00;00;25;28 – 00;00;38;00

Ryan

Hello good people and welcome to the pursuit of podcast where it’s truly not us. It’s you. I’m Ryan Buck, Artist Development New Leonard Media. With me is the boss, Mark Wilson, President, New Leonard Media. How are you, sir?

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Mark

I’m doing great. It’s nice out. The sun is. I’m going to go for a jog as well.

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Ryan

Too much about us. I’m embarrassed, actually. More importantly, our guest today is Carie Wille, executive director at Traverse City Track Club. How are you?

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Carie Wille, Traverse City Track Club

I’m well, thank you. And thank you for having me.

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Ryan

And thank you for allowing us to get your name correct and get all the stuff fired by five so we don’t start off on the wrong foot. And if you don’t mind, we’ve started asking a question at the top that we’ve liked. And I want to kind of start with this and see where it goes with you. So imagine you’re at an event.

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Ryan

It could be business. So show a party. We’re doing that again. Let’s say you’re at a party and somebody comes up and just says, What do you do? You know, that’s just one of those questions. What’s that answer? What’s the party answer? What do you do?

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Carie Wille, Traverse City Track Club

Well, I’m the executive director of the Traverse City Track Club, and that means a lot of things. It includes, you know, doing programing and events for runners and walkers. And it’s also a big piece of our mission is our charitable giving. We do a scholarship and grant program, and we also happen to put on a pretty significantly sized event on Memorial Day weekend, which is the Bayshore race weekend with the Marathon Half Marathon and 10-K.

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Ryan

Well, okay, So you said a lot there. You said a lot that that people could recognize here if you’re from here, maybe if you’re not. So Bay Shore pops up charitable giving. So let’s say you have a little semicircle around you at the party. Now, that was enough to get things going. What kind of questions do you normally get and are they good ones?

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Carie Wille, Traverse City Track Club

A big question I get is, is that a full time job?

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Ryan

I okay, may I? I can’t believe how often that is the answer to that question on this show. Really? I just now I have goose bumps because that is a commonality that keeps coming up. Wow. Wait, You can pay your bills doing that, please.

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Carie Wille, Traverse City Track Club

Yes, that’s correct. That’s a question I get quite often. And I’m just over two months into the job and I’ve been asked that a few times. But yes, it is a full time job and then some.

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Ryan

So that’s the answer. Initially. Were you surprised that that was a question you got or were you prepared for that?

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Carie Wille, Traverse City Track Club

I was a little surprised, really. But then they started understanding, well, you know, maybe we’ve got to do a little bit of a better job telling your story. I don’t know.

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Ryan

You know. Okay. Well, I didn’t want to sashay this in to maybe an indictment in your messaging, because, as you said, two months into the job. But you know, that party question, you know, maybe the better question that we should be asking is what makes you happy? And then get into what you do. But that’s the question, right?

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Ryan

And it’s very clear that this makes you happy because I’m seeing your reaction. So what do you say to people who struggle to see running is something you do maybe more than potentially to lose weight or when somebody is chasing you? How do you explain running as a community to somebody who just can’t even come to terms with that?

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Carie Wille, Traverse City Track Club

Yeah, I for me, running just provides so much in my life in terms of the social aspect. Some of my best friends are people that I run with, but also from like a just a way to get away and kind of noodle through some things on your own and your own time. And then, you know, the physical benefits.

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Carie Wille, Traverse City Track Club

And I just think it’s running has given more to me than I could ever give back to it. But if there’s a way that I could give back a little bit by being, you know, in this position for the track club, I’m going to short try.

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Ryan

Right. Well, you mentioned it’s a community. You talked about how you’ve made connections and it’s given something to you, you know, running related. You know, what could it give to you? More than more than that? You know what? What surprised you about your journey in this?

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Carie

You know, one thing that surprised me in my I have been a lifelong runner. I started probably when I was in middle school and then followed my own.

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Ryan

Because you had to or because you wanted to. Your mind was, you know, you had to do track in school and you liked it, or did you find yourself moved towards it?

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Carie

Well, we definitely had an if you guys remember the presidential mile where like we had to and I grew up in Minnesota and we had to do the fitness test. Yes. Yes. And like so there definitely was that component where I.

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Ryan

Do remember that. Yeah, I remember that.

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Carie Wille, Traverse City Track Club

Yes, there was that component. And also we had a, you know, a cross-country program at the school. I went to a small school and I chose to join it. I also there’s a little bit of that younger sister mentality where my older sister was doing it, so I was like, Oh, I’m going to try it. And so.

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Ryan

Interesting.

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Carie

She did cross-country and track. So I tried cross-country and track, but little known fact basketball was actually my first love.

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Ryan

Really? Oh.

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Mark

Wow.

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Ryan

So, okay, you can do both.

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Carie

Yes. Yes.

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Ryan

What what advantages are there to being a fast and agile basketball.

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Mark

Player where you.

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Ryan

Don’t slow down at times? Do they have to wait you down?

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Carie

I would say the.

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Mark

Slow.

