Running Conversations: Q&A between a physical therapist and an athletic trainer
This article and conversation is authored by Brayan F. Lopez, PT, DPT, CSCS, written from his first-person point of view.
Today, I had the chance to catch up with my colleague David, an athletic trainer here at Excelsior Orthopaedics, to talk about his personal journey into running. As local run clubs thrive and more people take on 5Ks, marathons, and even ultra races, it feels like everyone knows someone who’s caught the running bug. Whether it’s chasing a PR (personal record), staying healthy, finding community, or just earning that post-run beer, running has become more than a just a brutal workout. It’s something of a lifestyle, even a tribe.
David already had a deep understanding of the human body thanks to his professional background, but like many runners, his journey started with a personal decision.
“I remember going to the doctor in 2021, and they wanted to put me on blood pressure medication,” he told me. “But I refused, because I felt like I was too young for that and believed I could make improvements to my health through lifestyle changes.”
I wanted to learn more about what that starting line looked like for him, and what he’s discovered along the way. Here is our conversation, between between two health-oriented healthcare professionals.
Let’s start with an intro. Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and your role at Excelsior Orthopaedics?
My name is David Dyson, and here at Excelsior, I am the outreach athletic trainer at St. Francis High School. When not working at the high school, I often support the physical therapists in the PT/OT clinics at our Downtown and Orchard Park locations.
What sparked your interest in running in the first place? Was there a specific moment or inspiration that made you lace up for that first run?
My desire to better for my health first sparked my interest in running. I was always active, playing high school football, and loved working out, but my blood pressure was always slightly elevated. It also didn’t help that I did not have the best eating habits and was not a fan of cardio workouts. I remember going to the doctor in 2021, and they wanted to put me on blood pressure medication, but I refused to because I felt like I was too young for that and that I could make improvements to my health through lifestyle changes. It wasn’t until 2023 when I noticed a few of my high school friends posting on social media running 5ks and half marathons. I was proud of them, and that kind of motivated me to want to do it too. I also was surrounded by coworkers who were active runners, and that made me want to give it a go. A coworker challenged me to do the J.P. Morgan Corporate Challenge run, and I enjoyed it, and the rest was history.
Let’s talk about your running journey. I remember when you were just thinking about getting into it—and now you’ve got a whole collection of race medals and shirts. From your perspective, what did that transformation look like?
The t-shirts and medals are nice to collect! Haha! Early in the journey, it was extremely tough; I would tire after running a mile on the track and often wanted to stop. Shin-splints would deter me from running consistently, and I would usually take days-long breaks. But now I can run 5k consistently w
ithout getting tired, and even if I take a break from running, I still have that strong cardio base. Running is also fun for me now, whereas earlier in the journey, I would always question myself why I was doing this to myself. I also noticed a lot of physical changes from when I first started. I lost about 15 pounds of unhealthy weight, and I can see the big difference in my face when I look back at old photos. I am sleeping better, and my resting heart rate is the lowest ever!
Every runner hits a few bumps along the way. What are some mistakes or missteps you’ve made that you’d go back and change if you could? What lessons have stuck with you the most?
Some mistakes I made that I wish I could change would be having the appropriate footwear on me and completely ignoring strength training while sticking to a running routine. Early on, I did not know how much of a difference the right running sneakers made, so I initially was running with basketball sneakers and would often get shin splints and a lot of Achilles pain. This made my progression a very slow process, and had I had better equipment early on, I would been motivated to run more often because it would not hurt as much to run. Also, you want to maintain muscle mass as you run to resist muscular fatigue and prevent injuries, especially on your longer runs. But the lesson that stuck with me the most is FUEL YOUR BODY! It is impossible to run on low energy and expect to perform at a high level. Pre-run meals and energy chews during your runs go a long way! I learned the hard way when I attempted my first 10-mile run when I only had a banana and yogurt before the run. I felt extremely miserable after the run, but I invested in proper nutrition and energy fuel moving forward!
Looking ahead—what are you doing differently this year to make it a more successful season, both in performance and enjoyment?
2025 started slower, due in part to the physical weather and being under it myself. However, once Spring arrived, I started incorporating both runs and strength training days. I also get much more sleep for recovery, something that I have always struggled with! As for enjoyment, I am trying to sign up for as many run events as possible to increase running motivation and give me a goal to work toward! Running is a lot more fun when you are running with others!
The racing calendar heated up back in Spring and will stay hot through fall. What races are you still looking forward to this year?
I ran in the 2025 Buffalo Half-marathon, and even though I was battling through and injury, I managed to beat by PR by five minutes and felt great overall. I am also looking forward to running in the Subaru 4-mile Chase and a 15K relay race called Run 716 with coworkers in August.
Article authored by by Brayan F. Lopez, PT, DPT, CSCS
