Being a “Spectrumite” goes beyond the work we do for our clients. Whether it’s bettering the community through service
or participating in the Spectrum Fitness Challenge, I’ve learned major changes start with the small choices we make every day.
This past Sunday started with my decision to obey the alarm clock at 4:45 a.m. and put on a cycling jersey for the American Diabetes Association’s Tour de Cure. By 6:45 a.m. team Spectrum Spokes Persons embarked on an 81-mile bike ride along the Northern Virginia countryside.
And with charity event season in full swing, here are some tips for making your own fitness challenge a little more enjoyable for everyone involved:
- Everyone likes a challenge. Whether it’s 81 miles on a bike or breaking the 25-minute mark on a 5k charity run, it’s always best to reach for a personal milestone. Friends and family enjoy hearing that they played a small role in helping you achieve a fitness goal. Be sure to update them on your training and fundraising progress.
- Make it personal. As we pedaled along the route I thought about my brother Corey and the 26.7 million other Americans who are also living with diabetes. Climbing those hills at mile 44 didn’t seem quite as bad when I considered all the things my brother does on a daily basis just to stay healthy. It was motivating to learn how many people also have a close connection to diabetes.
- Run or ride as a team. Six hours on a bike can get pretty boring without some friends around. It was nice to have a few others with me to share stories, jokingly complain about the hills ahead and encourage each other along the journey. Running groups like Road Runners Club of America are also a great way to meet new people with similar interests.
- Invite friends and family. Charity fitness events usually offer quite a bit of fanfare and tend to be great for people-watching. The Tour de Cure offered live entertainment, healthy food and youth tennis lessons led by the Washington Kastles.
- Keep the nutrition going. Omega 3 foods like salmon and tuna fish are packed with protein and help quench the inflammation that slows recovery from tendinitis, bone fractures and sprained ligaments.
Summertime is a great time to make some positive changes. Whether it be a new fitness challenge like Tour de Cure or walking an extra ten minutes per day, we all have the power to improve our long-term health. If your company doesn’t offer an employee wellness program, talk to a member of your human resources team. One simple question could start a chain reaction.
Tell us, how do you make fitness fun?