Muck Ruckus Team Member Profile: Shelley Franklin

Working at Epic Games inspires you to be at your best, both professionally and personally. Shelley Franklin has been eating right and working out almost every day and the before and after shot shows it. She will be participating this weekend in the Muck Ruckus Charity Event. We had a chance to sit down with Shelley for a chat.

Flak: How have you been training for the event?

Shelley Franklin: I started working out with trainers a few months ago, and now do one session with a trainer three times a week and one session with another trainer once a week. The one that’s three times a week is a mix of High Intensity Interval Training and strength training. I’ve been trying to build up cardio endurance as well as strength for the obstacle course. Definitely keeps it interesting! My other trainer has had me doing more intense strength training- TRX, pull-ups, deadlifts, and lots of other fun ways to make me sore.

F: You ran your first 5k this year, how did it go?

SF: The 5K was such a great experience because it really proved to me that I could set a goal and achieve it. This was before I really had a workout “plan”, so I just did the Couch 2 5K and hoped for the best. I was terrified I would be the very last person to finish but I was far from it. I was  very lucky that some other Epic peeps were at the run and super supportive. I hope to do more in the future, I love the atmosphere and having a goal to work towards.

F: What is your title at Epic and what do you do?

SF: I currently split my time between Engine QA as a tester and assisting the guys over on the Cinematics team. I spend a lot of time working with the UDK and checking out potential code issues that users may run in to.

F: I’ll take a cue from the Insomniac interview here? Faster run time: Chased by zombies or a sale at Saks?

SF: Old school Romero zombies would lose out to a discounted designer handbag or dress any day of the week. If we’re talking the new-school “Dawn of the Dead” style zombies, then I’m outta there with a quickness.

F: What else do you do to stay active?

SF: I love my gym in a completely nerdy way, so even when I’m not working out with my trainers I like to go to yoga and pilates classes or swimming.

F: Do you have any words of advice for people who are just starting to work out?

SF: Find something you enjoy doing, and go slow. A year ago I would try to run and hurt myself every time and just be miserable about it. So I backed off and started just walking, using a recumbent bike, and going to water aerobics classes. That was a year and 100 pounds ago. As I progressed and got fitter, I could do more. I ramped up to longer distances and harder classes and then started working with trainers to narrow my focus. That gradual progression kept me from quitting, and also kept me from hurting myself.

Exercise is a part of my life now in a way it never was before, and you have to just keep going until working out is just.. the way it is. Know you’re not perfect and just keep on going. I’m totally honored that the guys and gals here at Epic wanted me to be a part of MuckRuckus and I can’t wait to challenge myself and get muddy at the same time for such a good cause.

F: Thank you Shelley!

Don’t forget!

The Dedicated Servers crew will put on another  GOWCharity event to help raise awareness and funds for the Epic Games MuckRuckus team. On June 15th Epic Games and Insomniac Games will be represented by some of its biggest developers and staff in the 2012 MuckRuckus event. The MuckRuckus event is a 5 Mile military-style run covered in mud. The money raised during these events goes directly to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

Dedicated Servers will do a micro GOWCharity marathon this weekend in support! They will be playing 8 hours of Horde and Beast, so feel free to stop by and watch at www.twitch.tv/dedicatedservers. They will try to have some of the team members on hand to say hello. Be sure to cheer them on!

They will be streaming from Noon Friday – 8 pm EST

For more information on the Epic Games MuckRuckus Team Click Here
If you would like to donate to Team Epic, you can visit their Muck Ruckus page.
If you would like to donate to Team Insomniac, visit their Muck Ruckus page.
You can to either of the teams or individual team members.