14 Team Urban Initiatives runners have been training hard since this past Spring for the 2016 Bank of America Chicago Marathon. We are excited to introduce you all the members of Team UI and learn a little about why they signed up to run 26.2 for thousands of UI kids across Chicago.
Who are you? Where are you from?
Sam Cayemberg, Green Bay, Wisconsin. I went to school at the University of Wisconsin – Madison and moved to Chicago 3 years ago (Best decision I’ve ever made).
What is your favorite tune to listen to while running?
Alive by Empire of the Sun.
How did you get involved with Urban Initiatives?
Two work colleagues/soccer teammates are on the Associate Board and sold me on UI as a great charity.
What has motivated you to run a marathon in general and what has motivated you to run for Urban Initiatives?
Last year, I was fortunate to experience my very first Chicago marathon. It was a struggle, but the feeling I had when I finally checked a marathon off my bucket list was nothing short of surreal. As I pondered whether to run again this year, I felt a lack of motivation now that running a marathon was no longer on my bucket list. That’s when I was introduced to Urban Initiatives. Give my love for soccer and the city of Chicago, running for UI was an easy choice.
What are some training challenges you’ve faced so far?
Finding time for long runs is my biggest challenge. My weekends tend to be jammed packed, so I end up having to balance training with my social life. One key I’ve found is to knock out as many runs as possible in the early morning or before work.