CassieTodtenhagen, Product Manager for HVAC, and Maddy Griffin, Key Account Managerfor the Pacific region, are JM Athletes, best friends and often train and runtogether. Both participated in the 2020,a mountain ultra-trail race. Maddy did the 100K distance, Cassie ran the 55K. Mostpeople can’t even imagine what it’s like to run these long distances. We asked Cassieand Maddy why they run and about their motivation.

Maddy: Irun for so many reasons. Number 1: being that I get to train and share apassion with my best friend and fellow JM employee, Cassie. Second, I alwaysused to put restrictions on what I thought I could and couldn’t do, and runningwas something I never thought I could do. Now, I see every race and every mileas proving myself wrong, because in reality, I don’t have any restrictions onwhat I can do. I ran the Beaverhead 55K last year, and even though I came outwith stitches in my head and broken arm (and fifth place!), I knew I wanted tocome back and prove myself wrong and do the 100K.
Cassie: Forme the reasons why I continue to run are truly captured in JM’s Core Values:
- People:The many friends - inside and outside of JM - that I’ve gained from the sharedconnection of running is unbelievable. The support from my community when Ineeded it most is the main reason I am still running today. Maddy has been arock when it comes to getting over my fear of running and keeping meaccountable to my training. My friends and family helped me push and grow mylimits both physically and mentally.
- Passion:Pushing the limits and finding something that I truly enjoy and can share withthose around me, going the extra mile in both my work and personal life. Theselessons can be as small as telling myself “Just 5 more minutes and you can bedone” all the way through planning and executing a large project over months.
- Perform:Iam committed to always improving my running and in ways that don’t always seemobvious. The first time I ran a mile without stopping was an amazingachievement that I celebrated with equal excitement to my race finish.Performance needs to be sustainable, and I take pride in the small achievementsknowing that they will lead to bigger outcomes down the road.
- Protect:Running can be a very dangerous sport if you do not take care of your body orprepare for a big run properly. I have done extensive research to learn aboutproper body mechanics, fuel, and route preparation to ensure I can continue torun safely for many years to come. Additionally, because I wear a running vestit is easy for me to pick up trash left on the trails to help protect and cleanour world.

Extramile with a smile: “It was so worth it”
Maddy andCassie both finished the Beaverhead Trail Run and that experience was veryemotional as they told us afterwards:
Maddy: Itwent amazing! I did the 100K in 15 hours and 41 min with first in my age groupand fifth overall women and a qualification. I beat my goal time of 19 hours by 3 hours and 20 mins. The 100Kwas definitely the toughest thing I’ve ever done. There were points near theend on the boulder field where I wanted to quit from the burning calves and theburning sun, but I knew it would be worth it in the end. The best things inlife don’t come easy, and I had the best support team in the world behind me.My family and friends were texting me the whole way through. The best part was standing on the ridge andjust taking in everything. The hardest part was easily the 8,800 feet ofelevation gain! Definitely sore, probably going to lose some toenails, but itwas so worth it.
Cassie: Therace went really well. I finished in 11 hours and 19 minutes which was 2.5hours faster than last year! This race was a mix of emotions. While on thecourse I felt happy, scared, angry, loved, and strong. The last 11 miles of thecourse are the most challenging - physically and mentally. There is a 3-mile scree/boulderfield, and then the last 8 miles consist of a steep downhill rocky trail (about6,000 ft of elevation decline over 8 miles). The race coordinators did anexcellent job with setting the race up for social distancing: masks wererequired in all areas where other people were present, packet pick up was nocontact, the aid stations were no contact, and for many parts of the course Icouldn’t see another runner in front or behind me. The overall experience was incredible. Tohave the support of friends and family to help get through training and overthe finish line is the only reason I made it. My overall impression of the runis balance. Experiencing the beautiful outdoors while taking care of thetrails, participating in a race surrounded by a supportive community while alsomaintaining social distancing and altering our normal to keep everyone safe, ahealthy combination of laughing and crying, and most of all finding my limitsand still pushing through until the end. I am so proud of myself and Maddy forgetting to that finish line safely and with a smile.

Maddy andCassie, thank you so much for sharing your story with us. Great to see how theJM family is going the #JMextraMile at work and in sports. This is when we arein our element. We are excited to hear about your future adventures.
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