Member Monday: Bryna Martinez

Fall has finally arrived in Birmingham! The weather is cooler, the leaves are changing and all the students have returned from a restful fall break. Let’s get back in the swing of things and meet our featured student for this week!

We caught up with Bryna Martinez, a D1 who loves to run! She has been running track since the first grade when her mom suggested she start an activity that would help her expend all her “extra” energy. It turned out to be more than just a hobby as Bryna soon realized she had a passion for running. “My favorite part about track was running through the finish line and feeling like I completed a daunting task,” says Bryna. “No matter how tired the race made you feel, it was still so exhilarating.”

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Bryna was a successful runner from the start. In the fourth grade, she qualified to run the 400 meter in the Junior Olympics, a memory she will always cherish. “My favorite memory of track is going to the Junior Olympics for the 400 meter in the 4th grade!” explains Bryna. “I remember how nervous I was standing at the start line, but the second I started running the nerves left and I ran my heart out.”

Running is a great stress reliever that all dental students can do. Although Bryna is not on a track team anymore, she continues to run in her spare time. “I love going to the rec and running on their indoor track when dental school allows,” she says.

For anyone out there that may want to start running, Bryna has this advice for you: “It is super easy to start this hobby because it is an independent sport. Someone interested in running/track can run for free outside. This hobby is a great way to stay active and get some endorphins flowing.”

With the weather as beautiful as it is, now is a great time to get outside and start running!