Runner Bio - Brennan Brockbank
Our Runner Bio Column returns this week with a great interview with Brennan Brockbank.
Brennan Brockbank - SF FrontRunners Member
How long have you been running with FrontRunners and what attracted you to the club?
Brennan: Robert Chan, through a mutual friend, invited me to come to my first Saturday run in December of 2007. I grossly underestimated the park’s distance from where I was staying, so I ultimately sprinted to my first run and arrived completely out of breath and barely on time. I could easily see that the club had so many friendly people that were worth getting to know (I still remember it was the two Erik’s who were the first to run with me). SFFR seemed like a healthy way to make new friends and has consistently been an important part of my gay-networking.
Where did you grow up and what brought you to the Bay Area?
Brennan: I was born here in San Francisco and I grew up in the North Bay.
North Bay? Must have been difficult making it to Saturday runs.
Brennan: Coming to FR on Saturday mornings takes dedication, but especially so when there’s a bridge to cross. I was in my first year as a high school science teacher when I joined SFFR and my colleagues wondered how I could get up early on a Saturday morning to make it to a run in the city. I was so exhausted from teaching that I was usually asleep early on Friday nights!
What do you do for work/during your day?
Brennan: During my time with SFFR I’ve worked as a science teacher while concurrently completing my teaching credential and Master’s in science education from Montana State University… Bozeman is gorgeous in the summer!
You are recently engaged. Congratulations! Can you tell us how it happened and how it feels?
Brennan: Almost two years ago I met Josh through okCupid and he mentioned he was a runner, too. Since I hadn’t seen him at SFFR I assumed he was a novice. Until he smoked me in our first run together! Apparently, Josh hadn’t been a “social runner” until I started bringing him to FR. He complained about the early get up time at first, but now he’s bummed out when we have to miss a run. Josh left his Duboce Triangle apartment and I left my rural Marin studio so we could move to the ultimate in suburbs – San Mateo. I continue teaching science and Josh has an easier commute to his San Jose engineering job.
For this last New Year’s Eve, I took Josh up to one of my favorite (and affordable) vacation spots – the Mendocino coast. On New Year’s Eve, on a bluff overlooking the ocean, I got on one knee and I proposed to Josh. He, of course, said yes! I had bought the engagement ring last summer in Bozeman. I’ve always been an optimist so I presume it will be legal by the time we wed. However, to be safe, we’re not planning on a wedding until late 2013. Give the courts time to sort things out!
You certainly have a wonderful relationship with your fiancé. What are some of your methods for maintaining and healthy and happy relationship?
Brennan: It’s great having a partner to run with, even if it only happens on the weekends. We both agree that running through a new city is the best way to see it, so our vacations always include explorative runs. We’ve certainly seen that vacations are important to a healthy and loving relationship. Even if it’s a cheap getaway to the northern coasts, it’s important to get away from work (and ideally out of cell phone range) and just enjoy each other’s company – with no distractions!
What is one of your fondest memories, so far, with FrontRunners?
Brennan: My favorite FrontRunners memories always involve the holiday parties! What a fabulous opportunity to celebrate another year in such a classy way.
What are you hoping to see in SF FrontRunners this year?
Brennan: We hope to keep running with FR for many years, even if that means getting a baby stroller at some point (like the one Bevan sports with Sidney). New leadership with FrontRunners always brings creative new opportunities for our club. It’s great that we’ve moved to a more modern website and are finding new ways to get members involved.
Thanks, Brennan, for the wonderful interview! Best of luck with planning the wedding and, of course, making it up to the regular Saturday runs!
