Corporate 5k Blog

The Tom Scalise Leadership Award for Workplace Wellness

2012-01-10T15:08:00.005-05:00

Formerly known as The Tom Scalise Excellence in Achievement Award, the Leadership Award is awarded to the CEO/Top Manager that exemplifies workplace wellness.
Nominations are accepted by all employees and the winner will be announced at the Corporate 5k start line.

The recipient receives: $1,000 charitable donation to a local non-profit of choice that supports health and wellness in Central Florida.
Nomination Deadline: March 15th 2012

Nominate your CEO/ Top Manager: Email your nomination to corporate5k@trackshack.com

2011 Leadership Award: Pete Barr, Jr
Company: Fry Hammond Barr (FHB) is a full-service advertising, public relations and interactive marketing agency. FHB is a privately held, family-owned company with ownership held by FHB Chairman Pete Barr Sr. and President + CEO Pete Barr Jr.

Running Through the Holidays

2011-12-06T14:14:00.001-05:00

By Susan S. Paul, MS
Track Shack Fitness Club Program Director

The holiday season is upon us and while we look forward to this very special time of year, it can also be very stressful. Parties, late nights, travel, family, community and social obligations, on top of an already very busy schedule, produce stress. Disruption to our normal routine also creates stress. At a time when we need our running the most to deal with this increased stress, we have little time available due to the extra demands of the holidays, so what’s a runner to do?

Some runners feel pressure to give up their training through the holidays and wait until after the New Year to resume running when life calms down. However, beginning with Thanksgiving, the Holiday Season extends into January, giving us almost two months of celebration. If you give up training for this period of time, you could easily lose as much as 30% of your cardiovascular fitness. And, if that wasn’t bad enough, sacrificing your training routine can result in even more stress! Exercise serves as a healthy stress outlet. In addition to training issues, the holidays also mean late nights with excess food and alcohol. It’s no wonder the average person gains 5 pounds between Thanksgiving and the New Year! So, how can we enjoy the season without blowing a year’s worth of training? Here are some tips to help you survive the holidays with your running, waistline, and sanity intact! Enjoy!

TEN HOLIDAY FITNESS TIPS:

1. Keep running a priority. It creates more stress if you drop it completely.

2. Schedule your runs or workouts in advance. Look at your upcoming week and write in your runs.

3. Maintain your fitness. Focus on maintaining your fitness rather than improving it through
this busy time of the year. This will help reduce your stress level by relieving some pressure on you. By running three days a week, you can maintain your current fitness level, relieve stress, and have time to meet holiday obligations.

4. Some running is better than no running at all! Don’t skip a run, even if you have to cut it short. If you only have time for a short run, warm up and then increase the pace. By increasing the intensity, you increase the effectiveness of the workout. Something is better than nothing.

5. Be flexible! Run at different times of day, if necessary. Or, suggest attending an exercise class together rather than meeting for drinks and dinner.

6. Drink lots of water. Aim for a gallon a day. In social settings, drink two glasses of water for every alcoholic beverage. Example: one glass of wine followed by two glasses of water.

7. Eat before going to the party. Try a protein snack like a cup of Greek yogurt, deli turkey, or a protein shake.

8. Exercise portion control. This is much easier to do if you eat before going to the party! Holiday foods are delicious, but usually very fattening; eat them in small amounts.

9. Offer to bring something to the party or the office. Bring a healthy food or snack that you will enjoy eating; others will appreciate it too!

10. Stay Motivated! Rather than get discouraged or overwhelmed, keep motivated through the holidays by registering for a race or a training program after the first of the year. Having a goal will help keep you on track through the season. Look at Track Shack’s website for information on upcoming races and training programs.

‘Tis the Season for Living Well

2011-11-01T14:45:00.003-04:00

Contributed by Seasons 52

This is truly the season for living life to the fullest. But living well also includes the things we do to make our lives better. Like getting and staying in shape. And nurturing ourselves with flavorful, healthy foods. Since you’re reading this blog, you’re most likely already getting the exercise you need (and hopefully we’ll see you at the Seasons 52 Park Ave. 5.2k on January 21st.) So we’d like to offer you some creative and simple ways to live well via your kitchen this season, courtesy of Seasons 52 Executive Chef Clifford Pleau.

