This past weekend, I ran the Carlsbad 5000 5K race with coaches on my Beachbody coach team. The race was part of the inaugural Team Run the World race retreat.
The History of Team Run the World – Beachbody Team of Runners
In February 2020, my Beachbody corporate mentor called me and told me that my team was currently ranked in the top 50 in the company (out of hundreds of thousands of coaches!). I was shocked, excited and thrilled. I knew that our team was gaining momentum and having success after a lot of hard work & it felt good to be recognized. However: we didn’t have a team name!
Until that point, I was co-leading a team with my upline coach Kelley. I had 1 year old twins and a 4 year old and it was convenient to collaborate with her during that phase. I was running my own new coach trainings, team calls and mentorships, but I hadn’t officially named our team.
When we got that call about top 50, I knew it was time.
I brainstormed ideas.
I knew I wanted a name that portrayed us as runners, but also didn’t want to exclude any non runners. I wanted a name that was powerful. The women on my team are ambitious & hard working but we are also caring and authentic.
Suddenly it came to me: Team Run the World.
Once I decided on the name, I thought of the Beyonce Song “Who Run the World (Girls)” and I played it. I got a little emotional! I knew as I was listening to the lyrics that Team Run the World was going to go on to do BIG things.
That year we finished in the top 100 as an Elite team and last year we finished number 19 in the entire company.
But more so than rank, one of those BIG things that was important to me was to run races together. I imagined that we would gather together each year for the annual Run the World running retreat.
And then the pandemic happened…. and those plans got put on hold.
Inaugural Team Run the World Beachbody & Running Retreat: Friday
This past weekend, a group Beachbody coaches from our team rented a house in Carlsbad, California (just one town north of where I live). We talked, we ate, we learned, we laughed and we RAN! It was truly the perfect weekend.
Many of the girls had to fly in (and a reason many others couldn’t make it was crazy airline prices right now!!!) so we spent all day Friday in downtown San Diego as everyone arrived. We got coffee and went for a walk on Harbor Island, then had lunch in Little Italy. We shopped, got ice cream and got to know one another. Then we headed up to Mission Hills for cocktails & laughed so hard we cried swapping stories. Dinner was at a fabulous Farm to Table restaurant called Farmer’s Bottega. I got the short rib lasagna and it was AMAZING!
Inaugural Team Run the World Beachbody & Running Retreat: Saturday
On Saturday, you guessed it – we did a long run!
Not everyone on the team is training for a race, but Libby is training for a marathon and I am training for a half. Jen I also training for a marathon but unfortunately she wasn’t able to make it for the entire weekend due to childcare conflicts.
Tara, Libby and I ran 2 miles and then Libby and I continued for another 10, making it 12 total! Meanwhile, Ashley & Hannah did a Beachbody workout at the house and then the 3 of them went to the Expo and walked around while Libby and I finished up.
Libby and I caught up with the girls at the expo after our run and then ate brunch at the house. I had arranged for two top coaches to Zoom in and do trainings for the girls! Both speakers were really great and hearing Erin Young speak was extra special.
Erin Young is the coach who I heard speak on the National Wake Up Call when I was a brand new coach and painted the picture for me that I could make coaching a full time income. She spoke about how she was able to grow her Beachbody coaching income while working full time and how to fit this business into your day when you work full time and are a mom (3 of the coaches on the retreat work full time and 4 of them are or were teachers!). Our second speaker shared tips for staying organized and using your time effectively. Both were great!
After the speakers finished, we did some goal setting and planning. I helped the girls create roadmaps for their end of year and 3 year goals.
That evening we had a photoshoot with my neighbor, an incredible photographer, Shane Fellows and then we made a healthy dinner at home of salmon, Thai quinoa salad and broccoli! We played Never Have I Ever (that was FUN! haha) and laughed even more!
Inaugural Team Run the World Beachbody & Running Retreat: Sunday Carlsbad 5000 Race Day!
Sunday was my favorite day.
The Carlsbad 5000 is a unique race because there are 7 different 5K race waves that happen throughout the morning! There’s a wave for the master’s men, master’s women, 39 and under men, 39 and under women, and a “People’s Race” for walkers and anyone who wants to do it. In the afternoon, there are two professional races – men and women. It’s VERY exciting to be able to watch the pros race on what is considered “the world’s fastest 5K” because many 5K road records have been set there.
The streets are blocked off for the expo and after party for 2 days! There are booths, a live band, and a really good beer garden with Pizza Port craft beer. Retired pro runner, Olympian Meb Keflezighi was there signing his book and also giving out high fives at the finish line!
The women’s 39 and under wave was at 10 AM (Ashley who is over 40 was able to run with us – they are not super strict on this!).
When we left the house all wearing our Run the World tanks and hats (I got the girls running hats as a gift, and then forgot to bring my own with me), I felt a bit emotional. This was it! The day I’d envisioned for so long. When we did a short warm up, I felt my heart swell with pride as people took notice of our coordinating shirts.
We met up with Marisa, a coach who came down just for the day, at the start line. My goal for the race was to prove I could run well on tired legs ( in addition to my 12 mile long run, I had also had a really challenging 8.5 mile speed workout on Wednesday). When the gun went off, I was so full of adrenaline that I couldn’t help but run WAY too fast (low 6 min/mile pace) but I quickly readjusted and settled in.
We headed south on the 101 and ran next to the ocean. It was a nice gloomy, cooler morning and I didn’t realize at this point that I was running with a nice tail wind. When I saw my husband Mike and my 3 daughters cheering for me just past the 1 mile mark, I was filled with so much happiness and pride. It was one of the best moments of my running AND my coaching life! I remember thinking “BEST RACE EVER!!!” Around this point was the turnaround which I loved because I could see the Run the World runners who were ahead of me and then later the ones who were behind me. We all waved and shouted and cheered for one another at every out and back on the course.
I remember smiling A LOT.
At the turnaround I realized that we were now running into a significant headwind! The adrenaline was wearing off and we were running a slight incline. My legs felt heavy and I could feel the lactate building but not clearing. I knew I’d gone out too fast but I gave myself a pep talk to keep pushing. Pain is expected in a 5K and here it was. Despite my effort, my pace was slowing a bit. I prefer to negative split a 5K but that wasn’t going to happen today. I smiled anyway.
At the next turnaround I was given another boost by seeing my teammates again and I stayed focused. I smiled more.
I was able to pick it up at the finish chute, which has a nice decline and get the pace down into the high 6s. I ran with a smile on my face!! Life is good!!!
The post race party in the beer garden was SO fun . They always do race themed beers. We met some new friends and talked to other runners and hung out. Then we headed out to watch the pros race. We finished the day with tacos and naps! It was such a fun day!!!
Join Team Run The World
Want to come with us next year!? This retreat is open to ALL coaches on our team, no matter your rank or status. I aim to create a totally inclusive team environment. Although I create opportunities for mentorship and business growth, everyone on our team is important and valued.
We haven’t planned our race for next year yet, but this is definitely going to be an annual thing!! Plus, our team gets together several times a year for various trips – our reward trip (Riviera Maya, Mexico next year), Summit (in July in St. Louis this year), Diamond leadership retreats (We went to Charleston last November & TBD location this September), and more.
We always run at all of our events!!! But it was very special to do a race together as a team.
Do you want to learn more about becoming a Beachbody coach on team run the world, the only Beachbody team of runners? Please fill out the form below and I will get you information on our next info session!! I am very hands on in my mentorship and also will schedule a 1:1 call with you if you need more info after watching the video or learning more.
Leave a Reply