The Story / faith & foundation

Speed is a gift. This page is about the Giver.

01

I grew up in church, in a Christian family — but I really started taking my faith seriously when I was baptized at fifteen. Childhood felt like living inside a snow globe: innocent and fun on the inside, oblivious to how corrupt the world outside could be.

My family was active in ministering to me and my little brother from the start. My dad set the foundation — he showed me who Jesus was and opened my eyes to His grace and forgiveness. My mom taught me how to carry myself as a Christian and lead by a Christ-like example. And my youth pastor at Wake Church put me to the test — helping me live and work like a student of the Lord, pushing me through uncomfortable obstacles that grew me as a Christian inside and outside the church walls.

By the end of high school, the faith my family handed me had become my own. I was the only sibling baptized. I'd been to five summer church camps, served two church internships, and preached a couple of sermons. Being in an environment where I watched the Lord move in other people — and in me — motivated me to keep growing, slowly but surely, into a spiritually educated and wise young man.

02

My freshman year at Lamar was a learning experience — and honestly, the start of my lowest point. I dealt with isolation, loneliness, conviction, a lack of friends, and the feeling of being held back — limited in what I wanted to do, or felt I should do. I showed up not knowing anybody, carrying the pressure of performing. In that isolation I wrestled with a real choice: distance myself from God out of anger, shame, and misery — or run back to Him, spend one-on-one time with Him, and trust where He had me.

Track became my escape. It silenced the noise from off the track most of the time. Even the short injury setbacks forced me to slow down — and slowing down helped. I'm more level-headed in that environment than anywhere else.

My pre-race routine tells you where the peace comes from. I warm up to hype music, but as race time inches closer I switch to worship to calm my nerves. Then I start praying — just having conversations with God — all the way up to the blocks. And every prayer before I race ends the same way: “I thank You in advance, no matter the outcome.” That's what quiets the fear of failure I still struggle with.

03

“So I do not run aimlessly” — 1 Corinthians 9:26 matters to me because it's how I've gone about life ever since I started this walk with God. It means I don't move through a day without purpose or intention. I look to be productive in something every single day. It's almost like a superstition to me — it's why I have the verse written out as a tattoo.

That's also why I serve the kids and students at Wake Church when I'm home. I know my experience can help a younger kid out, and I want to keep growing in ministering to them — building the wisdom and the tools to one day pour into my own kids. And I know it pleases the Lord.

My relationship with Jesus reminds me of what's more important — that my blessings can be taken away at any second, but God has plans to prosper me. With that, the love I learned through Jesus allows me to replicate that love to others the best way I know how. My faith excites me with curiosity about what God will have in store for me, and it keeps me going with the right mindset when I'm competing, studying, or interacting with teammates.

04

To the younger athlete chasing times: walk away knowing your times don't define you. You are not the sport. If the sport is the only thing you have, you will find yourself lost. The hit of validation from a good performance is temporary — it will not fulfill you the way Jesus can.

If track ended tomorrow, I would still live by the same morals and principles. I would seek to develop the version of me that isn't known as an athlete. I would start a new chapter — one that starts off right. A new me.

And this coming season, I wouldn't ask God for anything but wisdom, and His love to get me through the battles that await. The times matter. But they were never the whole story.

Questions about faith, or want to share your own story? Bryson would love to hear it.