In Real Life with Charlotte Yarkoni - Spotlight on Orville McDonald

Welcome back to In Real Life, where I sit down with colleagues at Microsoft that are doing amazing things both at and outside of work and talk about their passion projects and personal fulfillment efforts.

Today’s discussion is with Orville McDonald, a chief of staff for a developer relations team, who was preparing for the World Masters Track and Field Championships at the time we filmed our interview earlier this year. COVID-19 intervened, and the event has been canceled. However, in times where the things we’ve planned don’t pan out, I think it’s even more important to talk about them and think of the day that they will.

Orville is a hurdler—he specializes in the 400-meter hurdles—and is ranked 50th in the world, despite being injured most of last season.

When someone tells you that they’re ranked 50th in the world at anything, the first natural question is, “how did you get there?”

Orville told me his masters career is somewhat of a happy accident. On his birthday a few years ago, a friend teased him that he was old enough to run masters track and field. While the friend was joking, Orville took him seriously and found out that there was a national championship in Spokane that year. He signed up on a whim and ended up placing second in his age group.

Intrigued that there could be more to his masters racing career, he decided he wanted to be a world champion in 2020—this year. While I know Orville is disappointed that his 2020 bid has been erased, he hasn’t lost his dedication and appreciation for his training time.

“Despite all of the hard work (I am not sure if I will even get a local meet this summer), I have been satisfied with the training and how far I have come along. I was feeling really good about this season. Not to mention that I am the same age as the coaches at the local tracks, so it has been fun getting exposure to the coaching side. ??”

As he told me, running fast is only half of the equation. He’s used his more distinguished age to train smarter than he did in high school and college, when he simply did what a coach said. Now, he uses data to his advantage. He studies the physics behind his form, how hitting different hurdles at different times and with different lead legs changes the race, and more. Each hurdle is three feet in height—half of Orville’s height—so form, lead leg, and pace can dramatically change his race. On top of that, he has to be more efficient at training than in his younger years— Orville has four young children, so every minute is precious.

“I now take a very data-driven approach to training, to see where things are working or not, and being accountable to myself,” Orville told me, explaining he has transferred a lot of knowledge from his work life to developing and adjusting his training plans.

When I asked him about pursuing his passion alongside a career and family, Orville beamed. He told me that track and field is something for him. He focuses on developers at work, and his wife and children during family time, and in order to be the best colleague, husband, and father he can be, he needs something that is solely his. I would add to that sentiment—we all do. It’s important to have something in your life that provides a sense of personal fulfillment, whatever that may be. It’s different for everyone and one of the things that makes us all so unique.

“For my kids, I hope it sets a standard of excellence in that even in their hobbies they should aim to be world-class regardless of if they hit the mark or not,” Orville said.

Orville’s official race was cancelled, but in my mind, he won. He’s found a way to do something he loves and approaches it with a positive attitude and a growth mindset—two important ingredients for success.

Thanks for joining me, and I’ll see you back here for In Real Life soon.