At Work teams sweat it out at indoor 5K
More than 160 Fittest Loser At Work challengers ran with the opportunity to show off their team spirit and get in shape at the 2nd Annual Fittest Loser "At Work" indoor 5K at the Elk Grove Village Pavilion.
The 5K was inspiring and exhausting for Clearbook Center's Team Withering AWEIGH.
"We all planned to walk it," team captain Kristen Daniels says, but members ended up running more than planned. "It was great to burn all those extra calories, but we left exhausted."
Hoping to take the special award for outstanding team spirit, TTI Inc, Team The Sveltes, donned hand-designed T-shirts for this event.
"Everyone loved the Elk Grove Pavilion 5K," says team captain Deb Gallagher. "It was the first time out for our team and this has been so helpful for us."
More than 40 teams signed up to be a part of the Daily Herald/Push Fitness Fittest Loser At Work Challenge. As part of the challenge, teams are participating in events and regular weigh-ins, all in a quest to lose the most weight. The 5K on March 9 was sponsored by the Elk Grove Park District, Pavilion Fitness and Amita Health.
For group workouts, this adventurous team stepped into a CrossFit studio. "Comedy is entering a new exercise class and trying to blend in. Lunges posed challenges and handstands against the wall were something I never thought we'd be doing," she says.
Nicoat, an Itasca company with Teams NicoatFit & Refine Our Coats in the contest, finds organizing group workouts challenging with member vacations. "It's trying to find that balance between a good workout that is fun and challenging," says team captain Karen Loring.
Team Withering AWEIGH has learned that for group workouts, diversity works best for their team. "Some team members really thrive when exercising together, keeping each other on track and motivated. Other members prefer their own routine," says Daniels.
For this diverse team, challenges come at lunch time. "It's frustrating to see how many calories are in foods that you think are healthy," she says.
Wood Dale Park District, Team Capital W, likes to get seriously physical with group workouts. On this spunky team's agenda is PIYO (Pilates/yoga), Knockout, HIIT (high intensity interval training) and Fridays at Rob's gym.
These team members pull no punches with keeping the fitness inspiration and perspiration flowing during group workout sessions. "We share motivational quotes with each other constantly," says Team Capital W's captain, Karin Johns. "We cheer on loss of weight and inches."
THD214/Forest View2, Team Fighting Flab Five is driven to living a healthier lifestyle. "We take advantage of work breaks to get time on the treadmill or stairs. Our goal is 10,000 steps per day," says captain Jessica Franco. "The team rocked the 5K Elk Grove event, pushing themselves to finish."
Team member Kim enjoys getting to know co-workers at group workouts. "We are willing to try anything new," she says.
At Work Challenge teams will attend more events in the future, including a "Shop Smart Workshop" sponsored by Valli Foods in Glendale Heights, a healthy breakfast session with dietitians from Amita Health, Sunshine Yoga at lululemon in Deer Park Town Center, Orange Theory Team Challenge in Schaumburg and a workout team challenge at CrossFit Rise in Schaumburg.
Your At Work Challenge quote of the week:
"The strength of the team is each individual member. The strength of each member is the team. " Phil Jackson