Q&A with Erin Fleming, Principal Consumer Scientist, Kenvue
Editor’s note: Nancy Cox is the founder of Research Story Consulting and former CPG corporate researcher. Her work and play include words, sketchpads, cooking (not baking) and the occasional sock puppet.
Passions, hobbies, healthy distractions and even guilty pleasures – discover how the research community plays and how that plays out in their work life. In the Venn diagram of work and play, what happens when work and play overlap? Research colleagues share their work and play stories in this interview series by Nancy Cox.
Hello to Erin Fleming, principal consumer scientist, Kenvue
What is the “play” in your life?
Running is the play that’s most authentic to me – a constant throughout different seasons of my life. I learned to tolerate it, grew to hate it and then found my way back to it on my own terms only to fall in love with it. I have never been an “exceptional” runner, but that’s the beauty of my “play.” With each mile, I learned to accept and appreciate what I’m capable of achieving.
The first season of my running life was high school cross-country. I had run track and field for many years previously but was encouraged to pursue cross-country to develop my endurance and speed. In this season, my motivation to run was wholly external; my coaches decided when, where and how long to run. There was a tremendous amount of pressure to perform, and I was not very fast. Before every race, I would feel a sense of defeat and anxiety that led to a hatred of running. While I am thankful for this introduction to long-distance running, as I genuinely cherish the relationships I built on the team, the actual act of running felt like a punishment rather than something I was excited to do. It made me fall out of love with running. When I started college, it felt so good to take a break.
After taking a year hiatus, I slowly started running again. I wasn’t running too far, too quickly or for any sort of competition, but I found that I enjoyed the feeling of movement in my body again. For the first time, there wasn’t an external pressure to run; it was something I could do on my own terms. My body and mind felt better when I ran.
My first experience with a competitive running event was the Pittsburgh Half Marathon in 2014. This was the furthest distance I had ever run and ─ based on my experience with running cross-country in high school ─ I was incredibly nervous there would be a lot of pressure to perform. During the half-marathon, I was pleasantly surprised by the electric yet supportive atmosphere. As someone who had only experienced highly competitive cross-country races with “winners” and “losers,” running 13.1 miles surrounded by thousands of people cheering my name in encouragement was a spiritual awakening. I was bitten by the race bug!
After such a positive race experience in Pittsburgh, I committed to running a half-marathon about once a year. This goal took me to many different cities throughout the East Coast and Midwest. Each race was very different ─ I ran through the roar of roller coasters at Hershey Park, in the shadows of skyscrapers in Chicago and down sleepy county roads in Wisconsin. As I became more confident in my training, I set my sights on my next goal: The Chicago Marathon. I had just moved to Chicago and couldn’t miss the opportunity to run my first marathon in my new hometown.
Training for the Chicago Marathon while living in Chicago was magical. I logged hundreds of miles on the Lake Front Trail – a cyclist and runner-friendly, pancake-flat paved pathway that weaves along the sandy shores of Lake Michigan in the heart of downtown Chicago. I ran six days a week on the Lake Front Trail and would wave at sailboats on the glittering lake and smile at families enjoying picnics on the beach. The scene framed by the iconic Chicago skyline, my skyline. Seeing the beauty in ordinary things – especially as a I trained during COVID ─ was a joy. It was one of the only things that gave me a sense of normalcy and purpose during that time, and I was thankful to have running as an outlet.
Although the 2020 Chicago Marathon was postponed to 2021 due to COVID, I continued my training efforts into the following summer. The Lake Front trail was no less beautiful, and I again logged my miles with gratitude and patience. As the 2021 Chicago Marathon approached, my husband and I were also preparing for our wedding as well as our move to the East Coast for a new career opportunity. What started as my own personal goal ─ running a full marathon ─ was now a literal and figurative “farewell tour” through the city that we both loved. As every mile-marker ticked by during the race, I reflected on how far I had come since my high school “running as punishment” days. I was proud of myself, for the hard work I put into training as well as having the mental toughness to attempt something I never thought I would be able to do! I crossed the finish line with a sense of accomplishment and pride. My farewell tour of Chicago was complete. We packed up our apartment and moved to our new home in New Jersey the following weekend.
My latest season? I’m looking forward to running again … postpartum! Running – albeit very slowly – throughout pregnancy has given me a sense of empowerment and a new appreciation for what my body can do while also creating a whole new human. I’m looking forward to signing up for a race next summer and training with my new, adorable running partner – who will be safely tucked into a jogging stroller!
How has your play influenced your research work?
My experience of building confidence and competency in running mirrors my career development. Early in my career, I often felt intimidated by colleagues who made the “extraordinary” look easy. In running, just as in your career, it’s about focusing on yourself and how you can improve one mile – or challenging project – at a time. As you run more miles, you develop and strengthen that muscle. There is no shortcut to doing the work, putting in the miles, learning from failures and successes.
I’ve been in the industry for over eight years now, and there are days where I have to stop and remind myself how far I have come in my career. When a particularly challenging project comes my way, I smile thinking about how utterly hopeless and lost my younger self would have been. Then I get to work. In the same way a 10-mile run once seemed impossible, it is now just another training day. Running a marathon and building a career both take a lot of time, determination and grit.
What would you tell readers who want to know more about your area of play?
Three things – number one, don’t be intimidated. A lot of running is mental and getting over the initial hump of expectations or competitiveness. Yes, there are elite runners but know that every runner was new at one point. Knowing that you’re not racing against anyone but yourself can help get over those feelings of inadequacy. No matter if you run one mile or 10, it’s all about taking a positive step in the right direction.
Number two, have a plan. There are a ton of great resources online such as AllTrails where you can discover running routes in your area. I’m also a big fan of Strava, an app that helps you track your mileage and activity, especially if you’re training for a race. It provides your mile times as well as other data in real time, almost acting as a coach. After running a bit, it’s also helpful to have a goal in mind. I recommend registering for a race – whether that’s a 5K, a 10K, a half-marathon. When you have a goal, you put more intentionality into your plan. You’re not just randomly choosing distances or mileage. This really helped me stay grounded in the “why” behind my training.
There are many resources for race training as well. I followed a Hal Higdon 18-week program for the Chicago Marathon starting in late spring/early summer for an October marathon. There are many different types of programs that map out mileage for the week, when to rest and when to tackle your longs runs. I modified the plan so that it fit into my life, moving long runs around weekend travel plans, weddings, etc. Also, I didn’t run on my honeymoon even though it was only three weeks prior to the marathon! Find a plan that fits your experience level and your lifestyle.
Number three, accountability. For me, it was internal. For others, it may be more of a social experience. If you want that social experience for your accountability, look for a local running group that caters to beginners. If you don’t physically join a group, you can join running groups on Facebook. Talking to other runners will give you tips and tricks when it comes to the shoes, water bottles, upcoming races, etc. Groups will motivate you to show up when you say you will.
My final training tip? Besides getting a good pair of running sneakers – I’m an ASICS girl! – find something to listen to that you’re passionate about. For me, that was true crime podcasts, “My Favorite Murder,” and Taylor Swift, “Folklore.” I don’t think I could have gotten through my marathon training and the race itself without those as my companions.
Want to start today? All you really need is a safe place to run, water and sneakers. Running can fit into your life no matter where you live or the season of your life.