Corie Smith
Favorite sport: Marathon
Major milestone: Reduced per-minute pace and injury rate!
What is the secret to your success? Runcoach, cross training and proper fueling. I've also weaved in Shaklee Pure Performance supplements to help build core nutrition!
What is the biggest obstacle to reaching your goals and how do you get over it? Available time seems to be my biggest struggle. Runcoach has given me a longterm view of training schedule and even helped move schedules around to meet family and work demands.
What is the most rewarding part of training? For sure it's exceeding my target pace for the duration of the run!
What advice would you give to other members of the runcoach community? What and how you fuel is just as critical as sticking to the schedule! Consistency is the key to success! After running 2 marathons with programs I found online, I was introduced to runcoach via Marine Corp Marathon. Training with the runcoach app, the community of runners and coaches was the accountability I needed to stay motivated through the many months of training. I knew at that point I would always train for marathons using runcoach!
Share your movecoach success story here!
Click here to join the Genentech 500,000-Mile Challenge
Download movecoach moves Genentech for iPhone or Android.
Jason Gordon
Favorite Sport: running
Major milestone: Since my first marathon 5 years ago, I've taken nearly 60 minutes off my finish time. The first time, I crashed and burned to a 4:15 finish. Last fall, I ran 3:23. I wouldn't have thought it was possible for a 45-year old. Conventional wisdom seems to dictate that middle age is when we should ease off of the throttle. I feel like I still have room for improvement. I look forward to seeing who is right.
What’s the secret to your success? Consistency and drive. As cliche as it sounds " just beat yesterday" is always my mindset. Run everyday your supposed to, know your limitations, and work hard to achieve the goals you set.
What’s the biggest obstacle and how do you get over it? Injuries are the biggest obstacle I face. Every training cycle I've completed has taught me something about what I shouldn't do.
What’s the most rewarding part of your training? It's hard to say that achieving a new PR takes a backseat to anything else, but since races are few and far between, I get the most positive feedback from long threshold efforts.
What advice would you give to other members of the runcoach community? Trust the training. Do the work exactly as it is assigned and you will see the benefits within a few weeks. Enjoy the process as much as possible. The long hard training session will wear you down either way. Embrace it, you've earned it. Besides, a rest day is right around the corner. The Runcoach process will make you a stronger runner, period.
Have a running story to share? Click here for details.
Howard Ballard
Assistant Supervisor
Favorite fitness activity: taking long walks
What’s the secret to your success? After starting movecoach I found that if I don't get at least 5 miles in a day I feel like I missed my own personal goal I set for myself.
What is the biggest obstacle to moving more, and how do you get over it? Where I live, the weather is a big factor in getting out to walk. So when the weather is nice I get out there and go. Also watching other people move helps me keep going.
What is the most rewarding part of the Shea Moves 750,000-Mile Challenge? When there was a company-wide challenge to move 50 miles in 13 days, I pushed myself to see how fast I could do just that. I walked 15 miles in one day. We have a lot of fun at work see how many steps we all get each day, we push each other to get more steps. I even walk back and forth at the light-rail station while I’m waiting for the train. I get about 1.5 miles that way!
Share your movecoach success story here!
Click here to join the Shea Moves 750,000-Mile Challenge
Download movecoach moves Shea app for iPhone or Android.
In the Spotlight: Jazz Pharmaceuticals
Monica Martines
R&D Operations Excellence Manager
Favorite fitness activity: spin class
Incredible comeback: In 2011, I was 10 days out from the Seattle Marathon, my 10th, where I was hoping to shave 2 minutes off my PR to qualify for the Boston Marathon. I had just completed my last 10- mile run. I was on the phone, distracted for a split second and fell down a flight of stairs. I broke my fibula in the places and my foot was dislocated from my ankle. It was one of the worst breaks the ER doctor ever saw. Once released from the hospital I started physical therapy. I had a wonderful physical therapist and a trainer who helped me to use crutches, learn how to walk, and slowly get back to my regular self. Although they told me running career was over and I was devastated about that, I knew my body was taking a beating from the 160 and more miles I logged every month. My orthopedist kept telling me that I MUST stop running and heal my body.
The accident was the end of a great running career. But then I rediscovered cycling, which I had given up decades ago when I became addicted to long-distance running. Cycling made me feel whole again. Swimming helps too but the permanent titanium plate and 10 screws in my ankle cramps up quite a bit when I’m in the water.
What’s the secret to your success? Being VERY disciplined by planning my day to include working out, eating well, and getting rest. I prep my nutrition needs the day before for my next day's activities.
What’s the biggest obstacle to moving more and how do you get over it? My work schedule can be very hectic and sometimes I have to rearrange my daily morning workout to later in the day or defer it to another day. Even a quick 15-minute walk or climbing stairs at my office is better than nothing.
