Roosevelt Cook has been running since 1996. 

Our seasoned runner has pulled off distances on foot and has championed several marathons over the past 20 years. 

He has run from 800 meters to running full 26.2-mile marathons and was hailed as a champion in several half marathons and marathons, including the Rock n’ Roll Nashville Half Marathon (2015 and 2016) and Rock n’ Roll Arizona Marathon (2015 and 2018). Not to mention, he swept the Carlsbad 5000 Age Groups.

If you are to ask him about running, however, Roosevelt almost misses to mention his achievements as he is quicker to point out the positive things the sport has brought to his life. 

“Running is a big part of who I am and what I do,” he starts. “It got me on the right track in life. It got me a scholarship in college, helped me become a teacher, and now pays my way in life.”

He owes everything to running and to draw a face on who led him to the sport, Roosevelt is proud to mention his coaches.

“I have several of them. My high school coach was the one who got me started. All my coaches taught me so much in life and set me on the right course so I don’t want to do anything to disappoint them or ruin what they taught me.”

And like an ode to his mentors, Roosevelt is not stopping. He pushes himself further by training for the Olympic trial and masters championship on a national scale.

“I’m training hard and making sure I do the right thing and staying healthy.”

When asked for a message to aspiring and fellow runners, Roosevelt lets out a heartwarming call for unity and community-building that is reflective of his great love for the sport.

“Let’s uplift fellow runners and cheer them on. We need to continue building up the runners community.”