A Fork in the Trail
RIB MOUNTAIN (Silent Sports Magazine) – On Super Bowl Sunday 2019, I realized I was standing at a fork in the road. Since I was skiing, it was an actual fork in the trail. Six months prior, while mountain biking the same trails at Nine Mile, I had learned from my trail companion, Tim Buchholz, about a non-profit called IRONBULL starting up in my hometown. And it was seeking an executive director. At the time, I thought of this position as something that was not a real job, so I immediately dismissed it. After all, I had the highest paying four-year degree and traveled all over the world as a Research & Development Engineer. What fool would walk away from that?
But I couldn’t help thinking: What are the odds an organization focusing on promoting outdoor recreation in my hometown, looking for a champion without any involvement on my part?
For two decades, I had been a passionate skier, trail runner, and mountain biker, dabbling in triathlons and adventure racing (thanks to Tim). Even though I had zero experience working professionally in the sports and non-profit industry, my project management experience teed me up well to organize events. When I wondered out loud to my trail companion, Tim, he said, “You’d be perfect for the position!”
A moment at the finish line between racers with my little ones. Photo credit: Tina Lechner
Over the two-hour ski on the trails, Tim shared more about this position and, by the time I arrived home, I was vigorously dusting off my résumé for the first time in a decade during that 2019 Super Bowl. Luckily, it was one of the most boring Super Bowls ever. (Patriots 13, Rams 3 — and the Patriots are my least favorite team) Suddenly, I was at a fork in my career.
Fast forward just two months later. My last day of work as an engineer was April Fool’s Day. I couldn’t help but wonder if the joke was on me, walking away from such a lucrative career and throwing away my engineering degree, to instead work for a start-up nonprofit. I had never organized an event before, had no idea how to run a business, much less a volunteer-driven organization, and wasn’t sure if I was cut out for the service business. Turns out the approach and timeline to organize, communicate, and manage events mirrors my former life, and I’ve gotten much mileage out of my engineering degree. There was a reason why no one was already organizing these complex events.
As in any job in life, it’s not always glamourous. Sorting garbage, setting up courses in raw temperatures and rain, not being able to sleep for two weeks prior to an event because I’m wondering what we forgot to do, struggling for sponsorships to make events self-sustainable, running around like a chicken with my head cut off trying to fill in for all the volunteers that we didn’t get, didn’t show, or didn’t think of, and being the first to show up and last to leave events.
Handling out finisher medals at the finish line allows a celebration with each racer.
Then COVID hit as we were trying to turn the corner and our biggest event of the year cannot legally hold a gathering. Our next event can only allow 50 people on DNR property. This is when my research & development problem solving skills took charge, creating free IRONBULL events to get our name into the community during the pandemic, and working with several landowners to create two courses entirely on private property.
On the flip side, I get paid to scout trails, talk to people about silent sports, and cheer people on at races with inspirational stories behind each finish. Alongside our countless IRONBULL volunteers, I get to be a part of giving people something to look forward to, challenging people on race day, and impacting the community that has provided me so much.
One thing is for sure: There’s no turning back.
Editor’s Note: Thank you, Andrea, for all you have done for your community and the world of silent sports. Your byline in this magazine is appreciated. There is a passion that contributors have had about showcasing Silent Sports in the upper Midwest since Greg Marr started this venture in 1984. To all contributors, for what you do to improve silent sports and your communities — Thank you!
Originally published by Silent Sport Magazine February 2022
Banner photo credit: Ann Ilagan Photography