Weekend Warriors – Cheryl Mengelt, Runner – Jermaine Swagerty, Triathlete

Cheryl Elaine Mengelt, Runner

53; Optometrist and Director for Externship and Residency Programs for Southern College of Optometry

I f RUNNING: I love running mainly for the endorphins it releases. It makes me feel strong, capable, and able to achieve what most cannot or will not. The best run is alone with my thoughts and music when I hit the zone and feel like I could go forever.

FAVE FITNESS ACCOMPLISHMENT:

Training and finishing my first half-marathon at St. Jude. I’d never run an organized race of that distance before, and seeing all the shirts running for someone or in their memory was indescribable. My father even drove 500 miles to be at the finish line.

SPEED BUMPS: Two weeks before the Nashville Country Music full marathon, I suffered a stress fracture in my right leg, but I still benefitted from the training experience, mentally and physically. I also tore my right meniscus at mile four of the Great River half marathon and still completed the 13.1 miles. I believe being in shape helped me to heal quickly, and I was running again about six weeks later.

MY FAV INDULGENCE: A massage, a nice dry red wine, and a night out dancing with my girlfriends.

MY GROUP: I’m a Memphis Runners’ Track Club member and have run their full road race series many times.

FAVORITE JAMS: Country Music Radio. I’m quite a fan of an air guitar and air drums on a long run and belting out the words.

GO-TO GEAR: I love my Brooks Glycerin running shoes. I recently switched to an Apple Watch from Garmin, too.

BEST EATS: Houston’s. It’s my daughter’s and my pick for every big celebration, and we fight over the smoked salmon appetizer!

DREAM DINNER COMPANY: Elton John. I’m his biggest fan.

PET PEEVE: People whining that they have to work out. It’s a blessing to be healthy and whole enough to have the privilege of working out. So many cannot!

S. Jermaine Swagerty, Cycling, Swimming, and Running

46; Product Manager at FedEx; Founder of Grip & Grind Cycling; Trustee at St. Andrew AME Church

I f MY SPORTS: I experience such freedom when riding bikes. Whether I am going fast or slow, all of life’s problems get put on hold when I am pushing on pedals.

RECENT RACES: Memphis In May Triathlon and Miles 4 Milla bike ride.

BUCKET LIST: I want to bike in all 50 states. I’ve done 17 states so far and hope to be at 20 by the end of the year.

UP NEXT: I will travel to Atlanta for the One Love Century bike ride and the Memphis Ironman.

FAVE FITNESS ACCOMPLISHMENT:

Riding 1200+ miles in my first year of cycling in 2016 at 41 years old, beating my goal of 1000 miles.

MY GROUP: I’m in four cycling groups: Major Taylor Memphis, Grind City Cycling, Grip & Grind Cycling, and the Memphis Hightailers. I’m also training with BPC this year, so I can compete in the Memphis Ironman in October.

FAVORITE JAMS: I have multiple playlists, but my son has some good music on Spotify that I ride to.

INSPIRATION TO BE FIT: My father died of heart disease in 2012, and both of my grandfathers died of heart disease. Cycling is the sport God gave me to keep in shape. Heart disease is the number one killer of men in all demographics. It’s essential to think about your heart health and do something about it.

GO-TO GEAR: When cycling, it is all about the socks. I have some socks with a dill pickle that says, “I am a big dill.” It’s a corny dad joke, but I am a dad!

MOST MEMORABLE SPORTS EVENT:

It’s a toss-up between cycling from Selma to Montgomery in 2018 and Waikiki Beach to Diamond Head in Hawaii. BEST EATS: The Barbeque Shop on Madison. I don’t eat pork, so I get beef brisket or chicken tenders. Regardless, it’s all good!

DREAM DINNER COMPANY: Lately, I’ve wanted my grandparents to see what I am doing. I know they would be proud. Kareem Abdul Jabbar would be the one I’d like to go to lunch with.

PET PEEVE: Cars when I am riding on the road. Not all cars, just the ones that come dangerously close to us cyclists.