What’s the most rewarding part of the Challenge? Getting high fives from my colleagues from all over the world is a lot of fun. I really enjoy updating my training on a daily basis and seeing my and my colleague's achievements. I love getting the kudos and the recognition.
What advice would you give to your fellow challengers? Plan to succeed and you will. Don't sweat the small stuff and get right back into the program if every goal is not attained. Get a routine so that good habits are formed. Don't harp on getting sidelined. Be patient, add variety to your daily routine, and try joining a group. Having a great social bond with others is so much fun.
Join the Challenge, and help Jazz Pharmaceuticals Move 100,000 Miles!
In the Spotlight: LinkedIn
Sam Parker
Partner Account Director
Favorite fitness activity: Sailing
What’s the secret to your success? You have to be passionate about what you do in sport, work, life, love - everything! Work is a big time commitment. Luckily where I work is brilliant at encouraging exercise and movement. From a state-of-the-art wellness programme to motorised desks so you can stand up and work.
What’s the biggest reward of participating in the Challenge? Feeling more energetic during the working day whilst feeling better prepared for a weekend of sport on the water.
(Parker above, with his wife, racing their RS400 in Lake Garda, Italy. Photo Credit: Paul Wyeth)
What’s the biggest obstacle to moving more and how do you get over it? Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going. Get into a routine as quickly as possible and no matter how short the duration of each commitment. What matters is that you're building up a base of regular exercise - which is key.
What advice would you give to your fellow challengers? It MUST be fun. If you don't like doing it then you will not keep going. I have just started doing a circuit with a colleague so now the responsibility is on the both of us which means we are much less likely to drop out.
Share your movecoach success story here!
Click here to join the Challenge, and help LinkedIn move 1 Million Miles!
Julia Neilson
Favorite Sport: Running
Major milestone: After 4 years of running, I have a half-marathon PR of 1:36:10, and a 10-K PR of 42:25. But I'm not done here!
What's the secret to your success? Consistency! And big dreams :-)
What is the biggest obstacle and how do you get over it? When an injury hits, patience proves to be a virtue. Rest, sleep, good food, water, cross training, strength and core work and deep tissue massages help as well.
What is the most rewarding part of your training? The joy of racing well.
What advice would you give to other members of the runcoach community? Stick to your plan! Trust your plan but also listen to your body whilst keeping your long term goals in mind. It's better to go easy and rest than pushing those shin splints through a hard workout. Keep your easy days easy so you can run your hard days hard.
Follow Julia's running adventures on her blog, karmly.com. On Twitter and Instagram: @GetKarmly.
Have a running story to share? Click here for details.
In the Spotlight: Visa
Celia Tang
Finance
Favorite Fitness Activity: Running
What is the secret to your success? Signing up for races and telling key people about them keeps me motivated to train regularly.
What is the biggest obstacle to moving more and how do you get over it? Having a desk job. I set a regular reminder on my calendar to stand up and take quick walks down the hallway.
What's the biggest reward of the Visa Moves 300,000 Miles Challenge? Your body feels younger and stronger!
What advice would you have for your fellow challengers? Get coaching if you need extra help to meet a stretch goal. Sign up for some fun races for motivation, find someone to walk or run with for accountability, and put it on your calendar so that it’s a priority! Use the app daily to track your progress and get daily coaching!
Share your movecoach success story here!
Click here to join the Visa Moves 300,000 Miles Challenge
Download movecoach moves Visa for iPhone or Android.
In the spotlight: Shea Companies
Luis Fernandez
Facility Manager
Favorite Fitness Activity: Hiking and walking with my kids. (This photo was taken on a hike with my 10-year-old son, Louie.)
What is the secret to your success? I have three kids ranging from the ages of 17 through 8. I want to make sure I'm healthy enough when the youngest wants to play catch or any other activity. I can't stop age. But I can at least better my health!
What is the biggest obstacle to moving more? Tiredness. There are days I think I just can't. But then I open my movecoach app and look at the standings! Health and family are my motivation...and trying keep my top 5 position [on the leaderboard].
What is the most rewarding part of the Shea Moves 750,000-Mile Challenge? Feeling good about yourself, and seeing what you can accomplish when you set your mind to it. I love this app and this challenge! I've lost 10 pounds since I started it.
What advice would you give to your fellow challengers? Keep moving! I know there are days you think you can't. But anything is possible! Before you know it, walking 6, 7 or 8 miles are just part of the day.
Share your movecoach success story here!
Click here to join the Shea Moves 750,000-Mile Challenge
Download movecoach moves Shea app for iPhone or Android.
