#TeamCSI Challenge: Austin Half Marathon
A couple months back the Bare Performance Nutrition (BPN) team announced the Run One More Challenge. The challenge is to run either the Austin 5k, Half Marathon or Full Marathon with team BPN this February. But, true to BPN’s brand and owner Nick Bare’s way of living, they’re asking participants to “Run One More”, or push themselves further than they think they can go.
At CSI we’re familiar with the idea of running one more as we seek to maximize human potential. We are never stagnant, pushing each other to go above and beyond for our customers, ourselves, and each other. As such, we’ve asked three CSI employees to lace up their sneakers and prepare to run the Austin half marathon with team BPN.
To kick it off, here’s some background info on each of the team CSI participants, Jenn, Kyle and Kelsey. Feel free to send a little encouragement their way–they’ll need it!
Jenn Guerrero – Sr. Customer Experience Rep.
Training in San Diego, CA
Q: Why are you doing this?
A: I’ve been really into pushing myself out of my comfort zone lately and just felt like this half marathon would be a really fun yet challenging experience.
Q: Have you ever run a half marathon before?
A: I have never run a half marathon before but I am very excited to train and work hard!
Q: Training-wise, where are you at right now?
A: I currently have boxing classes 3-4 days a week with outdoor running 2-3 miles after classes with my pup (cardio helps with sparring) and weight training 4-5 days a week. I definitely double it up on certain days, morning and evening.
Q: What is your training plan?
A: I am going to switch out a couple boxing mornings for outdoor running sessions with the bf. He’s got my training plan all queued up and ready to go the second I get back home from my trip. Before I left I was already working on running time length vs distance and pace. He wants me to get the body used to jog/run for a long time before we bump up the speed.
Q: How do you feel about this challenge?
A: I am not going to lie I am definitely a little nervous about the challenge but so very excited!! This is a major challenge for me I have never been a long distance runner, mostly a sprinter with all the soccer and lacrosse growing up so I am used to conditioning training. But this is a whole different ball game (minus the ball).
Q: What is/are your goals for this half marathon?
A: My goal is to crush this thing, lol. No, but really the goal is to push past what I believe are my limits and surprise myself. I just want to do the absolute best I can and make Compound proud while having a great time with my teammates! Also, if I can finish this thing in 2hr 30min or so that’s already a win!
Kyle Adams – Business Development
Training in Terra Haute, IN
Q: Why are you doing this?
A: Wait I’m running in this too? Just kidding, I’m doing it because marketing is making me. In all seriousness though, why not do it? I think this will be a fun experience and I am looking forward to pushing myself.
Q: Have you ever run a half marathon before?
A: No! I always played football and basketball growing up and throughout school but hated conditioning. Who didn’t hate conditioning? Running long distances has just never been my thing so this half marathon will be a first for me.
Q: Training-wise, where are you at right now?
A: I weight train 4 days a week and try to play basketball about once a week when my schedule allows. Unfortunately neither of those are going to help me a ton in running a half marathon. So time to step up the conditioning!
Q: What is your training plan?
A: Good question. My friend and colleague, Kelsey is a runner, so I think I may piggy back off of a training plan she sent me.
Q: How do you feel about this challenge? And how big of a challenge is this for you?
A: I’m actually excited for this challenge. I think it’s important to push yourself out of your comfort zone. This will be a big challenge for me because I am really not a runner, but the biggest tragedy of life is not found in failure, it’s found in complacency.
Q: What is/are your goals for this half marathon?
A: I’m hoping to find out that I actually really enjoy half marathons. If I do enjoy it, I plan to train for a full marathon!
Kelsey Olanoff – Marketing Director
Training in San Diego, CA
Q: Why are you doing this?
A: There are about 100 different reasons I’m doing this. I love physical challenges that make me feel obligated to train because if I don’t, I’ll fail. I also love proving things to myself. And I want to show my kids how important fitness is to a healthy life. Bonus: I also love traveling, spending time with my colleagues and experiencing new things, so this half marathon in the beautiful city of Austin is truly my cup of tea!
Q: Have you ever run a half marathon before?
A: I’ve completed several half marathons, though most of them were 5 or more years ago. I used to be pretty great at that distance, but my most recent attempt did not go well. I wasn’t prepared physically or mentally and it showed. I’m hopeful this one will be different with a team to encourage me and a dedication to the training schedule.
This was the Zion Half in 2015, or what feels like 50 years ago.
Q: Training-wise, where are you at right now?
A: I’ve been working out hard a couple times a week (Orange Theory Fitness, which includes some time on the treadmill) and then balancing that with a lot of walking with the family. I rarely get beyond 2 miles of running, so logging miles in the coming weeks will be so important.
Q: What is your training plan?
When I was in Auburn last month, we met a professor at the university who introduced me to the 180 SPM concept and his explanation was enough for me to want to give it a fair shake. I found some 180 BPM Spotify playlists so I don’t actually have to do any counting, I just have to move my feet to the beat. In terms of the schedule, with a busy home life I think I can feasibly squeeze in 3 runs per week which will include a long run on Saturdays, an interval run and a tempo run in the middle of the week. I’d be really impressed with myself if I could do more than that.
Q: How do you feel about this challenge?
I feel optimistic about this challenge, but also the pressure of doing it in association with work. I don’t want to let the team down because that will mean someone else probably should have had the spot instead of me. I want to do right by the team.
This is a huge challenge for me. Given my really poor performance in my last half marathon, I’m feeling like this is asking a lot of myself.
Q: What is/are your goals for this half marathon?
My really aggressive goal is a 9:30 mile pace (can’t believe I just wrote that down) and I want to feel tired but not broken at the finish line like I did in my last attempt. I want to be able to celebrate the win with my teammates and enjoy Austin with them afterward.
