Today we’d like to introduce you to Brittany Brass
Hi Brittany, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
When I was a little girl I remember cutting oranges every year and going with my uncle to the LA Marathon. My mom, 3 aunts and grandma ran the LA Marathon almost every year. My sister, younger aunt and I would hand out oranges at different mile stops. I grew up around runners! My aunts have traveled the world to complete marathons and trialthons, like the Great Wall of China Marathon, Rock n Roll Vegas and one in Thailand.
I ran my first 5k, on Thanksgiving day back in 2013. Since then, running the Turket Trot every year has been a family tradition. I then grew into running more, running often and found that runners high that a lot of people talk about. Running brings me back to center, it is a sport that can be competitive but also a sport that reminds you about your own mental strength. I have healed through running, have been inspired and have had my greatest ideas all through running. I have completed a number of different 5k’s, 3 half marathons and am currently training for my first marathon which is the the Rock n Roll Marathon in December.
In the midst of growing my love for running, as a single mother I found myself looking for different communities. I have been apart of women in tech community, Peloton community, running community, and moms in fitness community just to name a few. Community to me means support. It means I am not alone, it means there are people that have the same interest as I do. And just like running, I have healed in community, found inspiration and motivation in community and met some amazing people in community.
Running and community have helped me manage my mental health. As a solo mother, I am more susceptible to stress, anexity and depression. Before running and community, I experienced a lot of depressive episodes which led to a number of panic attacks and suicide ideation. I spent a lot of time in isolation, moving through life alone without direction. I found faith in community, I found mental strength through running. I found hope.
My passion for running, my love for community birthed Urban Run Club SATX. And Urban Run Club SATX means community, we are more than just running. I noticed earlier this year a lot of us are still not only processing the pandemic still but we are still healing from the pandemic. A lot of people spent months in isolation, some people don’t have children or pets to keep them moving. Creating this community has given a lot of people hope, has provide a space where they can begin to met people, socialize and feel seen. Because of the pandemic a lot of us spent months not feeling seen, heard and a sense of belonging, my hope is that everyone that comes to our meet ups get a sense of that. A sense of hope, a sense of love, a sense of community. I encourage people to bring their children, their friends and their spouses.
As a mother and a woman of Black and Mexican decent, Urban Run Club SATX was created as the very first BIPOC centered run club community in San Antonio. We are open to all individuals of all walks of life and levels of fitness who are looking for a safe and welcoming space and community.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The hardest part has been second guessing myself and second-guessing the impact my story has made on others. I have had to heal through a lot of childhood emotional abandonment, and being confident in myself and my story and my passion for building community has to be worked on every day. Growing up I never felt heard or a part of anything so creating something for others I have never seen was different. It is easy to give up on something you have never done before, but my story personally keeps me going. My child witnessing his mother create a community keeps me going, I put God first and remind myself that I’m doing this for others and that’s what keeps me going.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I have over 10 years of sales and marketing experience. I specialize in software sales and social media marketing. I have a degree in applied psychology with a concentration in media and technology. I love reviewing numbers and data, strategizing, and telling a story. I am most proud of the growing digital footprint of Urban Run Club SATX. In 2 months our private Facebook page has over 2,000 members and our Instagram over 10,000 followers.
We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
I define success as an inner sense of joy and happiness. It manifests when I hear stories from people whose lives have been positively impacted, such as a club member who shares they were never a morning person until they joined Urban Run Club SATX. When individuals express that they feel seen and experience a sense of belonging, that is a true measure of success for me. If I can provide hope to just one person each day, that alone signifies success in my life.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.urbanrunclubsatx.com/
- Instagram: _bmarcita or urbanrunclubsatx
- Facebook: Urban Run Club SATX
