Bennet Brookstein… From Quitting to Consistency

“I used to play all kinds of other sports growing up, but then I quit playing everything.” – Bennet Brookstein

How many times have you stared at something, but you did not see it through to the end? There are a variety of reasons that come to mind. You may not have the confidence in yourself to think you can succeed. Your mental concentration can come into play. Have you sat down to take a test, and you looked at the questions and you drew a blank? What brings you back to focus?

We at Mission:Milspouse will not leave you alone. Each month, you find a story or interview on health and fitness. We have a responsibility to encourage all of you to do something which you enjoy. The goal is not to get you to qualify for the Olympics. You can experiment with a variety of sports to find what works for you. It will encourage and the freedom to experiment.

While looking at Facebook, I often see my friend Bennett Brookstein. I knew there had to be a story behind the smile. What better way to find out than to ask? Below are a few questions to understand how to get through the “rough spots.”

What is your WHY for being in the sport?  

 I used to play all kinds of other sports growing up, but then I quit playing everything. But in middle school, I decided to try running, and I stopped quitting and tried to do my best to run. What was nice was that in middle and high school, you didn’t get cut from the track and cross-country teams. (that helped me stay also)

How do you balance family life, work, and running? 

That’s been a tough one for the past few years. But I used to run at night after work. Then I switched and started running very early in the morning and getting my miles in. And I would run longer distances on the weekends. 

How has your life changed because of being in the sport? 

 I’ve met so many people, had some jobs through running; coaching, working at races, and putting races together. I started my own running club in Philadelphia (Fairmont Running Club).. 

How do you manage when your results do not match your expectations? 

I usually run to have fun, get miles, and assist others achieve their goals. I like to run races and push my abilities, but I don’t expect to have a PR every time I go for a run. This past weekend, I was astonished that I placed second in my age group in a 5-mile race. I would have been happy no matter how I ran. 

How do manage the mental process with the aging in the sport? 

 I still look at running as some sport that I don’t want to quit like I was in high school. I’m not sure how long my body will continue to push and keep the miles going, but I will try to keep going. 

Have you ever reached a point where you wanted to put the shoes away? 

 I feel like my entire 40s was one continuous injury. I was averaging every 6-8 weeks. I had some pain. I was sad, depressed, and down. My favorite activity was not working for me anymore. I had to make some changes- looked at new shoes, started doing “rehab running” run/walk training: 2 min run/ 1 min walk, 3 min run/ 1 min walk. This let my body warm up and worked on lowering my heart rate. 

What motivates you when you are in a race? 

 Nowadays, I’ve only run a few races a year. I started pacing, that has enabled me to still run a race and help others race and get some PRs. One of my favorite races is the Broad Street Run in Philadelphia. I’m going to keep that going for another few more years. This year will be my 38th consecutive year and I can’t wait for this race in May. 

How do you handle setbacks in the sport? 

Something causes a break in your training or racing. To be honest, I’m not really great. I get sad, depressed and I can’t handle things too well. But I try to train smartly so that if there are any injuries, it isn’t too bad. 

What has been that outstanding performance where you did everything right? 

I ran one of my favorite races was St George, Utah. That was where I qualified for Boston and Chicago. It was just one of those great days where everything worked out. 

At what point do you think you will end the running? 

 I do not know. I want to keep on running as long as possible. 

How would you encourage a young person interested in this sport? 

 I love helping young people start running. I tell them to start easily and take your time. Great to run with other people. You don’t need to run hard or fast all the time, find good places that are fun and enjoyable, but most of all, have fun. 

Bennett, keep doing the good things that you love doing. Safe running.

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