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Carie Wille, Traverse City Track Club

Speed and the running spectrum, I’m probably more of an endurance person than a speed person, so I could I could make it through like a full basketball game. Oh, yes, definitely.

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Ryan

Well, you’ve been here three years. You’ve been in this role a shorter amount of time. But at this point, what aspects of this community are most inspiring for you to talk about?

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Carie Wille, Traverse City Track Club

I if I can tell a story, I remember the first time that I visited Traverse City. My husband and I were visiting and I went for a run along Grand Traverse Parkway along the West Bay, and then I somehow found my way back on Leelanau Trail out a few miles into the woods. And I came back and I remember coming back to the hotel room and telling my husband, This place is special.

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Carie Wille, Traverse City Track Club

Like just the setting and the the lake and then going into the woods and that feeling of just being part of nature. And then on top of that, all the people that were out running, walking, biking on the trail, it was just inspiring to me and of all ages and abilities. It did not matter. Just ran the spectrum and I moved from a location that had a strong trail system and an active culture.

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Carie Wille, Traverse City Track Club

But this just felt just a little different.

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Ryan

Fascinating. So you noticed and maybe this is because of your professional trajectory, you noticed the things around you. You noticed that there were people enjoying what we have here, but you noticed that people of all abilities, if I may hone in on that, there, there are barriers to many people in physical activity, and that’s being addressed more, I think, And a lot in this community.

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Ryan

We see it on the show a lot, addressing, removing barriers. So what kind of barriers are things that really bother you when you see, you know, barriers to being physical and to these kind of things? What kind of barriers are there that you see that need to be addressed at times?

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Carie Wille, Traverse City Track Club

I think sometimes there can be this misunderstanding that to be involved in a running club or in any type of group activity where there’s exercise that you have to be at a certain level, be in certain shape, or look a certain way. And I think that’s absolutely not true. I think that you can come just wherever you are and start where you are.

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Carie Wille, Traverse City Track Club

We as a track club, we you know, we’re we’re technically called a running club, but we welcome walkers and runners. And in fact, at our fun weekly fund runs, we have a group of walkers that come and they start a little earlier and they still join with the group at the end and it’s awesome. So I think I think if we as a running industry as a whole, I think if we can do a better job of portraying in showing, you know, people like to see people that look like them enjoying different events, if we can do a better job of kind of showing that, I think we’d be in a better place.

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Ryan

How well you received your Buckelor’s in housing studies from the University of Minnesota, your master’s in public administration from Hamline University in your career trajectory has followed suit kind of harmoniously, which is interesting because you seem to have done some things that you went to school for. So as early as you can recall for you, what was the dream, the plan and the reality?

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Carie Wille, Traverse City Track Club

It’s funny because I at one point I thought I wanted to be a like a high school fire teacher, physical education.

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Ryan

Okay.

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Carie

Because sports were such a big part of my life. And being that physically active in health and wellness. And then my yeah, my trajectory started changing. I also knew I had an interest in city planning, historic preservation and that type of thing.

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Ryan

And so you kind of different arenas.

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Carie

Extremely different arenas. Yes. Yeah.

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Ryan

I think city planning love come more organically because it seems not like a young person’s pursuit right away. Everybody’s talking about, you know, the new movie out and you’re like, you know what? I think we can probably spread out this housing complex a little better.

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Carie

You know, I didn’t I didn’t leave kindergarten thinking, I want to be a city planner.

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Ryan

That’d be amazing. You know, that particular, you know, parent conference day when they said what they do and the one kids that your mom was a city planner and you’re like, That’s me. Not really.

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Mark

No, no.

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Carie

That definitely came about organically through different, you know, classes that I was exposed to and an internship actually, that I had during college. And that kind of led towards that trajectory specifically, I had a big interest Edmonton Historic Preservation and Architecture. And so I had started looking at pursuing an architecture degree and that’s when I discovered city planning and community development and economic development.

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Carie

So that’s what kind of led me over to that that arena.

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Ryan

Okay, so they are similar. Yeah, one may be more artistic, one is more practical and pragmatic. And does that fit with your type-A personality?

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Carie

Yes.

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Ryan

Okay. Yeah. Okay. So, so, so good fit. And so there were things that you were passionate about. You pursued them and you were successful. Is that a good summation? Up to a point.

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Carie

Yeah. Thank you.

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Ryan

Yes, absolutely. Okay. So I can just say it looks like you were very successful and you’ve accomplished some really amazing things. You’re experienced at economic development, city planning and community development. How how much of those skills are going into kind of what you’re doing now? Because I have to think a lot of them do.

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Carie

Well, it’s you know, it’s kind of funny because when I heard that this position was opening up and that the previous executive director was retiring, I mentioned it to my husband and his first response was, Well, you’re going to apply for that, aren’t you? And I thought, Oh, I guess I well, I think he just saw like that is just melding your your professional background and experience with like your passion, your personal love for running and being active.

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Ryan

And so he saw this first. I essentially I.

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Carie

Guess I should give him credit. Yeah. Yeah.

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Ryan

And he knows you well enough to. I think that’s wonderful to say. This looks like a good fit for you. That’s a good team.

