Glenview Resident, Samantha Grear, Loses 49 Lbs Inspired by J.P. Morgan Corporate Challenge

This is only Samantha Grear’s second year participating in the J.P. Morgan Corporate Challenge with local company, Anixter but she will never forget her first Corporate Challenge.  Since the race last year, Samantha has gone on to participate in three triathlons as well as picked up a new physical hobby of boxing.  She has lost a total of 49 pounds all inspired by last year’s Corporate Challenge. 

2012’s Corporate Challenge was Samantha’s first race she had ever took part in outside of interscholastic competing.  Samantha had played basketball, soccer and was a swimmer but since starting work in a corporate setting she found herself less active and started gaining weight.  When Samantha had heard about the Corporate Challenge, she decided it was time to lose the weight that she had put on, so she started to train for the race.  Although she was nervous before the race began with doubts that she wouldn’t be able to complete the entire race without stopping, Samantha was able to finish the race.  Samantha remembers seeing some of her Anixter coworkers who had already finished the race cheering the rest of the group still going on and says, “It was a great feeling and an amazing sense of accomplishment.”

Samantha is participating in this year’s Corporate Challenge not only with those same colleagues but also with her fiancé, Matthew Clavey, who she says she couldn’t have come as far as she has without his support.

The J.P. Morgan Corporate Challenge is a 3.5 mile race and takes place this Thursday, May 23, starting at 7:10pm from Grant Park.