11 CRE Folks You Might See At The Next Olympics
The Rio Olympics had us daydreaming about the track and field skills of Usain Bolt, Mohamed Farah and Allyson Felix. But these CRE professionals don't need to daydream. We rounded up marathoners, triathletes, ironmen and ironwomen, and extreme athletes who make the industry look fit as a fiddle.
Jeanne St. John
In 2014, Prudential Mortgage Capital senior asset manager Jeanne St. John rescued a Treeing Walker Coonhound (pups bred to run for hours on end). The duo took up running and have taken on countless 5Ks and half marathons since then. Here's Jeanne and Lady Bird at a owner and dog 5k in Denton that benefited a local animal shelter. "Being a hound dog, Lady Bird wanted to lead the pack and she pulled me uncontrollably every time she got sight of a dog anywhere in front of her," Jeanne tells us. "I was just flailing behind her with bystanders yelling out, 'Are you OK?'" The team took bronze in their division. Jeanne's million-dollar tip? The MapMyRun and Audible apps for tracking runs and listening to audiobooks while training.
Jim Hazard
E Smith Realty EVP Jim Hazard has completed seven marathons and three half ironman triathlons. Jim met his wife during the Chicago Marathon, proposed to her after the Berlin Marathon and has run many races with her since. The couple (pictured) had gold running shoes line their wedding aisle. He’s also competed in two half ironman races with his mother-in-law—and she once beat him! And the only race he's ever beat his wife in was a 5K five years ago. Next up for the duo is the Las Vegas Marathon in November.
Kirk Hermansen
Hermansen Land Development's Kirk Hermansen is a real ironman. Here's the triathlete at a 70.3-mile race consisting of a 1.2-mile swim, a 56-mile bike ride and a 13.1-mile run. At a ULI breakfast this summer, Kirk said that training for a triathalon is a lot like building a new project. The whole time you're questioning why you made yourself do it, but you forget all the pain when you cross the finish line.
Ally Price
Younger Partners office leasing agent Ally Price constantly looks for ways to change up her workout routine as a runner, triathlete and CrossFit-er and instructor. She claims to keep a certain level of fitness to justify brunch and happy hours (as good a reason as any, in our book). She began triathlon training two years ago with her husband (pictured). The couple recently competed in the Kemah Olympic Triathlon, where she finished with a personal record. She's also a 10K and half marathon junkie. "I am not an endurance athlete by nature, so each race is a big challenge," Ally tells us.
Brock Robertson and Travis Ward
Expedition Capital Advisors senior associate Brock Robertson and Summit Ventures co-founder Travis Ward are ironmen. That's right, the friends swam 2.4 miles, biked 112 miles and ran 26.2 miles at the Ironman Boulder last month and completed half that during the Ironman 70.3 Austin last November. Here they are at the Ironman 70.3 Austin.
Tanja Ivandic
Younger Partners industrial broker and sales associate Tanja Ivandic just started training for the Houston Marathon in January. Tanja ran cross country and track at TCU and started running marathons after graduation as a way to learn her way around Dallas. She competed in the 2014 Boston Marathon, the San Antonio Rock 'n' Roll Marathon and many others. "In 2012, I ran from Uptown to Plano for my first 20-mile run," Tanja tells us. "That's before I learned about White Rock Lake!" Here she is taking first place and breaking the tape at the Michelob Ultra Dallas 13.1 in 2014.
Ian Pierce
The Weitzman Group VP of communications Ian Pierce has run more than 20 marathons in Dallas since the 1980s. Ian says "there’s nothing quite like a distance run to give me the time and space to organize my thoughts." Next up is the Big D Marathon in 2017, which he'll run for the second time after finishing this past April with his best time since 2010. Ian's also a special contributor to the Dallas Morning News for running-related posts.
Kristi Torkildson
Transwestern senior associate Kristi Torkildson ran the 2016 Hottest Half marathon last month. Kristi makes races a family affair—or "race-cations" as she calls them—by running with her parents, sister and fiancé, Xite Realty's Geoff Waddell. So far they've raced in San Francisco, Toronto, Chicago and DC. This was her fiancé's first half. “We are breaking him in to the Torkildson lifestyle!” she says. Here's Kristi's dad, Steve Torkildson (a real estate attorney at Torkildson Katz in Hawaii), Kristi's mom, Karen Torkildson, Kristi's sister Sally Roberts, Geoff and Kristi.
Robert Storm
Mercer Co marketing coordinator Robert Storm began competing in obstacle course runs three years ago after a Marine Special Operations Command mud run got him hooked. Robert and his wife make their rounds at all the major mud runs, including Spartan Races and Battlefrog Races, but Savage Races are their favorite. They're not easy, but no one cares how fast you go, Robert tells us. "Can't climb a wall on your own? 20 strangers will give you a boost!"
Autumn Stallings
Younger Partners property assistant Autumn Stallings started running 5K and 10K races seven years ago and worked her way up to half marathons by 2012. "I never thought I would run in a full marathon, but after several halfs I decided 'Why not?'" Autumn tells us. She's now run four full marathons and will compete in an ultramarathon in February.