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Carie

Yeah, it is. It is. I should probably thank him for that.

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Ryan

You can, you can do it here officially if you want to. But so some of those skills that that may that seems kind of next level honestly I’m sure that they were thrilled to see your pedigree and go wow, this is somebody interested in helping us.

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Carie

I, I think that yes, I think that the board knows that each organization has different phases that they go through and that they’re now. So I replaced who was the first paid executive director for the track club, which that was a big deal for that organization to go from a volunteer working board to hiring a full time staff person and then I am the second person to fill that role.

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Carie

And so we’re they’re just the track club as a whole in the board was at this transition point and recognized, okay, maybe there’s some opportunities here for our organization, including looking at updating our strategic plan. So I think they focused on, you know, looking to fill that position with, you know, someone that maybe has some experience with those pieces.

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Ryan

Right. Well, that was a very modest way of saying that. And I’m going to take that further and say this is a business. A lot of myths are dispelled. You know, And a big one on this show is the myth of a nonprofit. So it is a business. Things have to happen. It’s an organization. You have a lot of members, you have a lot under your purview.

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Ryan

Even if you go to the website and look at all the programs.

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Carie

Yes, that’s right. And that’s maybe one of those things, like you mentioned, could be a myth or a misunderstanding that we. Yeah, we have last year we ended the year with over 800 members and that’s a lot of responsibility. You have a lot of people that you’re trying to help and trying to help them reach goals or whatever that might be.

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Carie

And you put on a lot of programs and events and then on top of that, we are lucky enough that we have the Bay Shore Marathon that we put on that not all running clubs have an awesome popular event like that that brings in thousands of people to their community. And so we we definitely recognize that and don’t take that for granted that we we have this awesome opportunity.

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Carie

Right.

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Ryan

You mentioned the the first executive director for for the organization and she’s somebody who has a long history with it going back to the eighties. So that was probably pretty thrilling to have that knowledge. What were the key questions that you needed to ask her?

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Carie

I, I am still asking her and I will continue.

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Ryan

She is still part of the organization, so I didn’t want to say, Oh, of course. Like what were the things you needed to know from her, from her voice?

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Carie

You know, I really wanted to hear what do you think are the strengths of this organization and where what do you think are the key pieces? And she definitely you know, it’s it’s the members and it’s and it’s her charitable giving are we are so proud of those pieces and we can’t talk about it enough. And then I, of course, would have to ask also, you know, what are the opportunities to what are we what could we be doing differently.

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Carie

Yeah, focusing on.

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Ryan

Well, you talked about charitable giving and and I’m very fascinated by history. You look at the website and the origin of the Traverse City Track Club is really unique to me. And I’m just going to read just a little bit of the start and we’re going to extrapolate this a little bit. So the Traverse City Track Club started in 1962 with a small group of running enthusiasts coming together each week to see how fast and far they could run.

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Ryan

That sounds like a very masculine thing to be doing. You look at the photo mostly, gentlemen. I mean, that’s key for the time. That sounds like a very competitive and that’s not specific to gender, but that sounds like and now obviously today it’s much more diverse. And there’s so many individuals involved. Is it important to you to look at history at all?

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Ryan

And what kind of what do you take from history? Or does it not really pay to look back?

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Carie

I definitely love to look to history and in so many aspects I mentioned I love historic preservation from a built environment standpoint. I’ve always been fascinated by that, even since a child and even from a personal family history standpoint. I’m one of those people who likes to look up like genealogy and ancestry records. And if I had more time, I would love to dig in that more.

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Carie

Maybe when my kids have graduated high school and off.

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Ryan

Because you have to when they’re pretty young still at this point.

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Carie

Are Yeah, yeah, four and a half in almost two years.

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Ryan

Oh my goodness. Okay.

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Mark

Yeah, I was raised by a genealogist.

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Carie

Oh, we got to talk.

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Mark

Can secret publication predates the the interwebs. And so I grew up collating family trees that got people subscribed to and we would send off and then, oh yeah we.

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Carie

Need, we need to do a podcast on that. Yeah.

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Ryan

Yeah. He’s right. Yeah.

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Carie

It, that yeah that fascinates me. I love knowing where we’ve been, where we’ve been as a family, as a, as an individual, where your roots are, where you come from and also as an organization, because I really think that can help steer you and help you understand where you’re going to go in the future. Right. I’m just I’ve always felt that just do you.

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Ryan

Find that ever in business that rooting in tradition and innovation can become adversarial concepts?

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Carie

That’s the other thing. Yes. I think I think they can. And I think there’s an opportunity, though, if you look at your traditions that maybe didn’t serve you so well, they can help push you in the right way to and be more innovative.

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Mark

Some people have a problem with hearing, well, this is how we’ve always done it, you know.

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Ryan

And some people will say those are the most dangerous words in business. Yeah. So it’s an interesting balance. Traverse City is an area that has a lot of history and a lot of legacy organizations. But innovation is the buzzword of the time. So I find it fascinating how individuals like yourself balance that to honor that in your new and how do you position yourself in that way, you know, to be seen as a part of the organization.

