Running Saved My Life: From Rock Bottom to Finish Lines

“Through the uncomfortability comes progress.” These words have become a mantra for Michael Brydges, but in 2018, he couldn’t have imagined they would define his transformation from someone struggling with depression to an accomplished marathon runner and advocate for inclusive running. Many people will say that running saved their life but for Michael that statement is more than just words. Through the conversation there was a sense that running did save his life but it also did much more.

A Crisis Becomes a Catalyst

In February 2018, Michael Brydges hit his lowest point. At 30 years old, despite holding advanced degrees, he felt directionless and attempted to take his life. “I didn’t really want to end my life,” Michael reflects. “I just wanted everything to stop and I was in so much pain emotionally.”

The following months brought more challenges: a relationship ended, his great uncle passed away, and he faced a potential cancer diagnosis. Then came a wake-up call from his doctor, Dr. Canizzo, who delivered stark news about Michael’s health. His blood pressure was dangerously high, putting him at risk for a heart attack or stroke if he didn’t make changes.

Taking the First Steps

Instead of letting this news defeat him, Michael made a simple decision that would change everything – he stepped onto a treadmill at a Retro Fitness in Regal Park, Queens. “I made a deal with myself,” he says. “Running well at first wasn’t going to happen. I got winded really fast, got cramps, and I was like, okay, let’s make it a goal to run 20 minutes without stopping.”

Those first runs were far from easy. Michael bargained with himself: “Just get to five minutes and you can walk for a minute, get to seven minutes and you can walk for a little bit.” But gradually, something began to shift. His mood improved, he lost weight, and he started feeling better both physically and mentally.

Finding Community and Purpose

The seeds of transformation were planted in an unexpected place – a karaoke bar in Koreatown. Just weeks after leaving the hospital, Michael found himself reluctantly drafted into a karaoke competition by a familiar bartender. There, he met Chris, a former Marine who would become instrumental in his journey. “I said to him, I want what you have,” Michael recalls, noting Chris’s fitness, health, and confidence. “And he said to me, you can have it. All it does is it just requires a shift in your mindset.” These words stuck with Michael, laying the groundwork for the changes to come.

The real turning point came in 2019 when Michael ventured outside to run in Central Park for the first time. Though initially intimidated by the seasoned runners around him, he discovered something unexpected – a sense of belonging to a community.

“I’d never seen these people before, but there’s a whole community that is so big,” Michael says. “It just blew my mind that all these like-minded people were around me.”

This newfound connection to the running community, combined with a friend’s doubtful comment about his ability to qualify for the New York City Marathon, ignited a spark. Michael, driven by what he calls spite, completed the nine-plus-one program in just two and a half months, qualifying for the marathon.

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Running as a Platform for Change

Today, Michael uses his platform to advocate for marginalized communities within the running world. Drawing from his background in education and nonprofit work, he understands the power of using his privilege as a white man to amplify others’ voices.

“I want to say things through you, not for you,” he explains. “Like it or not, in this country, politicians and people of power are going to listen to the straight white man more than the person of color who tries to express their feelings.”

It is for this reason that he doesn’t take his privilege for granted. He wants to use that privilege to impact change. Throughout the conversation, Michael often refereed to less fortunate people and how he does things to help others. There was no detection of self-importance or a look at me attitude. What he truly portrayed was a person that was looking out for others.

Beyond the Finish Line

Running has given Michael more than just physical health. It has provided him with a new identity, confidence, and opportunities he never imagined possible. He’s traveled the world for marathons, visiting Germany, Paris, the UK, and Tokyo. “Running has opened up so much more than just running to me,” he reflects. “I professionally am who I am today because of running.”

For those considering starting their running journey, Michael offers simple but powerful advice: “Just start. The self-doubt really hits you hard. It’s what stops 99% of us from being able to accomplish any of our goals or dreams.”

He also reassures newcomers about feeling judged: “No one gives a thought about you while you’re running. They are so ingrained and focused on themselves that you could zip past them. They’re not even giving you one iota of attention.”

The Ripple Effect

When we think of the ripple effect we tend to think about the impact being far into the future. Reflecting back on 2018, Michael can recognize the ripple effect that meeting Chris had. In 2024, they trained for their fall marathons. Pushing each other and holding each other accountable led to both of them setting PRs.

Michael’s story illustrates how running can transform not just physical health but every aspect of life. “Running saved my life but it has also given me more than I could have imagined,” he says. “The people that you see out there that are obsessed with running – it’s not necessarily because we love running. It’s because we love what it’s given us.”

His journey from that first tentative step on a treadmill to becoming an advocate for inclusive running shows that endurance sports can be more than just exercise.  It gives us an example that they can be a pathway to finding purpose, community, and a fuller life.

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