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The Elite Endurance of Corporate Athletes
Celebrating Human Potential
The world of endurance never ceases to amaze me in so many ways. Endurance is not just "athletes" running marathons and the likes. Endurance spans far wider than that. The "corporate athlete" has always been one I have kept a close eye on. The outright "endurance" of the two may be far closer than we think.
The Endurance of Traditional Athletes
An athlete spends months preparing to summit Everest and on the final push can spend up to or over 12 hours just reaching the peak. They then have to do the route in reverse taking the "awake and under strain" time easily over 24 hours. Their result is celebrated as an incredible feat of human endurance. Along the way they have made huge sacrifices on many levels, two key ones, relationships and their health.
Other athletes complete ultra marathons or Ironman distance triathlons, ranging from 8 to 114 hours of physical labour solely on the event day. Before reaching the start line, they have made a number of choices which again may have some negative effects in other areas of their lives and on their health.
In 2022 I had the opportunity to coach an athlete to run 6.7km every hour for 89 consecutive hours. Forget about the training, the sleep deprivation and nutrition alone during those 89 hours took over 8 weeks to recover from.
Before reaching the start line the athlete made a number of choices, which again may have some negative effects in other areas of his life and on his health. We celebrated his feat of human endurance.
The Unsung Endurance of Corporate Athletes
When the world of athletic endurance meets that of social media, we see these achievements celebrated with only the cynical questioning the fall out. I do not recall such posts or celebrations for the corporate athlete that has worked a 90-hour week or pulled an "all-nighter" to get a business deal across the line or a court case prepared for a hearing. The athlete normally has recovery time away from their sport after big events. The corporate athlete normally is expected to be at the office at 9am on Monday morning ready to go again.
The Shared Challenges
The fall out is the same. For each athlete when it comes to sacrifices and negative impacts on their health. Some manage it others do not. In sport "longevity" is being spoken about more and more which is a huge positive. My primary goal for my athletes is that they are able to do these things that make them happy for a number of years. My primary goal for my corporate athletes is the same.
The considerations have to be the same. Perhaps heavier when it comes to the corporate athlete. It is very clear that they possess and continue to train and test a phenomenal level of endurance. Those who do not get help along the way, that do not periodize their work load and address their intensity, just like athlete who ignore the basics "burn out" early. They never really "make it". It does not need to be that way, with the right approach both athletes can continue to achieve great things in their chosen endeavours be it sport or business.
Every Human is an Athlete
I have long believed every human is an athlete, we just perform in different arenas. I feel that the sooner we are ready to accept this then the sooner we can deploy a high-performance mindset to the arena that we are performing in.
The Path Forward
With the right approach, both traditional and corporate athletes can continue to achieve great things in their chosen endeavours. This involves:
- Seeking help and guidance
- Periodizing workload
- Addressing intensity
- Focusing on the basics of health and recovery
By treating corporate performance with the same respect and strategic approach as athletic performance, we can celebrate and support the incredible endurance of all types of athletes.
Fun - Honesty - Simplicity - Smash Life - MENTAL TOUGHNESS - Hard Work
ENGINE
8 min AMRAPS with some different dance moves for Engine this week!
GYMNASTICS
We will go upside down again, but this time with HSPU, followed by pull-up progressions. We will finish with some strength work.
HYROX
This week, we hit Half a Hyrox broken down into intervals, with rest!
MOBILITY
Mobility is Back! We will improve on the positions we need fixing from end-of-year testing. Simple hip & ankle mobility & glute stability/activation were big. With overhead stability being much needed, we will start to focus on this.
PURE STRENGTH
On Monday in Pure Strength, we have banded deadlifts and some Bulgarian split squats. On Wednesday, we hit the banded bench press and progress the loading on this and the banded row.
WEIGHTLIFTING
This week in Weightlifting we are focused on the Hang Snatch, with some snatch balance, a Heavy Snatch complex and some Pulls.
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Monday Ride
A skills and fitness based ride at the BikeDXB track in Dubai. Some simply structured intervals to enhance cycling ability.
