Reaching the finish line

 Lawyer Eugene Lausch is among just 10 people who’ve participated in every 500 Festival Mini-Marathon. (IL file photo)

Lawyers do a lot of things to relieve stress: swim, play tennis, cycle, drink. We met two lawyers this year who’ve also made a mark as runners. Eugene Lausch has the distinction of being one of only 10 people who have run every 500 Festival Mini-Marathon in Indianapolis. The retired lawyer began running in his youth and competed in high school and college. He enjoys running because it can clear the mind and help change ways of thinking.

“I worked in local government, and there were days when I would come home and wonder, ‘How is this issue going to work out?’ and I discovered running is a way to deal with those issues,” he said. “My wife would say, ‘Why don’t you go for a run?’ It was a proxy statement for saying ‘You’re really in a disagreeable mood.’”

Lausch, 76, retired after more than 40 years as an attorney for the city of Indianapolis. And Lausch reached a fitting milestone during this year’s race: he logged 500 miles running in the popular half-marathon.

 Lawyer David McAvoy takes a break during a 155-mile run through the Gobi Desert. (IL file photo)

If the thought of running 13.1 miles tires you out, imagine running a 155-mile race through the Gobi Desert. David McAvoy, general counsel of Eli Lilly & Co.’s emerging markets business, participated in the grueling race this June.

“I’m the kind of person that’s interested in combining sport(s) with the discovery of self and seeking adventures that run A to Z,” McAvoy said. “I’m looking at long, competitive events that help you learn about yourself and what your potential is. It’s a paradox, because you almost have to go where the wild things are in order to discover yourself.”

He originally planned on running a race in the Jordan Desert, but that was canceled due to ISIS activity. So he had 10 months to prepare for the six-day Gobi race. The shift in plans also brought to his attention The 4 Deserts Race Series. In addition to the Gobi March, the series has races in the Sahara, Atacama and in Antarctica. Only 150 people have finished all four, but that’s exactly what McAvoy intends to do.

“Believe it or not, it helps me as a lawyer,” McAvoy said. “Things I’ve learned from this have made me better for my clients at Eli Lilly … and when I go meet with the Chinese government to talk about access to medicines, (they say), ‘You ran the Gobi?’ It helps me relate to them when I’m out there.”

And if running doesn’t sound appealing, you could get a workout through fencing with other members of the legal community. Lawyers who participate in the sport say competing with the blade sharpens their legal acumen and attacks the stresses of the profession.

“I’m always thinking about what my opponent is going to do next,” said Bill Dummett, counsel for Interactive Intelligence Inc., who’s an active fencer and board member of the Indianapolis Fencing Club.

A large part of Dummett’s professional work involves negotiating contracts and licensing agreements. When he started practicing law, Dummett said he had a negotiating style and largely stuck to it. “Fencing taught me to realize the situation, adjust my style and act accordingly,” he said.•