Michelle recently completed the IRONMAN® Wisconsin 2014. She began her
journey over a year ago when a friend mentioned that completing an Ironman was
one of his “bucket list” items. Inspired by her friend, she committed to
getting him to the start line and cheering him across the finish line. Before
she knew it, she was training alongside him.
“Not one to let me sit on the sidelines, my friend responded
that it would be even better if I completed it with him,” Michelle says.
“Inspired by my friend, and never one to back down from a challenge, I said
“why not?”. Looking back, I am so glad that I accepted his challenge.”
Preparing for an IRONMAN® is not unlike preparing for litigation, according to Michelle.
It requires learning new subject matter areas, from how to train effectively
for all three disciplines (swimming, bicycling and running) of an endurance
event to what to eat and drink during an over 12 hour event. It requires
developing a plan and strategy, with both short-term and long-term goals, and
sticking to it, while at the same time being able to adjust when things don’t
go exactly as planned. It requires time management skills as you try to balance
hours of training on top of other work and personal commitments.
“But perhaps most importantly,” says Michelle. “it requires
commitment and dedication to an end goal, and a desire to be and do your best.
These are the same skills I use when approaching any new case or issue on
behalf of a client.”
One of the most important aspects of being an IRONMAN® is the mental aspect of the challenge.
According to the IRONMAN® Web
site (www.ironman.com), mental strength
comes from understanding how you deal with physical challenges day in and day
out. Michelle compares the mental preparation to studying for the bar exam.
“You develop your training plan and strategy, you stick to it,
you put the time and miles in, and then you trust that you’ve done what you
needed to do to prepare and that your plan will work,” says Michelle. “That’s
what I did. And the day before the race, knowing that I had stuck to my plan
and put the time and miles in, I took to heart the words of one of my best friends
and training buddies – now that you’re all checked in, just put your feet up,
relax, and let the day come to you.”
And that’s what she did. Michelle finished the IRONMAN® Wisconsin with her family and
friends cheering her across the finish line. She says crossing the finish line
was only a small part of what made the day special. It was also one of the most
inspiring days of her life. From her friend who completed his bucket list item
to the oldest competitor at age 75 completing his twelfth IRONMAN® and to so many other stories from
people she met that day. Just like the legal profession, they all came together
to achieve one goal.
Now that it’s over, Michelle turns the page to the coming
year. Personally, she will move on to the IRONMAN® Chattanooga next year, where she plans to race on behalf of a
charitable cause. Professionally, she will focus the coming year not only on
her practice, where she is hoping to grow her intellectual property litigation
and counseling practice area, but as well as growing the DRI’s Intellectual
Property Committee, which she is Vice Chair.
To accomplish all this, she will put to use the skills she
has learned as a lawyer as well as her IRONMAN® determination.