Start time: 05:59 am
Session Length: 1.5 hour
Location: The Loop Cafe, Bike DXB
Track Tuesday
Our weekly on track speed session! For any level of runner looking to build their run speed, threshold and Vo2max fitness and run with the best running community in Dubai.
Start time: 05:59 am
Session Length: 1.5 hour
Entrance fee: https://isddubai.com/athletics-venuehire/
Location: https://goo.gl/maps/oomJAa31vKy3hQNG6
Wednesday - Brick Session
A brick session consisting of 60mins of cycling with 20 - 30mins of running. Great for all levels of triathlete.
Start time: 05:59 am
Location : BOTS - https://goo.gl/maps/6AwtJXW8nA45Cy9H8
Friday - Coffee Run
Our weekly tempo run. This run is currently gearing run fitness towards the incoming half marathons. Sessions are built on an RPE scale and accessible to all levels of runner.
Brief time: 05:54 am
Start time: 05:59 am
Start Location: Common Grounds
Saturday - Long Ride
Saturday long ride is usually 100km long or around 3 - 3.5hrs. It's a ride catered for moderate to advanced cyclists. Please reach out to rf@innerfight.com if you have any questions.
Start time: 05:59 am
Session Length: 1.5 hour
Location : BOTS - https://goo.gl/maps/6AwtJXW8nA45Cy9H8
Sunday - DCS Half Marathon
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Monday
Time: 5:59pm
Location: InnerFight
Session: LRC Mobility and Tempo
AM Session:
Please note there is no Morning session this week.
PM Session: This evening we will have our Tempo Run, which will be 8 mins at 7/10 and 3 mins recovery.
x3. Aim to keep a 7/10 effort on each block of work.
Tuesday
Time: 5:59am
Location: https://goo.gl/maps/oomJAa31vKy3hQNG6
Entrance fee: https://isddubai.com/athletics-venuehire/
Session: Track Tuesday
This is your chance to run fast with the wider IFE community and coaches. The session today will be 800m repeats that build in pace.
Wednesday
Time: 5:59am & 5:59pm
Location: InnerFight
Session: LRC Intervals
If you didn't run track, today we have some speed work for you. The session is 100m efforts through the park with a 300m recovery.
Friday
Brief time: 5:54am
Start Time: 5:59am
Location: Common Grounds
Session: The Coffee Run
This week we will be looking to dial into
2mins @ 8RPE, followed 9mins @ 6RPE. Repeating the sequence 3x gives you plenty of opportunity to find your rhythm.
Sunday
Time: 06:00
Session: Dubai Creek
Location: TBC
This week we will be at the DCS 10km and half marathon race. Warm-up location and details will be shared in WhatsApp.
This week at Innerfight, we start working on those overhead squat positions, followed by lunging and rowing in the workout.
On Tuesday, we have some clean and jerk barbell cycling, a pair of short, sharp, classic CrossFit-style workouts, and then some assault
bike intervals. We are back squatting heavily on Wednesday before some tough single leg in the workout. Thursday, we have a nice
gymnastics skill session followed by a partner workout, and on Friday, we finish the week with a Long Therapy WOD!
Monday:
Strength:
Over Head Squats
Conditioning:
Every 4 mins x 5 Complete
10 DB Overhead Alt Reverse Lunges (50/35)
20/15 cal Row
10 DB Overhead Alt Reverse Lunges (50/35)
Tuesday:
Strength:
Complex Power Clean + Push Press + Push Jerk
Conditioning:
15-12-9
Chest to Bar
Power Clean (60/40)
rest 3 mins
21-15-9
Pull Ups
Push Press (45/35kg)
Wednesday:
Strength:
Back Squat
Conditioning:
In a 4 Minute Window with 2mins rest x 4
1 Lap Car Park KB Farmers Carry
10 KB Box Stepovers
15 Burpee to Target
AMRAP
Goblet Squats
Thursday:
Strength:
A) Double Unders
B) Toes to Bar
C) Russian KB Swings
Conditioning:
21 min AMRAP with a Partner
6 Wall walks
30 Deadlift (60/40)
30 Cal Ass bike
30 Cal Ski
Friday:
Strength:
A) Ring Rows
B) Wall Balls + Goblet Wall Sit
Conditioning:
30min AMRAP - 4 movements that when put together make an epic workout!
