Today we’d like to introduce you to Ellie Abrahamson.
Ellie, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
Current status: Marketing Coordinator; Cushman & Wakefield; Carlsbad, CA
Past status: Professional Runner / Atlanta Track Club Elite / Atlanta, GA (August 2018 – June 2019); Professional Triathlete / USA Triathlon Olympic Development Program / Carlsbad, CA (July 2017 – May 2018); NCAA D1 Cross Country & Track Athlete / Wake Forest University / Winston-Salem, NC (August 2013 – June 2017)
If you had told me I’d be working a full-time job in commercial real estate just six months ago, I never would’ve believed you. Up until June of this year, I had devoted my entire life to training and racing elite endurance sports. 90% of my childhood memories feature swim meets, bike races, runs and competitive youth triathlons.
I chose to focus on running in high school, and while I never reached the very top level, I ran fast enough times to score a scholarship to run cross country and track for Wake Forest University.
D1 collegiate running quickly reminded me how far I had to go to reach the top. I finished 169th in my first big cross country race.
Despite my lack of top performances, I continued to put in the work during my time as a Demon Deacon. I fought numerous emotional and physical battles, including hormonal imbalances, iron deficiencies, multiple knee injuries, an intense round of Accutane and academic stressors like Accounting 111 (do not recommend).
Finally, during my senior track season, I broke through on the track. I strung together the highest mileage and most consistent training I ever had and finished my collegiate career as a school record holder and NCAA D1 First-Team All-American in the 3000m steeplechase.
That school record and All-American finish led me to pursue a funded Olympic Development opportunity with USA Triathlon and eventually a professional running contract with Atlanta Track Club Elite.
A year prior to crossing the line in 7th place at Nationals, I sat on my bathroom floor crying, the most unfit I’d ever been, unable to run due to yet another knee injury and in pain from the numerous side effects of Accutane. Never in a million years did I think – 365 days later – I’d be the most fit I’d ever been, injury-free and on Cloud 9 about my future as an athlete.
Flash forward two and a half years and two professional athletic endeavors later, I’m writing this as I finish out a Monday at my first 8-5 job, once again feeling the most unfit I’ve ever been. I suffered from a sacral stress fracture earlier this year, which led me to leave professional running behind, get healthy and pursue a career in commercial real estate.
While past me would’ve been crying on the bathroom floor about getting injured, current me is still on Cloud 9. My injury this year gave me the push I needed to add balance back into my life, something I struggled with as a collegiate and professional athlete. I’m able to focus on other important areas of my life, like my personal relationships and career, while I let my body heal and learn to train and race in a healthier, more sustainable way.
Heading into 2020, I’m excited to grow my personal relationships and career in commercial real estate. I plan to train and race again, but for the first time in my life, athletics isn’t my focus. I’ve learned I need more than training and racing to feel fulfilled in life, and I’m determined to figure out what that is. And who knows, Paris 2024 may end up calling my name…😉
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
I’m thankful to have lived a very fortunate life, but it definitely hasn’t been a smooth road, especially when it comes to athletics. I struggled with the mental side of competing growing up, as I constantly compared myself to my younger (and often faster) sister, and dealt with numerous health issues and injuries in high school, college and beyond.
Please tell us about your work.
I work for Cushman & Wakefield in Carlsbad as a Marketing Coordinator for three established commercial real estate brokers. I design digital and print marketing collateral, create promotional campaigns for my team’s listings and manage the deal booking process. I’m still figuring out what sector of commercial real estate I want to specialize in, but I know I’m in the right place to do so. I’m so fortunate to work for such an established firm like Cushman & Wakefield, and I’m confident the determined, goal-oriented mindset I developed from being a professional athlete will take me where I want to go in this business.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
In the future, I’m looking forward to exploring new sectors of commercial real estate, like brokerage, and building upon my graphic design skills, as I’ve always enjoyed art but haven’t had time to focus on it until now. I’m also planning on saving money to explore new places. Maybe I’ll take a gap year in New Zealand or Australia – I’ve heard the coffee there is incredible (and I’m a caffeine addict).
Contact Info:
- Website: http://ellieabrahamson.com/
- Email: ellie.abrahamson@cushwake.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ellieabrahamson
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/ellieabrahamson
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