Hosted by Chandra Wobschall and Paul Houtkooper

Hey JDE Connection listeners – Chandra and Paul here! This episode was a little different for us. No tech talk, no tools, no acronyms, just two friends reflecting on an experience that pushed us physically and mentally: running the Marine Corps Marathon in Washington, D.C. If you listened to the last episode, you know Paul quietly dropped the bombshell that he’d be running his first marathon. Spoiler alert: we both finished! And along the way, we learned a lot about resilience, courage, flexibility, and leadership – on the course and in life.

Courage to Start, Resilience to Finish

Neither of us had the perfect training cycle. Chandra battled COVID weeks before the race and had to rebuild her stamina mile by mile. Paul stuck to the training plan but still hit that infamous wall around mile 18.  What got us through? The same thing that gets you through a tough project or a demanding season at work: showing up even when it’s hard, trusting your preparation, and leaning on your team when you start to doubt yourself. There were moments of discomfort (and maybe a few blisters that made their own dramatic debut), but crossing that finish line wasn’t about a time or a medal; it was about the lessons learned along the way.

Leadership Lessons from the Course

Chandra reflected on how the marathon became a mirror for leadership. Every race and every project starts with a plan but plans rarely survive first contact with reality. Success isn’t always linear. Things change. You get knocked off track. What matters is how you adapt, stay grounded in your purpose, and redefine success when the unexpected happens.

Leadership, like running, isn’t a solo sport. You need people beside you (mentors, coaches, teammates, and friends) to challenge, guide, and encourage you. We both had that in training and on race day, and it reminded us how much stronger we are when we’re part of a supportive team.

The Power of Reflection

After the race, Chandra shared her story on LinkedIn, not to celebrate a personal win, but to highlight that authentic leadership means being open about the messy parts too. When we share our struggles, we help others see they’re not alone. For Paul, the marathon became a lesson in humility and problem-solving. The same mindset that helps you work through a tough project.  Staying flexible, managing setbacks, and focusing on progress applies just as much to the 26.2-mile journey.

As we talked through it, we realized: every day is a chance to adapt, reframe, and keep moving forward. Whether it’s mile 20 of a marathon or a stalled project deadline, perseverance pays off.

Midwesterism of the Day

Of course, no episode would be complete without a little laughter. We joked about how Chandra runs to stay sane, even if that means doing something that sounds a little insane. Paul agreed that insanity might just be part of the process, and we’re both okay with that. And let’s just say, with Trick-o-treat around the corner, our closing story about the Halloween capital of the world and their solution to teenage pranks was the perfect mix of tradition, community, and good-natured mischief.

Until next time, let’s keep learning, sharing, and laughing together.

Toodles!

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