Brewing up Healthy, Happy, and Fit Lives November 2006

by Jim Mannion
Images by R. Byrne

BREW, Brentwood Runners Everyone Welcome, a running club for all levels of runners, consists of fitness enthusiasts who strive to make their lives healthier and happier. Join them for a run around the area.

The alarm clock that shattered my slumber at 5 a.m. on an early Saturday morning in late September was like a bucket of cold water being poured over my head. I resisted the temptation to hit the snooze button and roll over. I wiped the sleep out of my eyes, quickly threw on some workout clothes, shuffled out of the house, and headed east on Highway 4, down Lone Tree Way, and into Brentwood, passing houses full of sleeping people.

Birth of the BREW
I was pulled from under the covers by the prospect of an early morning run with Brentwood’s weekly running group, BREW — an acrostic that stands for their four-word mission statement, Brentwood Runners Everyone Welcome.

Four loyal runners named Shelly Grimm, Maureen Linder, Sue Bernal, and Megan Faulkner started the group two years ago this month. The foursome came together in search for a way to stay in shape by finding an outlet for regular exercise.

“I had just moved to Brentwood from San Ramon,” Shelly said. “I was training for my first marathon and realized there were no local running groups. Maureen was also a runner, so we began running together. After my marathon, we continued to run and talked about how great it would be if there was a Brentwood running group. BREW was born out of that discussion.”

Megan and Sue soon joined the fledging organization and BREW was off and running. Shelly and her husband Steve came up with the name. It was catchy and stated exactly what the group meant to them. Anyone interested in running in Brentwood should feel free to run along with these people.

The BREW crew has really taken off at a fast pace during its nearly two years of existence. What began as a small group of four has burgeoned into a group of four dozen or so runners from around East County who are running together on a weekly basis. Their schedule is consistent, come rain or come shine. There are no attendance requirements or standards, and members of the group join in on the runs as they wish. It’s a casual experience. There would be about 50 runners if everyone associated with the group would show up for a given run.

“You might find 15 runners one morning and four the next,” Shelly said. “It just depends, since we have an open door policy.”

The group goes running three times a week — Wednesdays, mornings and evenings, and Saturdays, mornings. Members of the group run together through the warmth of the summer heat and in the winter when the runners’ breath is sometimes clearly visible in the crisp morning air as they chug along the trail.

The camaraderie shared among the group makes the experience of shared running special and attracts new members. Once a month they choose a route that is different from the normal areas, such as the Black Diamond Mine trails in Antioch. On those days they join together in a brunch following the run. Shelly said these events usually get the greatest turnout.

Running with the BREW
There’s nothing like an early morning run to get the blood flowing and revive the body. I arrived a little early at the 7 a.m. meeting point, which on this particular Saturday was the Bridge on Marsh Creek Trail off of Claremont Avenue.

BREW runners began to trickle up in their cars, and as I was introduced to them I quickly warmed to this friendly group of people. Gene Clare was the first to arrive and as others came they all made me feel welcome, as the “Brentwood Runners Everyone Welcome” name implies.

By 7 a.m. ten runners had assembled, and began doing stretching exercises on the bridge as the sun was rising behind us. After the stretching was finished, we ran along the trail that took us through a mixture of homes, parks, and open fields. The runners maintained an easy pace. It was great! It would be hard not to get into a good mood while sweating off a week’s worth of worries about work, bills, and the other issues that stress us out.

We started out as a group, but varying paces and distance goals broke the group apart. When running with BREW, you can run for as long as you like. On the particular morning I joined them a couple of the runners were planning on a 13-mile trek, while the majority of the group, including me, planned a six-mile run.

Couples and small groups visited and carried ongoing conversations throughout the run. Conversation shifted naturally among topics, but we mainly conversed about everything and anything that had to do with running including races that people have run, trails and courses the group frequents, even a discussion about runner/author Dean Karnazes book on training and running in Ultra-Marathon races (100 mile runs).

