A Q&A With The Lunch Bunch

Guest Q&A: Seth Baird, RaShawn Lee, Jesus DelaTorre, Adam Bratton
​Read Time: 5 mins - Short Film: 3 mins

You’ve likely found yourself staring out the office window and wishing you were outside instead of staring at a computer screen a time or two huh? Us too. That’s the inspiration behind our latest short film (3min) entitled “Lunch Break”. The goal is to motivate you to change up your daily routine and sprinkle in some creative activity during your midday break.

We sat down for a Q&A with “The Lunch Bunch” from the film to get their insight leading up to, during, and after our shared meal and experience.

The Lunch Bunch Introductions:

SB – A former college baseball player, turned Occupational Therapist Assistant, Seth Baird perpetually searches for different ways to get active and change-up his active routine. With a wildly supportive wife, his Super Dad status is a badge of honor that he equates to running an ultra-marathon with a changing finish line.

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RL – RaShawn Lee is a staple in the Charlotte running and coaching scene as a lifelong Carolinian. She has a goal of racing in the Western State Endurance Race, but also carves out time for some multisport action. RaShawn proudly represented the ladies in the film, and purposefully rocked the athletic skirt throughout.

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JD - Originally from Sugarland, TX, Jesus DelaTorre was a self-proclaimed “at home lazy body” until he found endurance sports a few years ago. Running with his pup Arwen is his go-to activity but has been knocking out Triathlons (including a few Half Ironman’s) left and right in the last 12 months. The internal drive to push through the pain cave and avoid the couch is what motivates Jesus on a daily basis.

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​AB – Hailing from the middle of nowhere PA, Adam Bratton is a father of 2 young knuckleheads, a work-in-progress husband, the Head Enabler at Human Powered Movement, and an absolute sucker for coming up with atypical ways to get active when he should be working.

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DON’T LIE … WHEN YOU FIRST GOT A MESSAGE ABOUT THIS FILM PROJECT, WHAT WAS YOUR INITIAL REACTION?

SB - Hell yeah! I’ve spent too long in the sea of monotony going through the same afternoon routine… unwrapping my cold cut sandwich in the same office chair. This project got me thinking and doing again.
RL – Both figuratively and physically, “I’M IN!!”
JD - Let it rip!
AB – I’ve been scheming this mini-project for a while and figured it would be best to share with a few friends.

FAVORITE PART OF THE ADVENTURE (RUN, PADDLE, or BIKE)?

SB – The run.
RL – Being on the water and paddling.
JD – Run … running is my happy place.
AB – I love riding my bike completely geared down … I envision the person in the car wondering what kind of wild adventure is about to ensue (also, outside of getting a massive sunburn, sharing the water with everyone was great).

WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU HAD A PICNIC LUNCH IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WOODS?

SB – I ate lunch at a restaurant, sitting outside at a picnic table a few months ago. Does that count?**Editor’s Note: We’ll let the reader decide, but it’s at least better than the office chair!
RL – Ha! It’s been quite a few years.
JD - I can honestly say that this was my first time enjoying a good ol' PB&J out in the middle of the woods.
AB – Too long!! But I did rally all the neighborhood kids for s’mores over the campfire for breakfast a few months ago and have a family paddle lunch planned for next week.

HAVE YOU DAYDREAMED OF ANOTHER MIDDAY ADVENTURE YET? HAVE YOU ACTUALLY DONE IT?

SB – Dreaming constantly. Taking action … eh. Due to my lovely post adventure aroma, midday adventures are reserved for weekend time slots.
RL – Yes, and YES! Made plans the very next day!! And a mere 4 days later, I took my niece camping and tried to re-create the moment with a hike-kayak-picnic!
JD – I daydream about it all the time. Rather than being stuck in my work truck roaming around Charlotte, I’d rather be out running trails or roads with my pup Arwen. And yes, I have totally done it, not just for myself but for my pups health too. 
AB – Unfortunately, not to the extent of the film, but it’s not uncommon for me to “shock the senses” a bit during the day. Truthfully, the “Lunch Break” route could end up on my consistent rotation.

BIGGEST TAKE AWAY FROM THE EXPERIENCE?

SB – Being introduced to hidden outdoor gems close to home, and chatting with adventure nuts like myself.
RL – Having friends that do what you do is awesome! And if collectively you all have super cool outdoor gear to play with it’s FANTABULOUS!
JD - I had to really dig deep physically and mentally to get back upriver against the current. Pre-2020 me would have called it a day early and found a way out. I went into my dark place to find that motivation to not let myself fail when it seemed like fighting the never-ending current was futile. 
AB - The stoke and smiles that showed up throughout the day was inspiring ... I can only imagine how many others will take that same inspiration to create their own version of a "Lunch Break".

ANY WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT FOR THOSE READING/WATCHING?

​SB - Write down your weekly routine. Take note of the consistency but find ways to shake things up. The world is dynamic. Human bodies are built to embrace the continuous variability life throws our way.
RL - Just get outdoors! It almost always makes the day better in some capacity.
JD – Don't be afraid to try something that seems out of the norm, and challenging. You are going to be miserable there's no way around it, but the ability to take that miserable situation and transform it into motivation will help you grow and find new abilities you didn't know you had.
AB – Make your own experience as epic or casual as you want … find a way to get moving on your own terms where you can sustain the activity over months and years vs just a once-in-a-while situation. 

WHEN CAN WE MEET UP FOR LUNCH AGAIN?!?

SB - ASAP as long as crunchy PB is in the lineup.
RL - Dude … I’m down anytime!!
JD - I might go for a different watercraft, but I'll be waiting for that text! 
AB – I hear you can pack a lunch when backcountry skiing or climbing at the crag too … just saying.

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Journal - A Q&A With The Lunch Bunch From HPM's Short Film Entitled "Lunch Break"