Early in the morning, on a crisp October day, eight LesserEvil employees strapped on their sneakers, stretched their calves and hamstrings, and trekked to the capital of Connecticut, moving closer and closer to a goal that most have never experienced: a half marathon.
Measuring 13.1 miles, this long, tedious run was something that required extensive training, and arguably, maybe not enough time to do so. But LesserEvil staff rose to the challenge with courage and commitment to follow through on a task, despite the fears, doubts, and nerves that naturally built up. They maintained months of consistent exercise, even on days it felt near impossible.
So how did it go? Actually, overwhelmingly amazing. Every single member of the group of eight finished the full 13.1 miles. Though they may have had differentiating approaches and goals that they wanted to set for themselves, the final result was the same: pure joy and a grand feeling of accomplishment.
Here are the stories from some of the big-timers:
Charles, CEO + President, recalls prepping over the summer with sandy runs on the beach and having so much fun with his fellow runners, that he is using that momentum to pursue more events.
“There was lots of anticipation leading up to the big run, but we had trained for it. The really hot runs this summer in Fire Island paid off as it was nice and cool in October, making it easier to breathe. Running with someone was so much more fun because as you cheer someone else on you lose track of the struggle you are dealing with. I was so proud to see my running partner grit it out and prove to herself that she was so much more powerful than she thought she was. I have caught the bug and am already planning my next big race! Totally needed this experience in my life and feel even closer to the whole group of us who ran than before. Hopefully we can all really build on this momentum in our lives.”
Marcus, VP of Operations, took his uncertainties and used them as the catalyst to reach the finish line.
“It’s funny yet inspiring as I think back to June when I started training for this half marathon. At that time, I could not run more than 3 miles consecutively without stopping or feeling like I was going to pass out. During training, I had to overcome a calf injury that sidelined me for a few weeks, and if I’m being honest, some serious doubt as to whether I could do it or not crept in.
However, with the help of my fabulous team here at LesserEvil, and a commitment to myself, I passed the finish line. I’m so proud of myself and my team and I hope to be crossing more finish lines in the near future.”
Corey, General Manager, manifested his successful race with a confidence that grew stronger by the day. And the medal at the finish line was the cherry on top!
“Signing up for the half marathon seemed like a challenge that I have always wanted to do but never thought I could. Once we got serious about the training, the goal of completing the race was all I could think about. I am so proud of how I pushed myself and how my colleagues helped to keep us all on track. Through the whole experience, I felt so empowered in my training and weekly accomplishments of running farther than the week before. When race day came, I was more ready than I had ever been for anything. I enjoyed the race, and sharing my accomplishment at the finish line with friends and family was the pinnacle of the whole experience. I also loved getting a medal – how exciting!”
Jess, HR Manager, might still be unsure of runners high, but one thing is for certain: showing up for yourself is half the battle, and it offers the biggest reward.
“A few days after the half marathon, Thomas (LesserEvil’s Junior Designer) asked me “So… was the half marathon harder or easier than you expected?”
Such a simple question, but this really reframed the entire process for me. Since crossing the finish line in Bushnell Park, I had focused on how difficult the actual race was. Of course, so many things worked in our favor on race day from the beautiful weather to the cheering spectators and the camaraderie with my LesserEvil teammates running in lockstep. But, I underestimated the rolling hills throughout the course and struggled to keep my breath-work in cadence with my stride. Candidly, I spent most of the race feeling winded and I struggled mentally to push through those last 2 miles.
There was something in the way Thomas asked this question though. It sparked reflection on the entire process of training for the half. From my new post-race perspective, everything suddenly seemed easier than I had expected, especially thinking back to myself 3.5 months earlier when I could barely hold a running pace for more than a few minutes and couldn’t imagine gaining the endurance to run 13.1 miles. Each week, I had chipped away at the larger goal by breaking it down into micro-goals. The sunrise rail trail runs with Corey and afternoon treadmill speed runs with Natalie remained constant every week. I was making progress and gained confidence with each run, but it was hard to see how quickly I morphed into a “runner” until I crossed that finish line. It’s just like they say — the hardest part is showing up, but once you do the rest comes easy.
P.S. I still don’t believe in runners high and will continue to insist it’s a trick to get non-runners to sign up for crazy things like half marathons!”
Charlotte, Executive Assistant and Creative Content Writer, used to believe 1 mile equated to a successful run, but after prepping for a half marathon, she was impressed by the mental and physical endurance that grew stronger over time.
“Honestly, up until joining LesserEvil (which was just a few months before prepping for the half-marathon), I thought running a mile a day was good enough for my level of athleticism. It was exhausting and sweaty, so I figured it sufficed as a daily run. So the thought of running for an extensive period of time seemed unattainable and only for the elite athletes. Slowly but surely, 1 mile became a piece of cake, and then did 3. I got up to 10 miles shortly before the big day, which helped calm my nerves immensely. If I could do 10, I could do 13.1.
The race wasn’t a walk in the park (literally, I ran pretty much the whole thing thanks to Charles, who kindly and encouragingly pushed me to keep up the pace the whole way). There were certain miles (toward the middle of the race) where my mind began to grow loud with uncertainties and feelings of opting out right then and there, but I was already so deep into the race and to this whole process, that I knew giving up mid-race would be the worst thing I could do.
Here at LesserEvil, we love the idea of comfort in the discomfort. We love knowing that pain is temporary, especially in situations like this, and that pushing through brings immense joy on the other side. I can confidently say that finishing the race was one of the greatest and happiest experiences. It’s an overwhelming feeling that is so worth all the discomforts, and I highly recommend completing a half marathon to anyone willing to take on the challenge.”