Our pace was smooth and comfortable. By the time we hit the three-mile turn-around point, my legs were feeling good, and thoughts about sleep were far in the past. Other walkers and runners began to appear. I was happy to see them. A well-populated trail is a happy place.

Besides the Marsh Creek Trail where we ran, the group can be spotted from time-to-time on various runs throughout the streets of Brentwood and places like the Los Vaqueros Trail. One thing that makes BREW so appealing is the fact that you discover new areas right in our own backyard. Contra Costa County contains a wide array of regional parks, such as Round Valley Regional Preserve, Morgan Territory, Mount Diablo State Park, and Briones Regional Park.

The BREW Crew
One of the members I ran with, Nancy Sabranti, has been running with BREW since early this year. She was accustomed to running mid-morning or evening, but the first time she headed out with BREW on an early morning run, she ran seven miles, which was her longest run ever.

“Ever since the first time I ran with the BREW Crew, I was hooked,” Nancy said. “I love getting up early, watching the sun rise, and then participating in great conversation and exercise.

Since her first run of seven miles eight months ago, Nancy has gone on to compete in numerous road races. She is currently training for the First Annual Tarantula Half Marathon in Brentwood, and recently ran a twisting 13-mile course at Los Vaqueros Reservoir with club members Sue and Megan.

“These runners have really inspired me to keep pushing myself,” Nancy said. “All it takes is friends to encourage you plus dedication, a pair of shoes, and time.”

Nancy joined the group together with her friend, Lori Metcalf, another Oakley resident, who began running regularly about five years ago. Lori, who has run three road races this year, including The Bay to Breakers in San Francisco, enjoys the chemistry the group has formed out on the trails.

“The group really keeps me going,” Lori said. “Some days are more difficult than others, but completing our run is so rewarding.”

Lori’s training with BREW continues as she looks forward to her first Half-Marathon. The social appeal always helps her come back.

“I really enjoy the group of people, and I look forward to talking with everyone and catching up,” Lori said.

Sue Bernal is the running veteran of the group. She has been running for 13 years, and running marathons for the last ten. In all, she has completed 34 marathons, including the famous Boston Marathon four times.

Sue is extraordinary in that she not only runs with BREW on a regular basis, but she puts in extra running hours with her six dogs. She usually runs about 13 miles a day. Her dedication has a positive effect on the other members of the group, and also on her dogs.

“Five of my dogs were rescue dogs who had spent their previous lives tied up or confined to a small yard,” Sue said. “Their unruly behaviors and bad habits that made their previous owners give them up disappeared once they started running with me.”

Sue ran last year’s Portland Marathon along with Shelly and Maureen, and they found inspiration in each other.

The friendships that have grown through the simple act of running is a common theme among members of the group when they talk about BREW. “I love the friendships with the others in the group,” Sue said. “I have bonded with many of my fellow runners, and these friendships would not have developed if it were not for our common bond of running.”

Sue’s comment is an example of what happens as strong bonds are built among runners. The difficulty of getting yourself to work out is lessened when you know there are others out there you can count on.

“It is so much fun to train with others, and then to run a marathon with my buddies,” she said. “The pain in the 23rd mile of the Portland Marathon disappeared because Shelly started singing songs from old TV shows as we ran together. That kept me laughing and took my mind off my agony.”

 The great thing about BREW is the encouragement it provides for runners to get out and stay fit, challenge themselves, and not feel like it’s a race. It’s not about winning or losing on this team; it’s about spending time with friends, experiencing the outdoors around East County, and staying healthy. And while the camaraderie keeps them coming back, they are able to see improvement in themselves, whether it’s longer running distances, tougher workouts, or preparing for specific road races.

As our group cruised along that Saturday morning, a biker approached from behind on the trail. The man politely said he would wait in back of us, but we ushered him through. As he rode by, he asked, “What are you training for?”

“Life,” Shelly replied, in a simple and matter-of-fact manner. °

Learn more about BREW by sending an email to linder2254@fbcglobal.net.