Name: Taylor Eastridge
Age: 31
Hometown: Trenton, Florida
Occupation: Economics professor at Santa Fe College
Time Running: I started running in 2015, and I’ve never stopped!
Reason for Running: Life is stressful and running is a way to decompress.
I started running in 2015, as a way to help me manage work stress. I would run throughout the week and feel accomplished before I went to work.
At the time, a coworker of mine had a really sick daughter, so he set up a group for the Gate River Run to sponsor her. I ended up running the Gate River Run for several years. In the spring of 2016, another coworker really wanted to do a half marathon, so we ran the St. Augustine Half Marathon.
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Then, on June 24, 2022, my life changed. I was sick that day, so I stayed home from work. Usually my husband picks up our daughters, but he was running late and asked if I could. It was raining really badly, and my car ended up hydroplaning into an electricity pole. Fortunately, I was alone in the car and the pole hit the passenger side. Firefighters rushed me to a hospital and the surgeon that performed my brain surgery told my husband that he didn’t know if I would make it through the night.
As a result of the accident I was diagnosed with a severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) that required multiple surgeries, and I was transferred to Shepherd Center in Atlanta for a few weeks of treatment. Fortunately, I woke up on the third day, but my memory did not come back until the middle of August 2022. The last thing I remembered was the Monday before the crash, when a friend and I went to a Backstreet Boys concert.
In January 2023, I began physical therapy in Gainesville, Florida with Fyzical Therapy and Balance Centers. The last year has been the hardest of my life. I had to relearn how to walk in the hospital. Although they gave me a wheelchair, I never used it because I was determined to gain back my strength. I couldn’t run in January when I started physical therapy so I focused on strengthening my hip flexors, with clamshells and other resistance band exercises, as well as stairs, but by April I would be running again.
In fact, in April 2023 I participated in my first 5K, the Run Your Buns Off 5K, since my accident and placed first in my age group. A friend came out to support me along with the police officer (and his family) who escorted my ambulance to the hospital.
After the race, I went to an extensive rehabilitation group in Utah to work on my speech, cognition, and physical condition. And I am continuing with physical therapy to work on balance and coordination.
I currently run three days a week. I just signed up for a 10K at the Rock ‘n’ Roll Half Marathon in Nashville, Tennessee.
In the future, I want to host a 5K for patients who have TBI to help raise awareness.
Running is something I can accomplish. It’s a way for me to forget the things that stress me out and focus on something that I can control. There are things that happen in our lives that are out of our control, but running is something that’s completely up to you. It’s a great way to decompress.
Fortunately, I don’t remember the accident. But running is helping with my recovery. My recovery will take time and practice, and running has been a great way for me to improve my balance and speed, and races give me something to work toward.
These tips have made my running journey a success:
1. Just breathe
I didn’t realize how important breathing was when you run, and I sometimes struggle to get in good breaths. Focus on your inhales and exhales!
2. Go at your own pace
Lately, I’ve been running for a minute and a half and walking in between. That’s a way for me to catch my breath. It’s not about speed, it’s just about going! Stop stressing about things that involve other people and just focus on something that can be completely up to you, like running.
3. Find the right shoes
Having really supportive shoes is a must! I currently run through a hay field and it’s very sandy. If I didn’t have supportive shoes, I would twist an ankle.
Taylor’s Must-Have Gear
→ Haissky Running Armband: I like to play music when I run and this frees up my hands.
→ Justin’s Peanut Butter: Before I run, I like to make sure that I’m fueled. I typically eat a banana and some peanut butter to cover carbohydrates and protein.
→ Brooks Ghost 15: I currently wear Brooks shoes. They are incredibly supportive and I love them!
Emily Shiffer is a freelance health and wellness writer living in Pennsylvania.