We begin with the creamy dips that are a must for any holiday party, and the rich sauces that add such depth to your favorite entrées. Chef Pleau encourages you to keep dipping and pouring—it’s the holidays, after all—but consider replacing the heavy, high-fat ingredients with nonfat cottage cheese, nonfat sour cream, nonfat yogurt or silken tofu. You’ll dramatically reduce the fat and calories, and it’s likely your guests won’t even notice the difference.
Another way to lighten things up is to eliminate the need for buttering or greasing pans before baking by coating your pans with extra virgin olive oil applied with a spray bottle—it coats evenly and reduces the amount you need to use. Or, if you prefer to go even lighter, consider using non-stick pans that require no pre-baking prep at all.
And then there are wonderful things you can do with vegetables. Roasting brings out the boldest flavor in vegetables, and roasting them in their jackets concentrates their flavors even more. (It also helps to lock in the nutrients.) Beets, carrots, onions, and plum tomatoes all taste better roasted, if we do say so ourselves, and make a wonderful accompaniment to so many holiday dishes.
It might seem counterintuitive at this time of year, but one of Chef Pleau’s most helpful tips is to keep flavors simple. Overloading a dish with too many ingredients may only confuse the palette. That’s not to say you shouldn’t combine flavors in creative ways, but sometimes less really is more.
This is a joyful time of year. A time to look back fondly at the year that was, to celebrate the holidays at hand, and to look ahead to the year to come. It is our wish for you that this year was memorable, that these holidays are festive, and that next year finds you living well. From all of us at Seasons 52, best wishes to you and yours.

ZESTY RED PEPPER SAUCE
(creamy / low fat)
Ingredients:
1 cup red pepper, roasted & pureed
1 cup cottage cheese, low fat
1 tablespoon cumin seed, toasted & ground fine
1 teaspoon blackening spice
¼ cup lime juice, fresh (2 each)
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon Chipotle Tabasco

Procedure:• Prepare fresh roasted and peeled peppers or use a drained jar of pimientos. Place all ingredients in a blender or food processor. Blend until smooth. Store in the refrigerator until ready to use.

Notes:
This recipe serves as an excellent dip for artichokes and grilled vegetables, a sauce for grilled chicken and fresh fish or a dressing over a tossed greens salad.
Makes: 16 oz

Healthy 100 Article: Live, Active and Strong

2011-10-11T16:27:00.002-04:00

Yogurt has received a lot of attention lately because it contains two nutrients that are important for overall health: probiotics, a class of healthy bacteria that live in the bowel; and calcium, necessary for strong bones and teeth.   

Probiotics such as Lactobacillus can help digestion and boost immunity. They can help people cope with the diarrhea associated with antibiotic treatments, prevent yeast infections, treat irritable bowel syndrome and fight eczema in children. A limited Swedish study in 2005 found that people given L. reuteri missed fewer days at work from gastrointestinal or respiratory illnesses than people in a control group. 
 
Calcium’s benefits extend beyond building healthy teeth and bones, and reducing the risk of osteoporisis. It helps the nervous system and muscles work properly, and helps blood clot effectively. It also protects against certain cancers (including those of the colon and breast), acts to reduce blood pressure and, according to a 2003 University of Tennessee study, may even help you lose weight. 
 It’s easy to include probiotic- and calcium-rich yogurt in your diet. Make sure the yogurt has probiotics by checking the label for “live cultures.” And if you favor flavored yogurts, read labels carefully to find brands that limit added sugar.

IOA "Insures" Future of Corporate Fitness

2011-09-08T11:18:00.004-04:00

Track Shack Events proudly announces two major sponsorship enhancements with the Corporate 5k. These partnerships will positively impact the health and wellness momentum that Central Florida is experiencing!

Insurance Office of America has committed to a multi-year title sponsorship of the Corporate 5k. IOA’s leadership and 200+ employees have had a strong commitment and genuine enthusiasm for Corporate 5k since 1995.

A new partnership formed with News 13 and Bright House Sports Network brings a new level of health and fitness exposure via News 13 programming and its Spanish news and information network, InfoMas.

“Heading into the 18th year of the Corporate 5k, we’re very excited to have IOA as a valued partner who has been a true champion of corporate fitness for over 15 years. Their vision for a healthy community where corporate citizens take the lead on promoting healthy workplaces has been realized by the thousands of lives that have been transformed by running and walking in Corporate 5k each year,” says Jon Hughes, Race Director and co-owner of Track Shack Events.

2011 T-Shirt Contest!

2011-03-31T10:29:00.008-04:00

It's time to vote for your favorite Corporate 5k Team T-shirt design, and the rules are pretty simple.

1. Anyone can vote- friends, family, co-workers, complete strangers- so get the word out, and encourage people to vote for your team's design.

