Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 109, Aug 2018 | Page 37

Back on the Road to Soweto #9to5 CHALLENGE Employees of law firm Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyer are reaching new heights in the boardroom and on the road, thanks to the #9to5 Corporate Challenge. L ast year, as a way of ensuring happier and healthier employees, leading commercial law firm, Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyer (CDH), embarked on a journey – The Road to Soweto – where employees completed a #9to5 challenge before running various distances at the Old Mutual Soweto Marathon. Everyone involved loved the experience, and so they jumped at the opportunity to continue training in 2018 in preparation for the Road to Soweto 2. We caught up with two of these employees who embarked on the CDH #9to5 Corporate Challenge in March this year, Courtney Jones and Reece May, and they both tell us that they have grown in leaps and bounds! COURTNEY’S EXPERIENCE Before I started the #9to5 Corporate Challenge in March, my fitness level was pretty much zero. I could barely run two kilometres without walking. Since then, my fitness has improved dramatically, which has translated into being able to run further distances, as well as improving on my time in shorter distances. I am now able to run about 10km comfortably. REECE’S PROGRESS I was at a very moderate fitness level at the start of the challenge, thanks to playing hockey and touch rugby once a week. Since then, I have seen noticeable differences in my endurance and speed. I managed to shave time off my 5km and 10km times only weeks after starting the programme. This renewed fitness has also helped with my other sporting interests, as I now have more stamina, which allows me to focus on executing skills rather than worrying about quickly depleting fitness levels. The training sessions have also impacted my work, as I have much more energy during my work hours, and I have also made several new friends. What I love most about the sessions are the tangible improvements. With each session, I can feel myself getting fitter, and it makes all the hard work worth it. I feel so much more alert in the mornings after a training session, which allows me to do tasks more efficiently in comparison to days where I do not exercise. I have also been able to interact with and form friendships with members of staff from different departments at CDH, as well as grow closer to those colleagues I knew before, and we all now encourage one another to attend training regularly. There is something very motivating in knowing that there are other colleagues who are motivated to train. I signed up to the challenge with the goal of completing the 2018 Old Mutual Soweto Half Marathon, which has now become just one of the races I plan to conquer going forward. I feel like I can now call myself “a runner.” With my training, my goal is to complete two half marathons by the end of the year – having not run in a competitive race exceeding 5km previously. I believe that this will put me in a great position to tackle my first marathon during the course of next year. THE #9TO5 CORPORATE CHALLENGE H ealth issues and healthcare costs in companies and corporates are rising at an alarming rate. Unfortunately, too many companies are trying to implement wellness programmes with little to no experience, or a game plan, and as a result, more programmes fail than succeed. This is where the #9to5Challenge can tick all the boxes for a Corporate Health and Wel lness Programme. We can even tailor-make your experience. WHAT IS #9TO5 BENEFITS OF #9TO5 • • • • • A supported and guided eight-week programme that takes participants from their current fitness level to running a 5km, 10km, 21km or even 42km distance. Specifically aimed at beginner and intermediate runners, although advanced runners can benefit from the group environment. Group training sessions facilitated by your very own coach. Follow one of our tried and trusted training plans on your own in between sessions, via our easy to use App, to hit your ultimate running goals. • • • • Teaches employees how to run, thereby improving their activity, health and fitness base. Arguably the easiest, cheapest and most accessible form of activity, making it ideal for the majority of employees. Develops a social running community within the corporate environment. Instils confidence to keep active, which relieves stress and naturally boosts health and immunity. Employees are engaged, motivated and incentivised to commit to a programme, thereby increasing the potential for positive lifestyle change. For more information, please contact Jeannie Jordaan at [email protected] 37