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Ryan

But you’re still a leader, right?

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Carie

Because you want to respect the history and the individuals that have put so much time and effort into that certain thing and, you know, blood, sweat and tears and it’s mostly usually always done with the right intention owns. And you also want to honor and know that there’s the future of the organization. You want to steer it in that direction and also appeal to the maybe people that haven’t been involved in the past or the younger generations that are going to come come the future.

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Ryan

Yeah, that’s wonderful. And maybe history is a way to to get young people involved because I found that younger individuals, especially in this community, are a little more engaged in what’s going on in their community because it’s smaller and because, yes, there’s a lot of information at one time, but the sense of community helps with young people, which is a focus for you.

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Carie

Yes. In its what we’re hearing just at running industry conferences and and different things that I’m reading is that younger generation is looking to be involved in the events and organizations that have some type of method of giving back. And so we we’re trying, you know, to tell that story that we focus on that and that is part of our mission.

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Carie

And so we are hoping that we can appeal to that. That group that is looking for that.

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Ryan

You’re finding that that is uplifting to young people, is that that giving back component? I think that that’s wonderful to hear. Yeah.

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Carie

That’s what that’s what we’re hearing. Yeah. Through the through the running industry and especially when they’re looking at like specific events, like if they’re looking for to be involved in something, it may not necessarily some of course there’s a competitive piece that they may not be looking to get their next personal record at a race, but if they see that there’s like a charitable giving partnership there, they might be a little bit more inclined to participate in that.

00;20;02;20 – 00;20;23;22

Ryan

That could be a difference maker because with with youth in our community, there are a lot of poles for their time. There could be sports, there could be video games, it could be they’re in an after school program because their parents have to work or because there’s a meal involved. And, you know, so you’re providing sometimes service in a way for for families.

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Carie

I, I think if you look.

00;20;25;14 – 00;20;25;29

Ryan

At it that way.

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Carie

Yeah I think yeah, I think you can look at it that way and there’s opportunity to look into that even further. We this year was the first year that we formally had a youth membership category. Kids could always join, but we actually formally made a category of it and it’s a it’s a cheaper rate than our adult membership.

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Carie

And so and we’ve seen a good amount of interest in that. And even at our some of our especially our community races, we see, you know, high interest in that as well.

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Ryan

Amazing giving we we interact with a lot of individuals and organizations doing a lot of good. Look at a lot of websites and a lot of information about organizations doing good and you are clearly community and giving focused you look at the website and it’s interesting at the top community is the first thing in giving is the first thing you can click on right, top left and under that you have charitable gifts, you have scholarships, you have the golden shoe Fund, you have a Healthy Schools initiative, and there’s a lot of information under there.

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Ryan

So was that always the case in the organization speaking to history? Is this this giving focus and where do you see it going?

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Carie

I, you know, like most programs, it’s been ever evolving, but ever since I would say the the track club as a whole saw this opportunity, especially through the Bayshore Marathon and as it grew in popularity, they saw an opportunity that we are being so supportive by our community and the people around us that are coming to do this event like we we want to give back.

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Carie

And so there was a lot of work done with partner organizations where there was planned giving and then it, you know, turned into or morphed into like a formalized grant program and formalized scholarship program as well.

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Ryan

So and you have programs that give to other organizations that give back.

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Carie

Yes. In fact, our newest event, which is going to help happen on June 10th called Loop the Lake, and it will be following the Boardman Lake Loop Trail that was completed last summer. We were so excited. It’s been a long time in the making from a completion of the trail standpoint and also from the actual race happening, But we’re really excited that that’s going to be happening on June 10th, and all proceeds from that race will go back to the heart trails.

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Ryan

Amazing. And you mentioned partners start trail. What when you’re looking and I know it’s a little early but you know you have a lot of experience what do you look for in a partner? What are tenets of a partner that are critical for you?

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Carie

I think first and foremost, definitely if their missions somewhat align with our mission is definitely something that we want to take a look at. And and there’s a lot of and that’s the same thing with, you know, when we’re looking at our grant programs as well as our even our scholarships to our to individuals is, you know, are they showing that they align with what our mission is?

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Carie

And, you know, can we see, you know, that partnership going forward?

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Ryan

And there is and hopefully you’re finding a shortage of those kind of opportunities because looking at this opportunity and seeing your analytical and business mind, you had to be factoring all the all those considerations. So where the all the stars aligned in that regard for you to be like, I can make this difference here.

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Carie

Yeah, I think so. I, yeah, I felt like, yeah, there’s a way that I can bring in my personal experience and some of the skills and I’ve been able to gain and be lucky enough to obtain over the years and, and then merge it with this passion of running that I’ve had for most of my life. It’s like, Oh.

00;24;02;13 – 00;24;25;09

Ryan

Well, you were the economic development manager in Maple Grove, Minnesota, which is the 11th most populous city in Minnesota, which is astounding. And this is, you know, for perspective. Right? And you look at the kind of things that an economic development manager has to do in that city. There’s more retail in any other city. I think second to the Mall of America, which is is huge.

