Weekend Warriors – Torey Roberts – Dr. Thomas Ratliff

Torey C. Roberts, Running and Line Dancing

63; Retired USPS Letter Carrier; Master Gardener at Agri Center; Friends of Orpheum Volunteer; Mitchell H.S. Alumni Association Historian; Life Church: Red Bag, and Bellevue Baptist Church: Arise 2 Read

INSPIRATION TO BE FIT: I want to be healthy and stay in shape.

FAVE FITNESS ACCOMPLISHMENT:

I placed second in my age group out of 171 women in the USA at the St. Jude 5k.

RECENT RACES: At Run Run Rudolph in Phoenix, Arizona, I placed third in my age group.

MEMORABLE FITNESS EVENT:

The South Dakota Mount Rushmore Half Marathon.

BUCKET LIST: I’d like to go on a Colorado ski trip.

SETBACKS: I had a hairline fracture in my little toe and still placed second in my age group in a race a week later and the death of my Father.

GO-TO GEAR: Apple Watch and Brooks Ghost Running Shoes.

FAVORITE JAM: “Can’t Let Go” by Earth, Wind & Fire

BING-WATCHING: Lifetime TV

BEST EATS: I like Bahama Breeze and I enjoy their Buttermilk Fried Chicken and Ultimate Pina Colada.

ON MY NIGHTSTAND: “Becoming” by Michelle Obama

MY FAV INDULGENCE: Hanging out with the girls!

UP NEXT: A half marathon in Maui, Hawaii. I will then have run in all 50 States!

I f RUNNING: Running gives me personal time to reflect on life and God’s goodness.

Dr. Thomas W. Ratliff, Triathlon

61; Hematologist-Medical Oncologist at The West Clinic; Board of Directors for Iris Orchestra

INSPIRATION TO BE FIT: I had a heart attack and bypass surgery in 2011 at age 50. To survive, I need to be healthy and fit!

FAVE FITNESS ACCOMPLISHMENT:

Finishing my first half marathon in 2012, the LA Marathon in 2019, and Memphis 70.3 in 2021.

RECENT RACES: Germantown Half Marathon, Five Levees 15K (3rd in my age group), Crosstown 10K, MRTC Off-Road Race Series, and the MRTC Road Race Series (3rd in my age group).

MEMORABLE FITNESS EVENT: My first triathlon.

BUCKET LIST: I’d like to finish Memphis 70.3 in the allowed times and keep doing triathlons and running for many years to come.

SETBACKS: Having Covid two months before Memphis 70.3 – knocked me off of my training schedule but I still was able to get it done!

GO-TO GEAR: Hokas!

FAVORITE JAMS: Techno music

BING-WATCHING: Ozark

BEST EATS: Imagine Vegan Café. I like their veggie plate and of course their fabulous desserts.

ON MY NIGHTSTAND: I wish I had more time to read but my favorite book is “The Talented Mr. Ripley” and anything else by Patricia Highsmith.

MY FAV INDULGENCE: Craig’s Vegan Ice Cream and desserts from Imagine Vegan Café.

UP NEXT: Memphis in May, Olympic and Sprint triathlons, Annie Oakley/Buffalo Bill triathlon, Dragon Fly triathlon, and Memphis 70.3.

I f TRIATHLONS: There’s always something to learn with each race. I love training for the three disciplines. The camaraderie is wonderful in triathlons.