December Runner of the Month: Bryce Cronkite-Ratcliff
Bryce joined NBR on Christmas in 2021, joining the Narwhals run to the Rockefeller tree on Christmas Morning. He had unfortunately cancelled his travel plans due to COVID and was looking for a small way to celebrate the holidays. “Rediscovering running with good company made it hard to resist coming back again and again and again and…” You can find Bryce as one of our WNRR run leaders as well as co-leading the Unofficial Ice Cream Run.
What do you do when you're not running?
Usually walk. Also try to identify trees that I can’t spec at running speed, go to museums that don’t take kindly to me running in them, and miss my MTA stop. Professionally, I'm an engineer working on sustainability projects. My artistic career peaked when I helped make a video that was shown on the big screen at Piccadilly Circus and to local princes in Abu Dhabi.
How did you initially get into running?
The janitor at my elementary school saw my brother running in PE and decided to train him. As the little brother, I got to tag along. It just so happened this coach was an incredible marathoner and I was incredibly fortunate to run with him regularly for the next few years. I dedicate 1 km of every mile I run to him.
What is your favorite race distance?
Marathons are too freaking long, but the absurdity of them helps make them worth doing.
Best running memory?
I once ran several sunset miles barefoot on the beach with my XC team and will never forget how epic the blisters were.
Favorite running route in NYC?
More bridges more better! The Suspension Span of the RFK bridge from Queens to Randall's Island is a favorite, as is the pedestrian bridge off the island. I adore the Manhattan Bridge, too. I’ve yet to run over the Hell Gate bridge but I heard that’s illegal.
Any running-related superstitions?
Not exactly a superstition, but I don’t understand how the bulk of you run without glasses. My eyes dry out in 5 minutes.
What has running taught you or changed about you?
That the saying “it’s a marathon not a sprint” doesn’t quite capture the essence of the marathon.
Favorite post-race food?
Hard to beat a smoothie, though an omelette accompanied by too much diner coffee comes a close second.
Favorite song to run to make you want to run?
Highway to Hell. Just kidding, how about ‘Please, Please, Please, Let Me Get What I Want’?
Favorite running social media account?
@northbrooklynrunners, what did you think?
What do you think is the worst part about being a runner?
Pre-race anxiety. And tapering — booo, tapering.
Best advice to running newbies?
Running on the beach barefoot causes blisters. And tie your shoelaces.
Current running goal?
I have accumulated a set of personal bests right above arbitrary-but-maybe-meaningful thresholds. To avoid feeling like Jude Law in Gattaca I hope to whittle down that collection, perhaps at the Chicago Marathon 2023!
Any other fun running facts about you?
I’d love to swap some during a run sometime, come out to WNRR or Ice Cream and say hi! Also a shout out to NBR, I’m constantly in awe of what the club provides as a volunteer-run organization and by the amazing individuals that make every run a pleasure, whether frosty or steamy, halting or grueling, race or recovery.
