Today we’d like to introduce you to Seth Funderburg.
Hi Seth, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I have been a runner for as long as I could remember. I went to the University of Central Florida where I bounced between career tracks all in the Health and Wellness arena. While I was not running for the University, I was very engaged in the running community. I was one of the founding members of what is currently the Knight Runner Club of UCF.
During this time, I also began my career as a Coach at the Middle School and High School level.
Fast Forward to 2013, I am a UCF graduate and working in the Coaching Level once again. Shortly after, I certified as a Personal Trainer, working part-time at a local gym. It was here that I started my vision for runBMT. BMT was to be my outlet to solve the movement crisis I was witnessing in my athletes at the High School level and being re-inforced as adults in the corporate level of wellness.
I spent my early years racing and bridging the gap in opportunities to help other athletes (specifically between seasons) find better performance in their running and lifestyle activities. Now we are primarily focused on Endurance Coaching. I no longer work with any schools in particular but lend my time as a specialist to many programs and coaches alike as specialists.
My realization is that most providers (academic and big box) don’t have the bandwidth for specificity as it relates to sports culture. Likewise, to truly be invested, historically, has been reserved for those at the top tier of performance. Perhaps with the exception of those who are financially able to place themselves there.
I like to imagine runBMT as an amplifier to the running/endurance culture. We are providing resources and space to as many as we can, individually, while maintaining a team atmosphere,
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Smooth is relative.
Struggles on the way may include making a name in a widely oversaturated market, having the financial capacity to make our presence as pretty as others, and of course finding grace among the movers and makers in our community.
The sports community can be one of grace and acceptance or it can feel like a fight. Constant resistance and trial.
We’ve had and continue to experience both.
My personal thoughts are that it makes us tougher and that it creates more pride for our team.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Black Matter Training LLC?
More casually known as runBMT.
It’s the culmination of many years of working in the endurance arena.
It is not so much a team as it is a collection.
We are gathering people in similar arenas in order to provide a more meaningful and wholesome approach to running and the running culture.
Arguable we specialize in Half Marathon training (13.1). But this is less important than specializing in setting the bar. We are some odd mix of grit and grace. In the last two years, we have seen more performance, more self believe, and more Personal records from our athletes than ever before. The momentum is here. The skulls ( our logo ) are out in full force.
And I believe from the pit of me, we true to claim “the best running program in Central Florida”.
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
My bride, Annie Grace, for giving me the space to make it happen. It wasn’t always easy, it wasn’t always fun or even realistic. But she let me dream…. and now we’re here.
To my long-term friend, coach, and mentor – Luke Thomas. for miles and miles of encouragement.
And to my team. runBMT. “we” are a “we” because a lot of people choose to believe and to give the permission to work.
I am in a world of debt to my team.
Contact Info:
- Email: seth@blackmattertraining.com
- Website: http://www.blackmattertraining.com/about
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/run__bmt/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blackmattertraining
Image Credits:
Mark Angelo
