Switchback at The Running Event 2024, November 19-21 in Austin, TX
  •  
Switchback Spring, June 16-18, 2025 in Nashville, TN

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Speaker

Jeff Armstrong Sr.

Running Bio: I first began running in basic training for the Army Reserve in 1996. During my military service was the only time I would run long distance. Years later I tried an obstacle race, and I loved it. To improve my time, I knew I needed to run more. With that in mind I did run more but without any guidance or training. I really enjoyed the obstacles, and I would do several races over the next couple years. In 2012 I was asked to run a leg in the Colfax Marathon here in Colorado. This would be my first race without obstacles. I didn’t really love the experience. The same team asked me to run with them again the following year. While playing flag football I tore my ACL and couldn’t run the next year. After the injury I never played flag football again. I got back into obstacle racing in 2014, but I only did a couple races over the next 3 years. When covid hit I decided to get into running again with my family so that we could stay in shape while staying home every day. Shortly after that the video of the Ahmaud Arbury murder was made public. I immediately wanted to find some other brothers to run with. I googled Black runners in Colorado, and I found Black Men Run Denver. I went to a group run and there were only 3 other guys. After running with them for a couple months we grew to about 5 members and the captain stepped down and I became the new captain (I did not want to be the captain). After accepting the role as captain, I had a conversation with then National captain Bryan Castleberry, and he told me all the great things about BMR that I had no clue about. That conversation lit a fire in me to get as many black men as I could into BMR and take charge of their health. With the help of my vice-captain Raheem, we put BMR Denver on the map. Later I was asked to join the SLT as the new National captain and I couldn’t turn that down. Over the last four years, I’ve ran several 5k’s, 10k’s, 10k’s, 10 milers, and half marathons. I’ve visited several states and fellowshipped with hundreds of BMR members across the US.  

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