The world of endurance never ceases to amaze me in so many ways. Endurance is not just "athletes" running marathons and the likes. Endurance spans far wider than that. The "corporate athlete" has always been one I have kept a close eye on. The outright "endurance" of the two may be far closer than we think.
The Endurance of Traditional Athletes
An athlete spends months preparing to summit Everest and on the final push can spend up to or over 12 hours just reaching the peak. They then have to do the route in reverse taking the "awake and under strain" time easily over 24 hours. Their result is celebrated as an incredible feat of human endurance. Along the way they have made huge sacrifices on many levels, two key ones, relationships and their health.
Other athletes complete ultra marathons or Ironman distance triathlons, ranging from 8 to 114 hours of physical labour solely on the event day. Before reaching the start line, they have made a number of choices which again may have some negative effects in other areas of their lives and on their health.
In 2022 I had the opportunity to coach an athlete to run 6.7km every hour for 89 consecutive hours. Forget about the training, the sleep deprivation and nutrition alone during those 89 hours took over 8 weeks to recover from.
Before reaching the start line the athlete made a number of choices, which again may have some negative effects in other areas of his life and on his health. We celebrated his feat of human endurance.
The Unsung Endurance of Corporate Athletes
When the world of athletic endurance meets that of social media, we see these achievements celebrated with only the cynical questioning the fall out. I do not recall such posts or celebrations for the corporate athlete that has worked a 90-hour week or pulled an "all-nighter" to get a business deal across the line or a court case prepared for a hearing. The athlete normally has recovery time away from their sport after big events. The corporate athlete normally is expected to be at the office at 9am on Monday morning ready to go again.
The Shared Challenges
The fall out is the same. For each athlete when it comes to sacrifices and negative impacts on their health. Some manage it others do not. In sport "longevity" is being spoken about more and more which is a huge positive. My primary goal for my athletes is that they are able to do these things that make them happy for a number of years. My primary goal for my corporate athletes is the same.
The considerations have to be the same. Perhaps heavier when it comes to the corporate athlete. It is very clear that they possess and continue to train and test a phenomenal level of endurance. Those who do not get help along the way, that do not periodize their work load and address their intensity, just like athlete who ignore the basics "burn out" early. They never really "make it". It does not need to be that way, with the right approach both athletes can continue to achieve great things in their chosen endeavours be it sport or business.
Every Human is an Athlete
I have long believed every human is an athlete, we just perform in different arenas. I feel that the sooner we are ready to accept this then the sooner we can deploy a high-performance mindset to the arena that we are performing in.
The Path Forward
With the right approach, both traditional and corporate athletes can continue to achieve great things in their chosen endeavours. This involves:
- Seeking help and guidance
- Periodizing workload
- Addressing intensity
- Focusing on the basics of health and recovery
By treating corporate performance with the same respect and strategic approach as athletic performance, we can celebrate and support the incredible endurance of all types of athletes.
Fun - Honesty - Simplicity - Smash Life - MENTAL TOUGHNESS - Hard Work
Monday Ride
A skills and fitness based ride at the BikeDXB track in Dubai. Some simply structured intervals to enhance cycling ability.
Start time: 05:59 am
Session Length: 1.5 hour
Location: The Loop Cafe, Bike DXB
Track Tuesday
Our weekly on track speed session! For any level of runner looking to build their run speed, threshold and Vo2max fitness and run with the best running community in Dubai.
Start time: 05:59 am
Session Length: 1.5 hour
Entrance fee: https://isddubai.com/athletics-venuehire/
Location: https://goo.gl/maps/oomJAa31vKy3hQNG6
Wednesday - Brick Session
A brick session consisting of 60mins of cycling with 20 - 30mins of running. Great for all levels of triathlete.
