In It for the Long Run: Meet Craig Stanley, CHU’s National Business Development Manager
Craig Stanley is CHU’s National Business Development Manager (BDM) based in Queensland. Craig joined CHU in 2020 and has built an impressive career in the insurance industry with over 30 years of experience. Craig has held various roles including underwriting, sales and distribution management. During this time, he has acquired extensive technical knowledge across many lines of insurance, including Strata Insurance (both Residential and Commercial Strata) and enthusiastically shares that knowledge with his CHU clients and fellow team members.
Craig has delivered industry presentations to brokers on topics such as risk appetite, defects management and strata property preparedness. He was a key instigator of the extremely popular webinar series focused on providing monthly educational sessions for brokers and strata managers to help develop their knowledge of strata. His customer-centric approach focuses on building strong, trust-based relationships with clients, priding himself on going the extra mile to provide the best solutions.
Speaking of going the extra mile at work, Craig draws inspiration from his personal passion of running marathons to guide his long-term career focus at work. We took an opportunity to talk to Craig on his marathon training and how it helps him in his day-to-day role at CHU.
Q: How did you get started with marathon running?
Running has been a lifelong passion for me and a great way to help manage the stresses of life. I don’t know how many sunrises I’ve seen but I’ll often stop and take a photo whether it be on the Brisbane River or one of my favourite runs being Hells Gate at Noosa for the Sunrise. I’ve made many friends from running with different groups and we often enjoy the coffee after the training which is a reward for the work we’ve done together.
Prior to Covid-19, I had run eight marathons, many of them in different states of Australia and I was ready to take it to the next level by doing an Ultra marathon called Comrades in South Africa. I had qualified and the trip was all booked, and I was ready to go! But, as we know, everything changed and whilst I continued to run locally, many events were cancelled during the 2 to 3 years during COVID.
I trained for and completed my first Marathon post COVID in May 2024 at Noosa. It was a great event and I enjoyed it because I had my whole family there and my oldest son Angus did his first half Marathon. In fact, it was better seeing him stick to a running plan over months and then go out and complete his goal. It was quite emotional to see.
Q: How often do you train, and what does your training regimen look like?
In training for the Marathon, I’d generally train 4 times a week, with sessions for speed, hills, tempo, long and slow runs on the weekend. In the 6 months leading up, I was building from about 45 - 50 kms a week to around 70kms.
Since the marathon, I’ve cut back a session and doing more gym now to get that stronger core, which I know I should have done more previously. It’s really paying off and I’m sure I’ll have less injuries because of it.
Q: How does marathon running help you stay focused and motivated in your professional life?
Running in general is just so good for your physical and just as much, if not more, for your mental health.
Running has taught me a lot about goal setting. Running a Marathon is a great goal as only approximately 1 – 2% of the population has ever run a Marathon. For me personally, it is a 6-month goal, which is a long time, but you are still breaking it down in smaller 4-week blocks in the lead up and if you put the work in you will achieve it. You also don’t want to go too hard, too early, because you may get injured. You’ve probably heard the saying ‘it is a marathon, not a sprint’, well that can be said about many things in life whether it be personal or the work environment, especially conferences :).
Q: You’ve mentioned running the Ultra Marathon Comrades in South Africa as a goal. What inspires you to aim for that?
It is the world’s largest and oldest Ultra Marathon race between Durban and Pietermaritzburg each year and approximately 88 kms of up and down hills and there is a strict cut off of 12 hrs to complete it. It’s a run I’ve had friends complete and looks like an unbelievable experience. I’m very keen to do it with a group and it’s a goal, more likely to be 2027. I’m inspired because it’s a run that seems out of reach. I don’t know that I can physically do it but I’m doing the work now to put myself in a position to have a crack at it.
Q: What advice would you give to someone looking to start marathon running while managing a busy workload?
Plan for the long run! Start with smaller, achievable targets and build gradually. It’s important to set realistic goals and create a training schedule that leads you to your ultimate longer-term goal. Consistency is key, so even if you can only run a few times a week, make those runs count.
If you can book in some smaller runs, I enjoy participating in the charity runs such as the Bridge to Brisbane. Listen to your body and prioritise recovery to avoid burnout. Finally, find a support system, whether it’s a running group, family, or friends, to keep you motivated and accountable.
Q: Any final thoughts for your clients and colleagues at CHU?
I would encourage everyone to give it a go! Running is just so good for both your physical and mental health. Having that goal gives you more purpose and direction and I’ve found it to be a great way to form and build strong bonds when going for a jog with someone. I’ve had some of the best therapy sessions when running with people, and it’s free.
If you share this common interest, I’d love to hear from you! I have found that participating in fun runs and events is always more fun when it is with my colleagues, clients and friends – so don’t be a stranger!
