THE MOTTO, “Nobody cares. Work harder!” — made popular by podcast host, author, and endurance trainer Cameron Hanes — may sound harsh to some, but to Jon Bradford, those words were the motivation he needed two years ago to finally seize control of his health. He’s now lost 150 pounds! After dropping the first 75 pounds, Bradford jogged miles out of his comfort zone and joined the Fayettenam Fun Runners club, where he discovered a love for running. He now enjoys it so much that he challenged himself on New Year’s Eve to run east from the Giles County line through Lincoln County until he crossed into Franklin County.
“When I first started walking and running, I noticed the group on Facebook,” said Bradford. “I saw what they were doing, and I was extremely intimidated. When I went to my first group run on Jan. 4, 2023, I was absolutely scared. I sat in my car with butterflies in my stomach, too scared to even open the door. I mustered [up] the courage. As soon as I stepped out, I heard, ‘Morning!’ Even though it was only one word spoken — it said a million things at once. I knew at that moment my life was about to change.”
The group met at the Lincoln County square, chatted for a few minutes, and then set out for their run. After a few yards, Bradford’s feet ached, and his heart was pounding.
“I managed to make it a quarter of a mile — then I had to stop and walk. To my surprise, others started walking as well. Some kept going until they were almost out of sight, but then they doubled back to check on me. This continued until we finished, and everyone made it back to their cars. They didn’t care that I was slow or walking. It was at this point the motto ‘Nobody cares. Work harder!’ finally sunk in. I’d found what I’d been searching for. I was the one judging my lack of fitness level and abilities — not them. They were there to help me work harder.”
Fayettenam Fun Runners has provided Bradford with a group of friends from every walk of life who help keep him accountable. During the work week, members are small business owners, accountants, engineers, fitness coaches, teachers, and others from every nook and cranny of Lincoln County. The collective mission of the group is to promote overall well-being and inclusion for everyone, no matter their fitness level. Each week, they meet by the theatre and often grab a coffee at Java Road after they’ve finished. Summer Southern started the group in 2022, and it now has close to 250 members.
“This group has saved my life and my family. Let’s face it — it isn’t necessarily fun to run, but it provides me with an opportunity to have a win and do something hard every day. When I’m on a rest period, or my schedule doesn’t allow time to run, my mental health deteriorates quickly. Right now, running is — and hopefully will forever be — an important part of my life.”
Bradford added, “It’s not about how fast or how far you can run — it’s about getting out there and getting started. You never know what you’re capable of if you never start. I would’ve never imagined that one of my dreams come true would be something like running. Some might even say I’m crazy [because] that one thing I dream about is spending six, eight, 10, or 12 hours or more running. I’m not sure if I can muster [up] the mental, physical, and spiritual strength to accomplish it. But who knows what else I may be able to accomplish? It’s also a win if I can use it to inspire my three boys.”
Bradford has set a personal goal to complete four ultramarathons this year, and on New Year’s Eve 2024 — you guessed it — he plans to run from one end of the county to the other again.
“I still struggle with my weight. I’m still a heavy guy, but I’m determined not to let that define my life. I really no longer look at the scale. At this point, I do still have weight loss goals, but my mental health is what I’ve chosen to focus more on. Actually, I’ve learned to focus on mental, physical, and spiritual health. At different times throughout the year, I focus more on different aspects depending on my short-term goals at the time.” GN