By Jason Goorman
LocalSportsJournal.com
Becoming a world champion runner was not the No. 1 goal for Dr. Byron Varnado when he ran his second-ever half marathon in this year’s annual Trinity-Health Seaway Run.
Even though the local doctor has world champions in his family, he knows what running in an event like the Seaway is about.
Yes, Dr. Varnado's nephew is Jaylen Brown, the Jaylen Brown who was just named the Most Valuable Player in the National Basketball Association world championship finals for the Boston Celtics.
Dr. Varnado knows Saturday's event was more about his personal goal.
"This is like the Eastern Conference Finals, but I want more," joked Varnado, alluding to his nephew's incredible success in the NBA this season. "It's a great accomplishment, but my goal is to get to a full marathon."
The majority of the participants were there to achieve personal goals while a select few came from across the country to compete for a top place in the race.
Knowing your place and responsibilities to honor one's physical body is important to Dr. Varnado. Being a family health leader in Muskegon for more than 20 years, Varnado has to be a coach and an example for his patients and their physical well-being.
"I'm not too bad (at running), and am in decent shape," said Varnado. "I don't enjoy running, I just need to do something to stay active because it's hard for me to encourage other people to stay active if I'm not active myself."
While Varnado doesn't have a deep love for running, he enjoys his running routine along the beautiful shorelines of Muskegon Lake and Lake Michigan. The iconic views are part of what makes the Seaway a unique event.
"This is my own area I run, the pathway along Muskegon Lake and Lake Michigan are kind of my home courts," said Varnado. "I am amazed at how different times of the day, I see something with a little different view."
Running isn't his favorite sport. Perhaps basketball is as he was a starting guard at Western Michigan Christian in the 1980s, but running is a love that Varnado has grown over time.
"I think people develop a love for something," said Varnado. "I find my time last year was a little slower. God gave me the ability to run and I feel the joy in that, and seeing other people achieving and battling through, it is so nice to see people accomplish goals."
Varnado got into running slowly, and last year's Seaway was his first time running the 13.1-mile, half-marathon race.
"I tell them to start slow, move slow, it's not how fast, don't compare yourself to others and enjoy the time," said Varnado about how he encourages people to get into a physically active lifestyle.
The aches and pains after exercising aren't always the most comfortable feelings, but being aware of how to take care of one's body afterwards is important.
"Just relax, I will take some Motrin if I am hurting," said Varnado of his post-run routine. "Just listen to your body and don't do anything crazy."
Keeping himself in check physically is an important part of Varnado's lifestyle. He says that is something he learned over time and saw it in action early on with his own world champion nephew.
"When Jalen (as kid) was in town and we'd have to go somewhere, I'd tell him to put the basketball away and the kid would just cry, that's how much he loved his sport and he dedicated himself to it," said Varnado. "You have to have a lot of things go your way. He took advantage of every opportunity, he doesn't complain, and just works and works and works, I am just very proud of that young man."
So, the doctor knows he isn't going to challenge an athlete like Brown on the basketball court, but he thinks he might be able to challenge him in a race.
"I'll text him a picture and tell him he needs to run a half marathon to compete with his uncle."
Varnado finished his race in 2:07:31, an 11th-place finish among 50-54 year olds.
The event had more than 2,000 participants between the 1/2 marathon (296), 10K (191) popular 5K (834) race and community walk.
Worthington, Ohio's Zane Keppler took first among 1/2 marathon male competitors with a 1:14:25 time. Stephanie Veldhouse of Grandville took first in the women's race, turning in a time of 1:28:34.
Bailey Smith and Riley Smith traveled all the way from Cody, Wyoming and the pair took first place in the men's and women's 10K race. Bailey crossed the finish line with a time of 31:52 while Riley finished in 41:17.
Fremont's Blake Taylor captured the 5K race. The 17-year-old finished in a time of 17:22.45. Muskegon's Nicole Robbins, 14, took first in the women's 5K, with a time of 19:09.62.