Start time: 05:59 am
Location : BOTS - https://goo.gl/maps/6AwtJXW8nA45Cy9H8
Friday - Coffee Run
Our weekly tempo run. This run is currently gearing run fitness towards the incoming half marathons. Sessions are built on an RPE scale and accessible to all levels of runner.
Brief time: 05:54 am
Start time: 05:59 am
Start Location: Common Grounds
Saturday - Long Ride
Saturday long ride is usually 100km long or around 3 - 3.5hrs. It's a ride catered for moderate to advanced cyclists. Please reach out to rf@innerfight.com if you have any questions.
Start time: 05:59 am
Session Length: 1.5 hour
Location : BOTS - https://goo.gl/maps/6AwtJXW8nA45Cy9H8
Sunday - DCS Half Marathon
Monday
Time: 5:59pm
Location: InnerFight
Session: LRC Mobility and Tempo
AM Session:
Please note there is no Morning session this week.
PM Session: This evening we will have our Tempo Run, which will be 8 mins at 7/10 and 3 mins recovery.
x3. Aim to keep a 7/10 effort on each block of work.
Tuesday
Time: 5:59am
Location: https://goo.gl/maps/oomJAa31vKy3hQNG6
Entrance fee: https://isddubai.com/athletics-venuehire/
Session: Track Tuesday
This is your chance to run fast with the wider IFE community and coaches. The session today will be 800m repeats that build in pace.
Wednesday
Time: 5:59am & 5:59pm
Location: InnerFight
Session: LRC Intervals
If you didn't run track, today we have some speed work for you. The session is 100m efforts through the park with a 300m recovery.
Friday
Brief time: 5:54am
Start Time: 5:59am
Location: Common Grounds
Session: The Coffee Run
This week we will be looking to dial into
2mins @ 8RPE, followed 9mins @ 6RPE. Repeating the sequence 3x gives you plenty of opportunity to find your rhythm.
Sunday
Time: 06:00
Session: Dubai Creek
Location: TBC
This week we will be at the DCS 10km and half marathon race. Warm-up location and details will be shared in WhatsApp.
This week at Innerfight, we start working on those overhead squat positions, followed by lunging and rowing in the workout.
On Tuesday, we have some clean and jerk barbell cycling, a pair of short, sharp, classic CrossFit-style workouts, and then some assault
bike intervals. We are back squatting heavily on Wednesday before some tough single leg in the workout. Thursday, we have a nice
gymnastics skill session followed by a partner workout, and on Friday, we finish the week with a Long Therapy WOD!
Monday:
Strength:
Over Head Squats
Conditioning:
Every 4 mins x 5 Complete
10 DB Overhead Alt Reverse Lunges (50/35)
20/15 cal Row
10 DB Overhead Alt Reverse Lunges (50/35)
Tuesday:
Strength:
Complex Power Clean + Push Press + Push Jerk
Conditioning:
15-12-9
Chest to Bar
Power Clean (60/40)
rest 3 mins
21-15-9
Pull Ups
Push Press (45/35kg)
Wednesday:
Strength:
Back Squat
Conditioning:
In a 4 Minute Window with 2mins rest x 4
1 Lap Car Park KB Farmers Carry
10 KB Box Stepovers
15 Burpee to Target
AMRAP
Goblet Squats
Thursday:
Strength:
A) Double Unders
B) Toes to Bar
C) Russian KB Swings
Conditioning:
21 min AMRAP with a Partner
6 Wall walks
30 Deadlift (60/40)
30 Cal Ass bike
30 Cal Ski
Friday:
Strength:
A) Ring Rows
B) Wall Balls + Goblet Wall Sit
Conditioning:
30min AMRAP - 4 movements that when put together make an epic workout!
ENGINE
8 min AMRAPS with some different dance moves for Engine this week!