00;24;25;24 – 00;24;48;29

Ryan

Cisco lives there. So the the originator of the Thong Song, former Governor Jesse Ventura. Yeah. So this is where you come from. You had led things like that. Are there any anecdotal things from times like that that you brought in the interview process? I’m always curious as to, you know, when somebody looks at a big thing like that, what did you have to Because that’s not a small feat.

00;24;49;00 – 00;24;53;13

Ryan

You know, somebody may say a little town in Minnesota, but that’s not not small potatoes.

00;24;53;19 – 00;24;58;19

Carie

Well, Cisco and Jesse Ventura did not come up in my interview. Perhaps they did, but no, they did.

00;24;58;25 – 00;25;01;27

Ryan

You didn’t just have a thong song in the background for ambiance? I didn’t.

00;25;01;27 – 00;25;03;08

Carie

Come like with it on my.

00;25;03;08 – 00;25;08;00

Ryan

Shoulder. I may not have brought it up either, but it is a podcast, so we can we’re having a little more fun.

00;25;09;04 – 00;25;10;22

Mark

Should be points against them for not.

00;25;12;17 – 00;25;29;12

Ryan

Yeah. Did they research you properly but did you, did you draw on any of that in that, in that process did, did anybody hone in on any of those things and say what did you do to bring anything like that here? Just for people listening how to interview for these high level positions?

00;25;29;12 – 00;25;56;01

Carie

I think there was definitely a chance to make like those those connections and the crossovers where there’s similarities, especially in like the the skill set that you use in that type of position, especially like relationship building that’s so important in any position. But you kind of sometimes it can get forgotten when it’s under the list of like you have your to do list ten items long and it’s like, that’s probably the most important piece.

00;25;56;01 – 00;26;11;23

Carie

And especially when you’re working in economic development, community development, and you know, you have to have a trust with other people. And that’s the same way with with working with a nonprofit organization, right? Sure. And a membership based nonprofit organization is, you know, definitely.

00;26;11;24 – 00;26;27;27

Ryan

Sure. And there is a membership component. There’s other there’s so many different ways people can engage. So if somebody is new, somebody is a little timid, aside from maybe talking to somebody who’s already a member apart, what’s the best way to even get started?

00;26;28;16 – 00;26;55;06

Carie

We love to promote and encourage people to attend our weekly fund runs. I think that gives people a really good sense of the track club and the sense of community and the fun that we have. We hold them weekly Wednesday nights 6:30 p.m. and they change around town. We usually start at a local brewery and there’s a three or five mile option walk or run any place and you can end if you want.

00;26;55;06 – 00;27;15;23

Carie

You can socialize afterwards at the establishments and it’s just a a really good time. And we usually we don’t embarrass new people, but we do ask if anybody’s new because we want other people to give a chance to say hello and go up and welcome them. You don’t have to be a member, but I think it just gives a good feel for our organization and how welcoming people are and how much fun we have.

00;27;15;23 – 00;27;31;28

Ryan

And you’re starting at a at a local brewery, so, you know, supporting the community. If anybody is feeling like maybe it’s not the time, they can just go back on in and maybe, yeah, try it again. But that’s that sense of community you’re talking about to try it. Because even the words fun run some people mean like, what’s fun about that?

00;27;32;28 – 00;27;54;01

Ryan

So you have to kind of deal with that. You know, it is it is marketing. It’s a brand, but individuals who just can’t see past the run, Right. So you need to keep showing in the videos are that there’s a video on the site specifically that really shows that part of it. But is that going to continue to be a struggle even in a small community like ours?

00;27;54;18 – 00;28;23;07

Carie

Yeah, I mean, I think we do need to look at it as an organization, our storytelling and our our branding and is there a way to look at it a little differently? I think there’s definitely opportunities because I think it can be intimidating for anyone to show up to a new something, whether it’s an event where there might be a lot of people that they especially if they don’t know anyone, I mean, there’s always opportunities they think to, yeah, look at that a little different.

00;28;23;08 – 00;28;47;25

Ryan

In the fact that it sounds like it’s welcoming. Yeah, it is. And it’s not intimidating. Regardless of your skill level and you can improve. You can. This is something that you can start at a level and if you’d like to support, you can reach goals because this is a goal oriented sport. This is a goal oriented endeavor. There’s a lot of people I see who are very intense.

00;28;48;29 – 00;29;09;10

Carie

Yes, I love to see that runners are just the best people because they generally are very welcoming. Whether you’re at a weekly fund run that happens every week or you’re at a race that you’ve never been at in your life, in your lining up and, you know, people will just talk to you, though, encourage you. When you’re getting to the finish line, you’re struggling.

00;29;09;10 – 00;29;30;21

Carie

There’s always somebody there that you know, whether you’ve met them or not. And also, yes, there’s goals and it can be goals. It doesn’t necessarily have to be. You’re trying to reach a personal record in the marathon. It could just be that you’re just trying to finish your first five K and that’s a goal in itself. Or you’re trying to get out and run your first mile.

00;29;30;29 – 00;29;35;09

Carie

And if we can help people reach that goal, we would love to.