2. Only one vote per a person is allowed.

3. Voting closes at 5:00 p.m. April 8th.

The entries are in this post, and linked to on the right side bar under the "2011 T-shirt Design Contest" heading. To vote, find the name of the company whose shirt you want to vote for in the box on the right, select it, and click "vote". Please note, there are two additional entries to vote for in a second poll, and a third and fourth entry in their own polls. Due to an error, they were not added to the original poll.

Good luck to everyone who submitted entries!

Entries are listed in alphabetical order, with the name of the company under each image. Click each picture for a larger image.

*Due to a typo, "Scholastic" is listed on the voting poll as "Scolastic".

It's Almost Here!

2011-03-24T22:41:00.002-04:00

Welcome to the 2011 Corporate 5K Presented by Insurance Office of America.

This year our theme at IOA for the Corporate 5K Presented by IOA is “Participating with a Purpose”. Our outreach will be to the homeless people of Orlando by providing back-packs with items of necessity. Everyone at IOA who signs up will receive a back-pack to put some personal items in. We will be walking or running with the back-packs during the event. At the finish line we will deposit the back-packs so they can be distributed to our homeless friends of Orlando. If you “Participate with a Purpose” You will have achieved your goal and, at the same time, helped brighten another person’s life.

Over the years, IOA management has encouraged, promoted and supported our employees and producers to maintain a healthy and fit lifestyle. The Corporate 5k Presented by IOA is an event to help everyone achieve their own “Personal goals” to a healthier life. Think about your life. You can only perform your best when you are motivated and enthusiastic about what you do and have the physical capabilities to excel to your maximum. May your daily journey be bountiful rich in every respect; especially as it relates to your health and fitness.

http://www.trackshack.com/corporate5k/sponsors.shtml

Contest!

2011-02-03T11:55:00.000-05:00

What is your best Corporate 5k memory? The writer of our favorite answer, the one that is witty, inspiring, helpful or entertaining will receive complimentary entry to the Winter Park Road Race on March 26th. If you wish to be considered to win, please include your e-mail address in your post. E-mail addresses will be deleted before the post is published, and will only be used to contact the winner. The winner will be announced in two weeks.

Did Your Team Place?

2010-06-07T13:30:00.000-04:00

If your team placed in the Corporate 5k, we have a prize for you at Track Shack! Come by the store to pick it up.

Results can be found here.

The Story Behind the Shirt

2010-05-17T11:14:00.000-04:00

This years T-shirt contest was quite dramatic, with Beck's Disaster Relief taking an early lead, but in the end, PBS&J's shirt took the prize. We asked them for the story behind their shirt, and here is what they told us.

"It was the morning of January 13, 2010, and word quickly spread throughout PBS&J’s Orlando office that Lee Strickland, transportation planning group manager for central Florida, was missing in Haiti. He had gone there the day before, filling in for a colleague at a presentation. He was staying at the Hotel Montana, which was in shambles. For 34 long days, coworkers hoped, prayed, and finally, grieved together when word came that Lee had been found and did not survive the earthquake.

In addition to providing leadership to PBS&J’s central Florida transportation planning group, on a personal level, Lee was many things—devoted family man, Sunday school teacher, avid Gator fan, cookie baker, roller coaster aficionado, joker, and free spirit. He was also fitness fanatic, whether it was working out at RDV or running marathons at Disney. More than just participate, he encouraged everyone around him to get involved. He served as team captain for PBS&J’s Corporate 5K team for several years. And so this year, PBS&J’s 2010 Corporate 5K team chose to participate in memory of, Lee, who was our friend and is dearly missed."

-Billie McLean Breedlove, Regional Marketing Manager, Florida, PBS&J

Race Course Preview

2010-04-07T11:29:00.000-04:00

Runners and walkers in this year's Corporate 5k will make history by participating in the largest road race ever held in Orlando city limits!

A few of us from Track Shack (and a running buddy from FreshPoint) ran the newly designed route starting at 7:15 p.m. on a Thursday night. Here's a preview of what to expect.

Heading east on Central you'll experience very little of downtown Orlando's famous brick streets for about a half mile. Think of this route as a rectangle that surrounds classic downtown neighborhoods and passes right by Carl Langford and Rose Arden parks. Along the way you'll be refreshed by hundreds of enthusiastic volunteers serving at two water stops and energized by a DJ and live music, including a mariachi band that welcomes you back to Lake Eola.

Nice wide roads and straight stretches lead you across the finish line and into the Office Party of the Year! Mich Ultra will be flowing and this is the time to celebrate your accomplishment with thousands of other fitness enthusiasts!

The Track Shack crew getting ready to run the course.

Mea Culpa

2010-04-02T13:23:00.002-04:00

We missed a T-shirt entry when putting the contest together. The new entry is "U.S. Lawns", and can be voted for in the box below the main T-shirt voting box. The shirt design can be found in the same post as the others.

