“Take it all in stride”
As Sam Stubbs (HOD ’24) prepared for graduation and relocation to Chicago to begin his professional career, he reached back to tap important history, habits and honors. At the start of 2024 and his final semester on campus, Sam ventured off campus daily to log miles that would ensure a successful Rock ‘n Roll Half Marathon on Saturday, April 27th.
The term most would use to describe Sam is “humble”. But there is a remarkably disciplined and competitive athlete whose family laid the foundation and which he built upon. A mother who is devoted to CrossFit and Sam’s 4th grade exposure to running set the stage. “I played sports, though never was I amazing; but in 8th grade I excelled at cross country and then joined a summer running camp prior to freshman year of high school.” Taken seriously by older runners and introduced to a strong team culture, the magnetic pull became palpable.
While setting his own goals and objectives, the team ran year ‘round despite rain, snow, ice and sleet. A short break following the cross country season and another after the track season—but Sam was rewarded as one of 10-15 runners selected from the John Hersey High School team of 50 in Arlington Heights, IL. The elite traveled with their coach during the summers of Sam’s sophomore and junior years—Nike in Portland, OR and Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, AZ respectively—both the pantheons of running.
Tempo runs, lactic acid threshold training. . . iterate and reiterate; a process. Consistency, team, culture, and the realization 10% of the time would be mythical results, but the other 90% were the reason for that success. Admittedly, the customer discovery process included Sam as his own key customer who offered introspective opinions and suggestions on long runs.
The pandemic complicated many plans, but the running did not suffer, and the team became virtual but stronger. Prior to the chaos of COVID, Sam had been a ‘Dore for a day under the tutelage of VU “Outstanding Senior” Barton Christmas. The hook was set. Then came freshman year at Vanderbilt as a Madden Family Scholar and a Scott & Missy Tannen Scholar; involvement in VINES, participation in Wond’ry programs and the encouragement and support offered by Kyle Caruso and Yesi Sevilla—a lifelong entrepreneur in the making. Identifying a pain point caused by entrepreneurial mentees having difficulty finding mentors, Sam created a new capability to streamline that process for his Capstone Internship—a process now broadly embraced by the Wond’ry.
Freshman year Sam gave up wearing a watch when he ran and kept no logs of mileage nor his pace. “It was liberating for me.” Fast forward to January 2024 when the registration form was submitted and on April 27th Sam joined thousands and completed the Rock ‘n’ Roll Half Marathon in the enviable time of 1:58.16. Broadway, the Gulch, Music Row, 12 South, the Capitol, and friends along the route—it was a memorable day. Sub-2:00.
Sam’s reaction? “Medals collect dust on shelves, relationships are forever.” And, his advice for young entrepreneurs: “Honor your own priorities; show up, put in the work, forge relationships, and seek out a connector. Most especially, ‘make yourself visible’!”
Those shoes certainly made Sam visible for all 13.1 miles.
By R.E. Kyrts, (five-time Boston Marathon qualifier/finisher)