00;29;35;19 – 00;29;48;03

Ryan

Is it difficult to compartmentalize if you have to just understand and balance the needs between the serious competitive runner and the casual runner when it comes to events and things to make it fun for everybody?

00;29;48;07 – 00;30;23;06

Carie

It can be challenging sometimes. There’s definitely opportunities there. It’s like any organization when you’re trying to, you know, appeal to the masses and get your different compartments of or category as I guess of of members, because there’s definitely runs the gamut from your social member who’s just looking to maybe walk, which is awesome to those that are they’re kind of in it to, you know, just stay in shape to those that are meet a fitness goal or I should say a wellness health and wellness goal to those people that are very competitive and they are trying to get a feel.

00;30;23;06 – 00;30;44;10

Ryan

I mean, these are some people who have a bucket list, things that they’re doing. They’re really trying to complete one half marathon runs in a lifetime. And so you imagine, like, get out of my way because I got something to do. But it’s clearly a community that’s understanding. You don’t have to deal with that kind of thing, you know, but you’re aware that there are different goal levels and everybody’s got a place.

00;30;44;10 – 00;31;05;04

Carie

And we try to offer enough programs and events where no matter where you fall in that spectrum, you can find what you’re looking for like a fun run. I mean, there are some people that may run it kind of fast, but it’s meant to be fun and at a leisurely pace. However you want to make it. But then we do offer races where, if you do are working hard for a goal, you can go and try and accomplish that goal.

00;31;05;04 – 00;31;14;10

Carie

And we try. And even all in one race, we will try an offer that we’re like, It might be a wave start. So the people that are shooting for a really fast pace, they will line up.

00;31;14;10 – 00;31;19;12

Ryan

Towards the front. So like a progressive start. Okay, so the time can be okay.

00;31;19;12 – 00;31;20;18

Carie

Sure. Yeah. So it’s chip time.

00;31;20;18 – 00;31;22;28

Ryan

Yeah, that makes sense. Oh wait, that’s the terminology.

00;31;23;03 – 00;31;23;29

Carie

Chip time chat.

00;31;23;29 – 00;31;24;13

Ryan

Timed.

00;31;24;13 – 00;31;28;25

Carie

So each runner has their bib and there’s a little electronic chip and.

00;31;28;29 – 00;31;29;28

Ryan

Okay, I didn’t know that.

00;31;29;28 – 00;31;30;19

Carie

The bib.

00;31;30;25 – 00;31;32;01

Ryan

Yes, right here.

00;31;32;01 – 00;31;36;11

Carie

So. So here you need to come in to loop the lake. I think.

00;31;36;11 – 00;31;55;03

Ryan

You know, I do. You know Bay Shore Marathon. It’s I mean, being in the hospitality community for a long time, of course, these things are are a delight. So I love the fact that we have the good fight five K Almost all that you do gives back bay shore marathon has has given back over two and a half million dollars to this community.

00;31;55;13 – 00;32;10;22

Ryan

So those aspects of of the events. Where is your focus right now in what kind of part of your day is focused on the events and do you want to expand because they’re not easy to put on. So where are you at as it relates to events?

00;32;10;28 – 00;32;42;12

Carie

In terms of events right now, day to day focus is definitely ramping up for be sure, because that is Memorial Day weekend. And then also loop the lake, which I mentioned before, which happens on June 10th, and that is our newest event. And to give some perspective, the track club hasn’t put on a new event in oh gosh, it’s at least is it 11 years I want to say and that we didn’t even start that someone our previous executive director started that Lisa Taylor started farmland five K on her own.

00;32;42;12 – 00;33;08;07

Carie

And then when she became executive director, it kind of came with her. So, yeah, it just gives an idea that when we look at putting on a new event and we say yes to event, we take it very seriously because we want it to be a great event and a great experience for everyone involved. And a lot of times the focus is definitely and it should be on the participants, but also the spectators, the volunteers, our sponsors, the neighborhood, the organizations that are affected.

00;33;08;07 – 00;33;13;17

Carie

So we we do put a lot of time and a lot of planning into putting on our events and making sure.

00;33;13;17 – 00;33;14;12

Ryan

That their safety.

00;33;14;19 – 00;33;15;14

Carie

And say yes.

00;33;16;03 – 00;33;39;10

Ryan

Which is it’s not just fine a good stretch of road and start finish and we’re good. There’s so many different things that go into putting these on, so much so that you have dedicated staff to some of the events. So where is your bandwidth as it relates to to these kind of things? Are do you have to kind of put your foot down and stop yourself from working 24 hours a day?

00;33;39;10 – 00;33;45;19

Ryan

Or where does it begin and end? Because you’re a runner by you’re never stopping by definition.

00;33;46;04 – 00;34;07;21

Carie

There’s a little bit of a fine line between your personal and professional life. Yeah, there’s a little bit. And that goes back to when I say marrying my passions with my professional experience. And so, yeah, sometimes you got to check in a little bit and make sure. But we do utilize independent contractors to help put on almost all of our grants because we wouldn’t be able to do it without it.

