBN 13: 9780578768946

Published by Locust Tree Publishing, 2020

About this Item

Seller Inventory # 0578768941-4-36700821

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Saving Myself One Step at a Time: A Running Memoir
• Publisher: Locust Tree Publishing
• Publication Date: 2020
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0578768941
• ISBN 13: 9780578768946
• Binding: paperback
• Condition: Fair
• Weight: 12 ounces

About this title

Synopsis

For decades, T. J. Bryan devoted herself to her profession, rising upward constantly. Suddenly, after reaching the pinnacle of her career, she was pushed from her lofty position. To save herself from despair, she, at age 64, impulsively decided to become a distance runner. Up to this point, her only athletic success revolved around aerobics classes when she was in her 40s and early 50s. When she became a runner, she competed in races of varying distances and developed a love of marathons although, as an African-American woman, she encountered few women of her age and even fewer women of her race competing at this distance. In ten years of running and racing, she discovered much about herself and joined a family that supported and encouraged her. Occasionally gritty and at times magical, her story is inspirational.

About the Author

Born on August 21, 1945, T. J. Bryan is a member of a small group of women over 70 years of age who run in marathons. She began running at age 64 and has experienced success at a range of distances.
 
From 2009 to 2019, she completed 53 races, including ten marathons. In eight of these 26.2-mile races, she ran fast enough to qualify for the Boston Marathon. 
 
She belongs to two Maryland running groups--the Baltimore Pacemakers and the Baltimore Road Runners Club. T.J. also belongs to three online running groups: Forever Runners over 50, Marathon Runners, and National Black Marathoners Association.

After earning bachelor's and master's degrees in English from Morgan State University and a doctoral degree in English language and literature from the University of Maryland at College Park, T. J. became a professor, academic administrator, and university chancellor, respectively. During her professional career, she published articles on women writers and on a range of higher-education topics. 

She lives in Pennsylvania and runs both in her state of residence and in Maryland. She has been married since 1980 to David Preston, a runner who has retired thrice. They are parents of an adult son, Bryan Preston.

T. J. may be reached at tjbryan.com or at authortjbryan@gmail.com.  She is also on Facebook (T. J. Bryan, Author).