How did you come up with the idea of taking part in the Chemnitz Capital of Culture Marathon?
Christian: Our team enjoys doing things together, and many of us are runners. That’s why we’ve already taken part in the Chemnitz company run several times. For this year’s activity, the marathon caught our attention. It’s the first marathon event in Chemnitz in years. It’s being held as part of the diverse cultural activities in Chemnitz, this year’s European Capital of Culture. We really wanted to be there as a team.
How did you prepare for the marathon? Do you have any specific training methods or running rituals that you follow?
Christian: Our marathon team consists of five participants. Two female and two male colleagues signed up for the 4 x 10.5 km relay, and I will be running the full distance myself. Everyone structures their training according to their own needs. So it’s very individual. However, on business trips, we often go for a run together before the workday begins. And, of course, we motivate each other and try to push one another to perform better.
How can we picture your team working together at the Chemnitz office?
Christian: We are a close-knit team, with some members having worked together for over 20 years and successfully completed numerous projects. Spread across various D365 projects, there is an excellent exchange of information, and there is always something to laugh about in the office, as well as in our retail base group.
What parallels do you see between working on customer projects and preparing for a marathon – or the race itself?
Christian: Projects are basically like a marathon and require good planning and constant course correction. Nevertheless, we work in sprints or smaller stages to avoid being overwhelmed by the project’s sheer size, instead taking things one step at a time. Preparing for a marathon is quite similar – after all, no one runs a marathon on a whim; they train purposefully and according to their individual needs.
What parallels do you see between working on customer projects and preparing for a marathon – or the race itself?
Christian: Successful teamwork, whether in a professional or sporting context, depends on many components:
It's essential to establish clear goals for the team and each individual and to monitor progress closely. Each team member should contribute their individual strengths and take responsibility for their own tasks. For me, fun, mutual support, motivation, and team spirit are essential to being successful as a team.
Last but not least: did the music actually inspire the runners, perhaps to a final sprint?
Christian: Shortly before the finish line, you always push just that little bit harder. The music definitely helped at that point and gave some runners a performance boost along the route.
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