LocalSportsJournal.com
Becoming a world champion runner was not the No. 1 goal for Dr. Byron Varnado when he ran his second-ever half marathon in this year’s annual Trinity-Health Seaway Run.
Even though the local doctor has world champions in his family, he knows what running in an event like the Seaway is about.
Yes, Dr. Varnado's nephew is Jaylen Brown, the Jaylen Brown who was just named the Most Valuable Player in the National Basketball Association world championship finals for the Boston Celtics.
Dr. Varnado knows Saturday's event was more about his personal goal.
"This is like the Eastern Conference Finals, but I want more," joked Varnado, alluding to his nephew's incredible success in the NBA this season. "It's a great accomplishment, but my goal is to get to a full marathon."
The majority of the participants were there to achieve personal goals while a select few came from across the country to compete for a top place in the race.
Knowing your place and responsibilities to honor one's physical body is important to Dr. Varnado. Being a family health leader in Muskegon for more than 20 years, Varnado has to be a coach and an example for his patients and their physical well-being.
"I'm not too bad (at running), and am in decent shape," said Varnado. "I don't enjoy running, I just need to do something to stay active because it's hard for me to encourage other people to stay active if I'm not active myself."
While Varnado doesn't have a deep love for running, he enjoys his running routine along the beautiful shorelines of Muskegon Lake and Lake Michigan. The iconic views are part of what makes the Seaway a unique event.
"This is my own area I run, the pathway along Muskegon Lake and Lake Michigan are kind of my home courts," said Varnado. "I am amazed at how different times of the day, I see something with a little different view."
Running isn't his favorite sport. Perhaps basketball is as he was a starting guard at Western Michigan Christian in the 1980s, but running is a love that Varnado has grown over time.
"I think people develop a love for something," said Varnado. "I find my time last year was a little slower. God gave me the ability to run and I feel the joy in that, and seeing other people achieving and battling through, it is so nice to see people accomplish goals."
Varnado got into running slowly, and last year's Seaway was his first time running the 13.1-mile, half-marathon race.
"I tell them to start slow, move slow, it's not how fast, don't compare yourself to others and enjoy the time," said Varnado about how he encourages people to get into a physically active lifestyle.
The aches and pains after exercising aren't always the most comfortable feelings, but being aware of how to take care of one's body afterwards is important.
"Just relax, I will take some Motrin if I am hurting," said Varnado of his post-run routine. "Just listen to your body and don't do anything crazy."
Keeping himself in check physically is an important part of Varnado's lifestyle. He says that is something he learned over time and saw it in action early on with his own world champion nephew.
"When Jalen (as kid) was in town and we'd have to go somewhere, I'd tell him to put the basketball away and the kid would just cry, that's how much he loved his sport and he dedicated himself to it," said Varnado. "You have to have a lot of things go your way. He took advantage of every opportunity, he doesn't complain, and just works and works and works, I am just very proud of that young man."
So, the doctor knows he isn't going to challenge an athlete like Brown on the basketball court, but he thinks he might be able to challenge him in a race.
"I'll text him a picture and tell him he needs to run a half marathon to compete with his uncle."
Varnado finished his race in 2:07:31, an 11th-place finish among 50-54 year olds.
The event had more than 2,000 participants between the 1/2 marathon (296), 10K (191) popular 5K (834) race and community walk.
Worthington, Ohio's Zane Keppler took first among 1/2 marathon male competitors with a 1:14:25 time. Stephanie Veldhouse of Grandville took first in the women's race, turning in a time of 1:28:34.
Bailey Smith and Riley Smith traveled all the way from Cody, Wyoming and the pair took first place in the men's and women's 10K race. Bailey crossed the finish line with a time of 31:52 while Riley finished in 41:17.
Fremont's Blake Taylor captured the 5K race. The 17-year-old finished in a time of 17:22.45. Muskegon's Nicole Robbins, 14, took first in the women's 5K, with a time of 19:09.62.
