Perform Better, Recover Faster - Athlete Lab Virtual Studio

Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health and fitness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Jenny Maier, Founder of Athlete Lab Virtual Studio, located in Bend, OR, USA.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

Athlete Lab Virtual Studio's mission is to help runners train in a balanced, effective, and efficient way. We offer virtual live stream as well as on-demand content for runners focusing on functional strength, mobility, warm-ups, cool downs, myofascial release, and recovery sessions, as well as yoga for runners in easy-to-follow 15-45 minute formats. Our studio members and class participants are runners, hikers, and multisport athletes who are interested in doing what they can to prevent injury and learn more about how to develop resilience for a more balanced training cycle. Our members and class participants range in age and ability, and all classes are designed to be adapted to all experience levels.

Tell us about yourself

I'm an avid distance runner and have been a certified run coach (and personal trainer for runners) for many years now. A while back, I noticed that a lot of my clients and runner friends were getting chronically injured, stretching when they should be strengthening or mobilizing, working out when they should be resting, de-prioritizing recovery, and often staying in this injury cycle for years. There weren't too many resources out there targeted to runners that weren't just carbon copies of stuff that has existed for years and was pretty outdated given what we know now and more modern methodology for strength and mobility for runners, so I decided to use my expertise and develop content that would help my clients and other runners do the right things when it comes to developing resilience and steer them away from some common training mistakes that are still floating out there.

Currently, I still coach a large roster of clients but consider myself a movement specialist for runners, just helping people feel better in their bodies while training. There are so many success stories from my clients that inspire me: someone who didn't think they would ever run pain-free again, a new mom who thought she couldn't reach new goals after a tough postpartum journey, or a new runner who felt too discouraged to start training with a group and is now a run leader and role model for run/walk marathoners. Those people, as well as the clients who keep showing up despite challenges, are why I keep showing up for them in my business every day despite challenges.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

I was already holding in-person workshops and events for local running clubs in 2019, but when the pandemic hit in 2020, I took everything online. It was so hard to branch out on my own and adapt to a virtual sphere, but it was a blessing in disguise because now I have clients all across the US. I'm proud of how quickly I was able to pivot, how hard I worked to get this up and running by March 2020, and how it is a thriving, growing business to this day.

What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?

One of the hardest things about being a business owner is being a business owner! You have to wear so many hats and perform so many functions that you may not be very good at naturally. I'm an expert in certain things -- you can ask me anything you want about foot biomechanics or work with hip dysfunction, or even the value of stretching vs. mobilization in different phases of the training cycle, but I am in no way an expert in running the back end of a business. So that has been challenging. It has also been rewarding to see myself grow, become more organized and be able to manage my time a lot better now than when I started. Without a team, it's just me doing all the things that are required to stay afloat, so growth has been really necessary to survive the scaling process over the years.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

1. Give yourself reminders of WHY you are doing this. During the really challenging moments, you'll have to come back to that to keep you pushing through. Every single time I have a hard day as a business owner or deal with the inevitable unpleasantries of being a business owner, I try to remind myself that I am helping so many people feel better in their bodies, accomplishing goals, and living healthier and happier lives and that is why I wake up the next day and do it all over again.
2. Don't be scared to make investments in your business to set yourself up for success. It may feel like you're hemorrhaging cash at first, but as long as you're smart about staying on top of finances and accounting, your early investments are going to be a key part of your long-term growth.
3. Know your limits. It's really easy to get burnt out starting and running a business, so be committed to putting in the work, but know that you have to work at a sustainable pace, or it won't last. You'll either stretch yourself too thin, and the business will suffer, or you'll end up being unhappy or frustrated, which is not a good thing. I like to set aside time during the week when I can catch up on things and don't have anything urgent scheduled, as well as days when I know I'll be able to answer a few emails and then take the rest of the day off. My business motto is "stay balanced," so I try to live and breathe that as a business owner, practicing what I preach.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://jennymaier.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itsjennymaier/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennymaier/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

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