Name: Trent Matthew Briney
Date of Birth: August 18, 1978
Hansons-Brooks Distance Project start: December 1, 2001
Hometown: Colorado Springs, CO, but born Colby, KS
College: University of Colorado at Colorado Springs
Personal records: 3000m-(8:11) Stoney Creek High School, Rochester, MI; 5000m-(13:55) Hamilton, Ontario, Canada; 10000m-(28:44) Stanford, CA; 8k Road-(23:45) New York City, NY; 10 mile-(48:45) Louisville, KY
Events currently training for: 11.03.07
Miles run/week: PR 140, Avg. 120-130 Marathon Segment, Avg. 100-110 speed segment
Why do you run? I enjoy the competitiveness of running and achieving goals and feeling good about making a difference in my own fitness. I also love scenic runs on trails or new areas. And, lastly. the camaraderie of a team rocks!
The best thing about being a Hansons-Brooks athlete? Sharing the journey and challenge with other like-minded individuals pursuing their dreams.
How have you improved since joining the Hansons-Brooks ODP? I've learned about marathons, a lot! Wow, the patience and blocks of training you must put in to get a good result. I've learned a lot from the people who wanted to help educate our team of dedicated runners/athletes. We've learned about hydration, fueling, training for heat and hills and training for specific competitions(visiting the course or getting a video preview of the course before racing on it). We do a good job of learning about pacing too. I have also seen the program expand with the addition of sponsors buying into the GROUP IDEA! For some reason people love groups and teams trying to make a difference. It's been exciting to share that with Brooks, Hansons, Lifetime Fitness, and now Saturn Car Company who all are helping and cheering us on in our journey.
When did you start running? I started running in 7th or 8th grade when a middle school counselor, who happened to be a track coach, suggested I use my feelings and energy I had about my parents divorce in a positive manner. I ran middle school track and did the year end cross country run at our middle school.
What challenges do you face as an athlete?As an athlete involved in the sport of running I face the challenge of being different than the normal 20-year-old person. Many 20-somethings are busy chasing a job and money while I am choosing to pursue a dream or vision of becoming as fast as possible at something I have a talent in, possibly sacrificing those monetary issues and building my life until later. This is a hard thing for peers, girlfriends, family and others to understand. Luckily I have had very good support in those areas. We live a simple life. We don’t go out a lot, because getting our rest for the next days workout is important. I mindset is more about how to make the next workout better than it is about how to have the most fun on a Friday night. Sometimes that is hard for others to understand and for us to not want to go out on a Friday night and have loads of fun with our peers. But, with a good race it just makes it worth it!
I also am currently facing coming back from and injury or surgery. The path back mentally is challenging to believe in yourself again. And, physically, the limp in my stride is gone from the pain and then the muscle apathy but rehabing the area to be a sharp strong piece of my body that reacts like the body of a professional athlete is an awesome challenge.
What do you like to do when you're not running? Oh boy! Well, I am really getting into golfing and playing poker (Texas Hold'em) the last couple of years. The team used to have a Tuesday night poker night every week. It was a good social activity and was a way for us to compete without it being about the running. I am really big on movies so that always is a good fit. And, I enjoy checking out new places in the community whether it is restaurants, parks, museums, city areas.
Favorite event: The marathon. When you are psyched up for one there is nothing like going down the street with crowds cheering! I also enjoy team relay marathons where you get to cheer for your teammates before and after they cheer for you.
Favorite workout: I like long runs--especially when we just hammer a really solid pace and I'm real proud of my effort. I also like uphill tempo runs, which we don't do here at Hansons. My favorites here at Hansons other than the long run are long tempos at Stoney Creek Metropark or track repeats of shorter distance. I love the repetition and competing with your previous repeat time.
Favorite pre- and post-race foods: Pre-Race: Pasta-it just works! and sometime my nerves want me to have a Pepsi. Usually though I’ll make sure to have an equal amount of water or only one glass of pop.
Role models: Does Rocky Balboa count? I love the workout scene in Rocky IV with the Russian. He's so focused on his training for that event. I know, it's just a movie, but that focus is what a professional is about! Any elite respectable athlete. What would Armstrong, Tiger, Michael Jordan, Agassi do to come back from injury or to prepare for battle. That thought! My parents: My mom’s dedication to making it happen and Dad’s good heart and love for others. Various training mates throughout the years: Teams have so much to learn from each other and working together--that's why I believe Hansons is such a good place. |