00;34;07;21 – 00;34;27;19

Carie

So my focus can hopefully for the most part, stay with, you know, I’m serving the membership and my board and the high level things and like updating our strategic plan, for instance. But there is definitely some day to day, especially when we’re getting a new event going, right, because we want to make sure that our track code brand is staying with the entire planning of the event.

00;34;27;24 – 00;34;50;19

Ryan

In branding, that’s a sometimes a dirty word, right as it comes into play with giving in. But it’s a reality. And if you look, there’s merchandise. I was driving last night and I saw a lot of runners with so serendipitously I saw the shirts and, you know, that seemed kind of nice. But it is a thing that has to happen and it’s important.

00;34;50;19 – 00;34;56;17

Ryan

Right? Would you say that, you know, you’re as an are very proud of the brands that you’ve created with these events?

00;34;57;00 – 00;35;17;22

Carie

Yes, most definitely. We take a lot of time and pride ourselves that when we put an event, it is done right and you can’t address every single hiccup that might happen. But we sure try to get ahead of time and make sure that and provide that level of customer service people want to see. And with we actually are the largest running club in Michigan.

00;35;17;22 – 00;35;31;18

Carie

And with that and putting on the Bayshore event, which the Bayshore Marathon is actually the fastest marathon in Michigan, we produced the most Boston Marathon qualifiers out of any marathon in Michigan. So with that comes.

00;35;32;00 – 00;35;33;26

Ryan

That’s a pretty great start that it’s.

00;35;33;26 – 00;35;55;22

Carie

Also yeah it’s a very it’s an especially this year side note with the Olympics coming up a lot of people are trying to qualify for the Olympic time trials and so you have to get a certain time in order to just make it to the race to try and qualify for the Olympics for the three spots. And so we are working hard to get sanctions.

00;35;55;22 – 00;36;07;25

Carie

So that are we have some fast runners that are coming this year and they are gunning for that time. And so with that comes opportunities and some. We just want to make sure that we’re doing it right and doing a good job.

00;36;07;25 – 00;36;18;25

Ryan

What a fascinating element of this world, knowing that producing these high level athletes and and competitors. Yeah, and a very significant event.

00;36;19;01 – 00;36;28;11

Carie

Yeah. I mean be sure definitely has a reputation for being fast and flat, except the half marathon has a bit of a hill at the beginning. Just so where.

00;36;28;26 – 00;36;33;29

Ryan

Does it attract? What’s the farthest gas to come to participate? Is that a stat that you.

00;36;33;29 – 00;36;35;10

Carie

Have or I mean.

00;36;35;10 – 00;36;36;23

Ryan

Just to give perspective as to.

00;36;36;24 – 00;36;41;24

Carie

Why we get participants nationwide, I don’t I can give you a stat on the.

00;36;41;25 – 00;36;45;05

Ryan

Foot. There is a I mean, people come from all over.

00;36;45;08 – 00;36;51;14

Carie

Definitely the biggest pole is from Michigan in the Midwest for sure. But yes, we do get people nationwide.

00;36;51;15 – 00;36;52;06

Ryan

That’s a wonderful.

00;36;52;09 – 00;36;55;19

Carie

Traverse City is a great place to come in Memorial Day weekend. So.

00;36;55;25 – 00;36;56;05

Ryan

Correct.

00;36;56;08 – 00;36;58;02

Carie

I mean, it’s awesome that we have that.

00;36;58;10 – 00;37;15;11

Ryan

And you’re talking about this now. You’ve talked about this in various capacities. And again, I’m looking at your I wish this was a visual medium sometimes because the joy in your face is wonderful, but you do have a podcast that’s called Run Around Town. What’s happening with that? Because we talked about branding and getting the message out, something that you do.

00;37;15;22 – 00;37;17;21

Ryan

How is that going? Are you doing anything with that?

00;37;18;01 – 00;37;29;26

Carie

That’s something we need to take a look at as an organization because there’s been a bit of a pause put on it with in the middle of COVID and everything, but I think there’s definitely a possibility there to bring that back.

00;37;30;05 – 00;37;53;01

Ryan

It’s well done. The episodes are on the on the website. And again, you see people’s passion, you hear the passion, and there’s a lot of interesting guests. We talked about taht trail connection here, so it’s a fantastic podcast. And to close out, I’m going to ask you again, no tricky questions, but your husband is a big fan of college football, big fan of University of Iowa.

00;37;53;01 – 00;38;10;07

Ryan

Go Hawks. Your first day, it was on Leap Day, which I know you’re having trouble celebrating, but did you run on your first date and how did two runners spot each other for a relationship? And how do you know that you’re compatible? We So did you run on your first date?

00;38;10;20 – 00;38;17;23

Carie

We did not run on our first date. So we actually met at a bar and restaurant in northeast Minneapolis. Perfect. First days.

00;38;18;19 – 00;38;26;15

Ryan

But you ran eventually. I mean, how how did you how did two runners find or walkers, you know, competitors, how do they find each other?