Food Drive!

2010-04-02T12:13:00.000-04:00

Come prepared to race AND feed your neighbors in need.

The Christian Service Center invites your team to join our team by helping us to reach our goal of collecting 12,300 (one can per person) cans during this year’s Corporate 5K!

We would like to challenge all teams and participants to collect canned or nonperishable food items, which can be dropped off during the race in either of two drop off locations at Lake Eola. The first donation site will be set up on Rosalind Avenue near the Amphitheatre and the second site will be located on Eola Drive, near Panera.

The Christian Service Center is honored to be the recipient of such collective support from our community for the fourth year in a row. 100% of donated items will go directly to families in our community who are struggling to put food on the table. Not only will your donation satisfy someone’s belly, but your kindness and generosity will encourage their heart.

Food items in high demand include: baby food, powered milk, canned vegetables and fruits, canned tuna, soups, pastas, pasta sauces, instant potatoes, rice, breakfast cereals, cake mixes, bisquick, peanut butter, jellies, and beverages such as fruit juices.

On behalf of the Christian Service Center and the families we serve, I look forward to joining you for the race on April 15^th and personally invite you to check out our website to learn more. www.christianservicecenter.org

Robert F. Stuart

Executive Director

And the Nominees are...

2010-03-31T22:09:00.006-04:00

Click on image to view full size

To vote for U.S. Lawns, please use the box below the main voting poll. Thanks!

Voting Rules

2010-03-31T12:16:00.001-04:00

Voting for the T-shirt Design contest starts tomorrow (no joke), and the rules are pretty simple.

1. Anyone can vote- friends, family, co-workers, complete strangers- so get the word out, and encourage people to vote for your team's design.

2. Only one vote per a person is allowed.

3. Voting closes at midnight April 10th.

The designs will be put in a post, and linked to on the right side bar under the "2010 T-shirt Design Contest" heading. To vote, find the name of the company whose shirt you want to vote for in the box on the right, select it, and click "vote".

Good luck to everyone who submitted entries!

Campus Crusade for Christ

2010-03-22T10:46:00.000-04:00

Campus Crusade is one of the largest teams thats participates in the Corporate 5k presented by IOA. Here's some of their goals and team building tips from team captain Lorraine.

Team History:
-We have had a team of people since 2003. Our team size that year was 24.
-In 2004 I ran with the CCC team for the first time and we had 25.
-In 2006 I took over as the team captain and met with a team who decided to have the ministry pay for all but $5 for each person wanting to participate...We had 125 that year!

In 2007 we had 225, in 2008 we went just over 300 and in 2009 we hit 412! The price for each team member is still $5 and we have had kids as young as 4 and as old as 70 complete the 5K! A lot of our company brings their whole family..one family with 6 kids has done the race for 4 years! We have provided a box dinner for each runner each year and we are probably one of the last teams to all go home because we have so much fun hanging around afterwards and interacting with each other and other teams downtown!

Last year we worked really hard on our t-shirt design and finally we were able to capture a t-shirt award for best design! I have been the "team captain of the year" twice, in 2007 and in 2009. (We have lots of folks to vote I guess) :0)

Our goal for this year is to bring as close to 500 as we can recruit. In the past year we have adopted a new "Wellness program" for our staff which is 3 fold:
1. A WEIGHT MANAGEMENT INCENTIVE
Each staff member who wishes to sets a weight loss goal can receive $5 per pound they loose! With
   a top 3 prize worth over $200! Those who sign up get e-mails to encourage them and help them
   track their loss.
2. GYM MEMBERSHIP
To help people begin and maintain a healthy lifestyle, gym membership up to a 50% rebate is given
   to those who workout at least 10 days a month.
3. WALK 2 HEALTH program
By signing a pledge to walk at least 4 days a week you are given a pedometer and assigned to a
   "walking team". You can win a prize by recruiting the team with the most walkers who complete
   the program!

These are some of the new programs we have at our office to encourage and reward those who pursue a healthy life style!

I am excited about the part that the corporate 5K has played over the years in the health and active lifestyle of our staff!!

Want your team to be featured? e-mail Emma@TrackShack.com

A Great Team Recruitment Tool

2010-03-19T14:10:00.001-04:00

Kudos to Allgen Financial for putting together this great e-mail ad.

Past Winners

2010-03-17T11:29:00.002-04:00

You all asked us for samples of past winners of our T-shirt contest, so we went digging through the archives. Here's what we found:

Remember, submission deadline for artwork is March 26th!

