Team Member Spotlight

For Barry Lucas of Austin, becoming a member of the Texas Beef Team was a natural fit, he knows more than just a bit about the business of agriculture and running. And, as a lifelong runner, is a firm believer that the physical and mental benefits of running are intrinsically motivating. 

Barry hails from the Midwest where his father, who grew up on a farm with crops and livestock, went on to be the Dean of the Agricultural College at the University of Nebraska, also teaching classes in the animal sciences. Barry took a slightly different path, still at University of Nebraska Kearney, and studied business marketing which he put into application as a National Sales Account Manager for New Balance for 25 years. 

“Today, I own a sales company that works with new small companies that are looking to sell their products to running and outdoor stores,” elaborates Barry. “Plus, I do part-time marketing services for an international snack company.” 

“I have been running and racing since middle school and ran competitively in high school and all four years in college on both the track and cross country teams.  I chose to pursue running as my sport because I was too small to make the teams in the “major” sports, but running didn’t care about size . . . only your desire to succeed.”

Since these school days, Barry has been a regular on the running scene, with just one break from his regular routine. In his mid-40s, he needed to ramp the miles down to recover from nagging injuries. And here’s an impressive fact from this gifted runner – “Many moons” ago he nabbed a 2:19 marathon P.R. in Las Vegas!  

When Barry joined the team six years ago, his sidelining injuries were improved and was ready to get back to his running roots. In his first race wearing the Beef Team jersey, he recalls that amazing and almost unexplainable feeling of hearing the roar of “Go Beef” cheers along the out-and-back route and the comradery with members at the finish.

When it comes to eating beef, Barry reports that he enjoys beef almost every day to refuel and that hands-on education and training from Beef Loving Texans has helped make that easier.  

“There is nothing better than an old-fashioned grilled Burger except maybe Brisket,” he elaborates. “Since taking the Grilling 101 and Smoking 101 with Jerry, about 90-percent of my meals now involve a grill or smoker.”  

After attending the Pasture to Plate event in September 2024 in the Lubbock area, Barry says it deepened his appreciation for the hard work, passion, and dedication that beef producers bring to their craft. “It reinforced the commitment and pride producers have in delivering a quality protein product to consumers’ tables,” he explains. “I am very proud to be an advocate for Beef.”

Learn more about this all-around talented and interesting team member: 

Family:  My wife Vanessa and I have two grown sons. One lives in Las Vegas and the other in Austin. When they were growing up, I coached most of their sports teams and also did live radio broadcasts for one of my son’s high school baseball teams with an online sports broadcast company.

Running Partners: Vanessa will do an occasional race with me, but she prefers trail runs rather than road runs so we mix in both. Other than that, my regular early-early morning training partners are foxes, racoons, and possums. But it’s the skunks and coyotes that make me run the other way!  

Favorite Races: This summer I did a lot of small-town festival 5ks. I enjoyed the fact that each race and festival was proud to show off their town. I also like the Outlaw Half Marathon, 10k and 5k that is held in Luckenbach. It’s a well put on race with a great after party.

Random Interesting Fact: I have lived in six states, all in the Midwest. And, in Austin, lived in five houses, all in the same zip code. 

Pre-race Beverage: A coffee or two before every event.

Post-race Beverage: Really nothing better than an ice-cold adult beverage after a race, especially in the summer.

Currently Training For: A bunch of 5ks and 10ks for the remainder of 2024, but my next big run will be Rock ‘n’ Roll Las Vegas Half Marathon in February 2025. 

 Running Advice: Do your run first thing in the morning so that you start every day on a positive note.

Favorite Running Shoes/Gear: Being in the running business, it has to be the lines I represent which include 361 Footwear, OS1st compression and Superieur Hydration