00;38;26;16 – 00;38;43;27

Carie

I like to say that he helped make me faster because we would train for this. There’s this great event in the Twin Cities called the Twin Cities ten Mile, and it’s the same morning as the Twin Cities Marathon and we trained and ran that a few times. And if I would train with him, he has a much longer stride than I would.

00;38;43;27 – 00;38;49;20

Carie

And I was struggling. I would struggle to keep up with him. And so I just see that he helped make me a face That helped you.

00;38;50;12 – 00;38;52;28

Mark

Well, yes. Yes.

00;38;53;05 – 00;39;03;26

Ryan

And thank you so much for that candor, because I just think that’s fascinating. And I, I don’t know if it’s important to celebrate first dates, but I’m sorry. You have a challenge for every four years. I think you can celebrate your first date.

00;39;03;26 – 00;39;07;22

Carie

Yeah. That just makes it really extra special when it it is four years is.

00;39;08;05 – 00;39;16;24

Ryan

Well, how can anybody support, donate, get involved. There’s a lot of ways. What are the best ways to even connect with you if you’re open with to that? What are the best?

00;39;16;25 – 00;39;38;25

Carie

Oh, for sure. I think the best way is to start with our website to track webcam and then we have a Facebook page and an Instagram page as and we also have some offshoots, like a specific page for Bay Shore Marathon. But yes, that’s the best way to find us and get a hold of us. And yeah, we love to chat and talk and talk to people that are interested in joining and.

00;39;39;15 – 00;39;42;20

Ryan

Help or support in any way. You can donate through the website.

00;39;42;20 – 00;39;43;06

Carie

Yes.

00;39;43;21 – 00;39;54;12

Ryan

And find other ways to to support the organization as well and that’s WW WTraverse City Track Club dot com and there are some events coming up did you want to remind listeners about the events coming up again.

00;39;54;18 – 00;40;15;28

Carie

Yes so memorial Day weekend, the Saturday of Memorial Day is our Bay Shore races and that includes a ten k half marathon and a marathon as well as a kids event, which is very fun. There’s an opportunity for kids in grades, kindergarten through fifth grade to run, walk, hike, 25 miles leading up to the event at different times, of course.

00;40;15;28 – 00;40;46;17

Carie

And then on Bayshore Marathon Day, they can actually run 1.2 miles in 25 plus 1.2 equals 26.2 a marathon. So they can complete a kids marathon that way. Wow. So we partner with local schools to do that. And so we’re we’re very proud of that. And being able to bring that back after COVID. And then also we the Thursday night before of Memorial Day weekend, we are kicking off the event with a actually a live podcast recording down at the City Opera House with Allie Feller.

00;40;46;17 – 00;41;19;23

Carie

She is the host of Ali on the Run. It’s a world famous running podcast. Wonderful. Bringing in Emma Bates, who is a world championship marathoner. And so anyone that wants to can go on to our website and get tickets to that podcast recording and we’re looking at as a way to kick off the weekend and celebrate. Just try to see community in general hoping that people that go to the podcast can then go out downtown, have dinner, check out the restaurants and you know, give back and say thank you to our business community for sharing in the love of our better weekend.

00;41;20;01 – 00;41;21;28

Carie

And then also loop the lake on June 10th.

00;41;21;28 – 00;41;22;23

Ryan

That’s wonderful.

00;41;23;12 – 00;41;26;03

Mark

You want to say more about June? About the one in June?

00;41;26;08 – 00;41;36;06

Carie

Oh, sure. So Loop the lake is on June 10th, and that is our inaugural event. It is a four mile trail race around Boardman Lake. You know, you.

00;41;36;06 – 00;41;41;01

Ryan

Said this was one of the first new events for you in quite a while. So this is exciting.

00;41;41;03 – 00;42;04;16

Carie

This is very exciting and it’s very exciting, I think, just for the entire Traverse City area and region with the completion of that trail, we’ve really wanted to look at it as a celebration of the hard work and the persistence and a passion that has gone into the completion of that trail. And so we were hoping to get that the race on the books last summer when the trail was actually completed.

00;42;04;25 – 00;42;15;05

Carie

But we’re still happy that we get the opportunity in June and we’re looking for it’s open to runners and walkers alike and registration and just opened up and you can get to the registration through our website as well.

00;42;15;06 – 00;42;30;17

Ryan

This has been extraordinary. Thank you so much for your time. Thank you so much for your pursuits. And to all those pursuing with you, promoting and encouraging health, fitness, family, recreation and competition for all individuals in our communities and for all you do to give back to the community as well. It’s really, really amazing.

00;42;30;19 – 00;42;32;24

Carie

Well, thank you. Thank you for having me. I really appreciate.

00;42;32;24 – 00;42;38;23

Ryan

It. It is our pleasure. And to our listeners, thank you all for listening. And thank you so much for pursuing the positive.

00;42;39;25 – 00;43;10;26

Mark

Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for joining us again on the pursuit of podcast, The Pursuit of Traverse City Track Club. We want to thank Carie Wille for joining us and sharing her journey in running. And for more information and to check up on events, memberships and programs and even a volunteer, go to T.C., track Club dot com. And as always, for all things audio, video and podcast production related, go to new Leonard Dot com.