Member Spotlight: Marla Briley
Marla joined Trail Roots in 2022 when she was looking for an activity that her and her husband could do together and she’s been showing up ever since. You can find her at the early morning 5:30 am road runs and on the trails with her two pups. Calling her a dog-lover is an understatement. She works tirelessly to find homes for abandoned dogs through her dog rescue. As a lifelong triathlete, cyclist, and runner, she continues to train hard, but also appreciates the connection she’s found through Trail Roots. She has a big heart and we wanted to ask her a few questions about her journey with running.
What inspired you to start running?
I started running as a way to motivate myself to quit smoking. I picked up the habit at the ripe age of 16 and, by the time I turned 26, I realized I had been smoking for a decade and needed to make a change. So, I laced up my shoes and began running in my neighborhood with my running 'pawtner’, Eden. And as they say, the rest is history.
Why did you join Trail Roots?
I joined Trail Roots in October 2022. I had previously run with Erik when he was coaching for Rogue, and I was training for Bandera. I was looking for an activity my husband and I could do together, so when I discovered that Erik's group was practicing in our neighborhood on Tuesday mornings, I signed us up. Unfortunately, the early morning bit and running bit didn't work out for my husband, but I found a home in Trail Roots.
“My Trail Roots runs are often the brightest part of my day. Right now, my goal is to focus on getting healthy and happy.”
Has your training changed since joining a group?
Over the past 20-plus years, I've trained for and completed multiple marathons, Ironman races, and half Ironman races. I even spent a few years competing on an all-women's cycling team. When I joined Trail Roots, my goal was to find a running community where I could truly be myself—where I could find motivation to push on the days I felt strong and simply hang on during the days I just needed to run out some of my demons.
What do you love about running?
I love that you can run anywhere in the world—all you need is a pair of running shoes. There's no better way to explore a city or area than to lace up and take off. But you do have to be careful. I learned that the hard way during a trip to Southern France. We were in a tiny, off-the-beaten-path town, and I decided to go for a run. This was long before GPS watches and smartphones—in the 'stone ages,' as I like to say. I quickly realized I didn’t know the name of my hotel and, with my terrible sense of direction, I was completely lost. To top it off, it was early in the morning, and not a single person I encountered spoke English.
What is your favorite trail to run with Trail Roots?
Any trail is a great trail when I’m running with my Trail Roots friends. I love being out there as long as I have good company to chat with.
How did you get into dog rescue and when did you decide to dedicate your life to it?
The short version is that I started visiting my local animal shelter when I turned 16 and got my driver's license. It was heartbreaking—I’d walk a dog one day, and the next day, I’d see him in the garbage bin, euthanized. I would think, 'At least he got a little bit of joy, before he died, from our walk.’ When I moved to Austin, I immediately found a rescue to foster for. In 2018, after being made redundant from a company I had worked for for 16 years, I decided to start my own nonprofit dog rescue, Central Texas Ruffugees, focusing on transporting dogs from Texas to other rescues in northern states. The mission has evolved over the past few years, as dog rescue has changed since the end of the pandemic.
In your opinion, which breeds make good running dogs?
German Shorthaired Pointers are the perfect running companions. I fostered for Tx GSP Rescue for 8 yrs and those pups are running machines. They use them in all sorts of joring sports (you should google that). I’d stay away from any short nosed dog, ie Boxers, Bulldogs, Boston Terriers, French Bulldogs. They can’t handle the heat and it is hard for them to get the oxygen they need. Also, your Danes and Mastiffs are too big boned and prone to joint issues. But I have to say “Rescued dogs” make the BEST running companions.
Every year you run the Hood to Coast relay. What does it entail and what do you like about it?
Getting into Hood to Coast (H2C) is through a lottery system, and I’ve been participating since around 2007. I think this will be my 8th or 9th time. I’ve always run with the same team, although the members have changed over the years. I’ve made some very dear friends through H2C. You really need to have a 'roll with it' personality for this race. Over the years, we've been stuck in traffic jams where a runner was waiting over an hour for us to reach them. One year, we even lost a runner for over an hour on back roads with zero cell service, so we just wandered around until we found each other. You get little to no sleep, crammed in a van with everyone's stinky shoes, eating spaghetti out of a Ziploc bag. And I love it!
Do you have any races or life goals that you’re working towards?
I'm about to turn 50, and I started the year with the goal of running a 50k to mark the milestone. However, I’ve faced some physical and mental challenges this year. My Trail Roots runs are often the brightest part of my day. Right now, my goal is to focus on getting healthy and happy.
What advice would you give people who are new to running and want to join a group?
Do it! Be a joiner! The most effective way to stay accountable is to have others motivating and supporting you to show up.