A Healthy Workplace

My staff and I are all focused on an important race this May. And it’s not the elections or the 100th running of the Indy 500. We’re training for the Indy Mini-Marathon on May 7. It’s the second time we’ve done it as a team and we can’t wait. This year we have 11 on our team. But the mini is just one example of the things were doing at the Chamber and Visit South Bend Mishawaka to be healthy.

You see we’re taking health and wellness to the next level. And not because somebody in human resources said we had to, but because we know it’s the right thing for our own long term health. It’s part of our culture, and what developed organically in the beginning has morphed into more organized efforts like the Mini our Sunburst Team.

Our office is probably a lot like yours. We have men and women on our team, young and young at heart. Our ages range from 22 to 65. And our recreational interests are wide ranging, as is our health and fitness levels. Some are seasoned runners and health fanatics; others are adventuresome and willing to try something new. Like many offices we enjoy the occasional treat in the kitchen, but we also try to take advantage of the many healthy opportunities in the community.

Our lunch hours vary. You’ll sometimes find us enjoying one of the great restaurants in the downtown. But you’re more likely to find us taking advantage of that break in our schedule by spinning, or doing HIT (High Intense Training), GRIT, Barre, Pilates, or running the stairs at one of downtown’s tallest buildings.

On the weekends, you’ll see us competing as a team at Sunburst, or riding in Bike the Bend, or participating in many other great 5K, 10K, Half-Marathon and Marathon races that exist here in our region or around the Midwest. In fact we believe so much in the value of our employees participating in events like those that we’ll cover the entry fees for our employees, up to $150 for the season.

You might also find us taking advantage of some of the great running spots in our area, like the Mishawaka Riverwalk, the IUSB/Howard Park/East Bank Trail, or on the campus of the University of Notre Dame, one of the top running campuses in the Country. We’ve been known to venture out to the great trails in Elkhart and Goshen, even north to the Kal-Haven trail. We’re excited about on-going efforts to continue to connect the communities in our region.

We try to be encouraging to each other, and we support each other in our athletic challenges. Our times in the Mini will vary widely, but we’ll be there to encourage the first finisher and the last, and everyone in between. There is a little bit of friendly competition but our number one goal is for everyone to finish. Some new friendships have been formed. And it’s also helped us in the workplace, as we now have a connection different than your normal work relationship.

In the end, we hope we’re healthier and that we all will live longer. And we’re more likely to stick with it, because of the great support of our co-workers.