For Tuesdays with Toyota, we are spotlighting some of USATF's most dedicated members with a short feature on USATF.org and our social media channels. Here is our feature with master’s athlete Roman Marenin, the USATF Colorado Association Masters Chair from Highlands Ranch, Colorado. “I'm a former collegiate athlete who had a 13-year hiatus from the track as I figured my track days were over after college. I was unaware of master’s track and field until my former teammate started posting about it on Facebook where he was at nationals and then the world championships in Australia. That led me to text him and ask him what he was doing. I had just suffered a severe leg injury while playing ice hockey and had to have a couple of surgeries and was contemplating just giving up on any athletic endeavors anymore until I spoke with my friend. He talked me in to training for the master’s track season when I turned 35 (was 33 at the time) and to give it a go since it was a lot of fun. After a good amount of PT and even more fear of what I was getting myself in to, I began my training in January of 2018 to compete in my first meet since college in June 2018. Training was very hard at the beginning. I was well above my college running weight, and in terrible shape. I thought my warmup alone was going to kill me. But I kept pushing forward every day and just kept getting after it. My goal was just to be competitive locally, but in my first race I ran a time that placed me at #2 in the world in the 400m. Needless to say, I was shocked, but pleasantly surprised. From there, I took it one meet at a time and eventually found myself in Poland at the indoor world championships where I won gold in the M35 400m and on the M35 4x200m relay. I never dreamt of anything like that, and it was one of the most purely joyous moments I've had outside of having kids and getting married. Since then, and due to the camaraderie shown to me by so many in the community, I have gotten back in to coaching at my local high school, became my association masters track and field chair, became the masters Mid America regional coordinator, became a certified official, and serve on three national sub-committees. The folks I've met along the way have been amazing. The masters community is a strong and welcoming one and I've been fortunate to meet so many amazing people here in Colorado, nationally, and internationally. It's been four years since I started training again and I hope to continue with it until I can no longer move my legs.” What are you most thankful for regarding your USATF community? “I'm most thankful for the people I've met along the way. From those that took me under their wing when I wanted to learn new events, to the competitors that share a bond of a love of this sport. The training days are hard and often lonely, but the competition days where we can all get together, share stories, have a laugh, and push each other are what make it all worthwhile. Additionally, I would say I'm thankful for the focus track has given me in terms of getting my health back on track. I was very close to giving up on any type of athletic pursuits and track brought me back and put me in some of the best shape of my life. That's something I'll always be thankful for as a healthy life cannot be undersold.” Is there a word, phrase, or thought that helps you focus while you train? “When training gets hard, I often think how lucky I am to even be able to be out on the track pushing myself. How many others don't have that opportunity and I shouldn't take it for granted. I also think about the older masters athletes I know who are practicing very technical events, putting in hurdle work, etc. If the folks who are 70+ can get out there and practice without complaint, why can't I?” Anything else you'd like the @USATF community to know about you? “I'm eternally grateful to the masters track community for giving me purpose with regard to physical fitness again and for allowing me to be a part of the community at the level that I am. I always strive to stay positive even when it's hard at times, because at the end of the day, I'm so lucky to be here even trying.” Tuesdays with Toyota are a courtesy of @teamtoyota! Check back the second Tuesday of each month for a new Member Spotlight for Tuesdays with Toyota.