Christian Service Center

2010-03-10T10:44:00.001-05:00

Many companies and organizations look forward to the annual Track Shack Corporate 5K as a fun team builder. The race is a great way to get to know co-workers in a casual environment and throw a little healthy competition into the mixJ. At the Christian Service Center, this is especially true! The race holds such meaningful symbolism to our organization.

The Corporate 5K reminds me a lot of the Center itself. It provides a unique opportunity for staff, volunteers, board members, and clients alike to join together as one unified team, leaving any barriers that separate us at the door. During this race, it doesn’t matter what your age, religion, ethnicity or job; it doesn’t matter if you came to the Christian Service Center because you need help or because you want to help someone else. We all wear the same outfit, run the same race and share the same satisfied smiles as we cross the finish line together.

Team Christian Service Center extends an open invitation to any community partners, families or individuals who would like to join a Corporate 5K team! Starting this week, team Christian Service Center is holding practices up until race day every Monday at 6 p.m. at Parramore Heritage Park (corner of Parramore and Central). For more information on the Christian Service Center or to contact us, please visit www.ChristianServiceCenter.org.

Thank you Track Shack for this annual opportunity and for adding a whole new dimension to our definition of “team”. We look forward to seeing you on April 15^th!

Chrissy Garton

Director of Marketing & Development

Christian Service Center

The Christian Service Center is the beneficiary of the Corporate 5k presented by IOA food drive. We received no compensation for blogging about them. If your team would like to featured on out blog, e-mail emma@trackshack.com.

"It's Just Good Business"

2010-03-01T10:50:00.000-05:00

That's the slogan for this year's Corporate 5k presented by IOA, to help you get those creative juices flowing for your t-shirt designs. Remember, the deadline for design submissions is March 26th!

Run it. Live it. Share it.

2010-02-15T22:33:00.000-05:00

Hey Corporate 5k Captains and Runners!

How do you inspire your

co-workers to run?

Share it with us in the comments of this post.

3 Lucky winners receive sport towels and large coffee mug!

Post responses by Friday, 2/26 5 pm. Winners will be contacted via email.

How to Register

2010-02-12T13:27:00.001-05:00

Courtesy of: Keith Morlock, Rockwell Collins Team Captain
(click images to enlarge)

A Little Competition Never Hurts...

2010-02-05T14:28:00.000-05:00

Did you know you can see what teams have registered for Corporate 5k presented by IOA and how many people they have registered? Check it out here.

Corporate 5k presented by IOA Information Slide Show

2010-02-03T13:34:00.000-05:00

Training Resources

2010-01-29T11:15:00.002-05:00

Track Shack's Training Program- an 8 week training guide to help you run a 5k

Florida Hospital Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine- injury and training advice

Track Shack's Training Programs- come work out with a group!

Cool Running's Couch-to-5k Training Plan- Cool Running is a great online resource for runners

Runners' Lounge- an online running community

Runner's World Ultimate 5-k plan- a six-week training program from a popular running and walking magazine

The Track Shack Blog- a great resource for training, nutrition, and more

Know any other great resources? Add them below in the comments.

Post discloser: cmp.ly/6/pi4f66

2010 T-shirt Design Contest Submission Requirments

2010-01-27T14:32:00.004-05:00

Does your team have the creativity it takes to win our t-shirt design contest? There's only one way to find out. Here are the rules:

E-mail your submission to Corporate5k@TrackShack.com, subject line "T-shirt Contest"
Include company name and the color of the t-shirt you will be printing on with your artwork.
All images MUST be submitted as a JPEG, minimum size of 240X160.
The deadline for submissions is Friday, March 26th. No entries will be accepted after the deadline.
Voting begins April 1st, here on the blog. Voting rules will be posted closer to the deadline.

There will only be one category, "Best Overall Design", and voting will be open to all 2010 Corporate 5k participants. The entries will be posted on the blog for everyone to see and vote for, so make sure they look good! We will e-mail the winning team and announce it on the blog. The award will be presented at the Awards Breakfast.

Building Your Team

2010-01-25T17:01:00.001-05:00

So, you've registered your team for Corporate 5k. Now, what do you do next? Here are some ideas for building your team.

Get your boss on board. Nothing spreads the word about your company's participation faster than having upper management involved.
Use the "invite" option on your team's Active.com account to invite people via e-mail.
Talk about the event in your company's newsletter.
Invite clients and vendors. Use this as an outreach opportunity.
Put up signs and posters around your office.
Use social media- blogs, Facebook, Twitter, etc. It's quick, easy, and best of all, free!

Did your company do anything in the past that worked well for you? Share ideas and tips in the comments!