GYMNASTICS
We will go upside down again, but this time with HSPU, followed by pull-up progressions. We will finish with some strength work.
HYROX
This week, we hit Half a Hyrox broken down into intervals, with rest!
MOBILITY
Mobility is Back! We will improve on the positions we need fixing from end-of-year testing. Simple hip & ankle mobility & glute stability/activation were big. With overhead stability being much needed, we will start to focus on this.
PURE STRENGTH
On Monday in Pure Strength, we have banded deadlifts and some Bulgarian split squats. On Wednesday, we hit the banded bench press and progress the loading on this and the banded row.
WEIGHTLIFTING
This week in Weightlifting we are focused on the Hang Snatch, with some snatch balance, a Heavy Snatch complex and some Pulls.
The world of endurance never ceases to amaze me in so many ways. Endurance is not just "athletes" running marathons and the likes. Endurance spans far wider than that. The "corporate athlete" has always been one I have kept a close eye on. The outright "endurance" of the two may be far closer than we think.
The Endurance of Traditional Athletes
An athlete spends months preparing to summit Everest and on the final push can spend up to or over 12 hours just reaching the peak. They then have to do the route in reverse taking the "awake and under strain" time easily over 24 hours. Their result is celebrated as an incredible feat of human endurance. Along the way they have made huge sacrifices on many levels, two key ones, relationships and their health.
Other athletes complete ultra marathons or Ironman distance triathlons, ranging from 8 to 114 hours of physical labour solely on the event day. Before reaching the start line, they have made a number of choices which again may have some negative effects in other areas of their lives and on their health.
In 2022 I had the opportunity to coach an athlete to run 6.7km every hour for 89 consecutive hours. Forget about the training, the sleep deprivation and nutrition alone during those 89 hours took over 8 weeks to recover from.
Before reaching the start line the athlete made a number of choices, which again may have some negative effects in other areas of his life and on his health. We celebrated his feat of human endurance.
The Unsung Endurance of Corporate Athletes
When the world of athletic endurance meets that of social media, we see these achievements celebrated with only the cynical questioning the fall out. I do not recall such posts or celebrations for the corporate athlete that has worked a 90-hour week or pulled an "all-nighter" to get a business deal across the line or a court case prepared for a hearing. The athlete normally has recovery time away from their sport after big events. The corporate athlete normally is expected to be at the office at 9am on Monday morning ready to go again.
The Shared Challenges
The fall out is the same. For each athlete when it comes to sacrifices and negative impacts on their health. Some manage it others do not. In sport "longevity" is being spoken about more and more which is a huge positive. My primary goal for my athletes is that they are able to do these things that make them happy for a number of years. My primary goal for my corporate athletes is the same.
The considerations have to be the same. Perhaps heavier when it comes to the corporate athlete. It is very clear that they possess and continue to train and test a phenomenal level of endurance. Those who do not get help along the way, that do not periodize their work load and address their intensity, just like athlete who ignore the basics "burn out" early. They never really "make it". It does not need to be that way, with the right approach both athletes can continue to achieve great things in their chosen endeavours be it sport or business.
Every Human is an Athlete
I have long believed every human is an athlete, we just perform in different arenas. I feel that the sooner we are ready to accept this then the sooner we can deploy a high-performance mindset to the arena that we are performing in.
The Path Forward
With the right approach, both traditional and corporate athletes can continue to achieve great things in their chosen endeavours. This involves:
- Seeking help and guidance
- Periodizing workload
- Addressing intensity
- Focusing on the basics of health and recovery
By treating corporate performance with the same respect and strategic approach as athletic performance, we can celebrate and support the incredible endurance of all types of athletes.
Fun - Honesty - Simplicity - Smash Life - MENTAL TOUGHNESS - Hard Work
Monday
Time: 5:59pm
Location: InnerFight
Session: LRC Mobility and Tempo
AM Session:
Please note there is no Morning session this week.
PM Session: This evening we will have our Tempo Run, which will be 8 mins at 7/10 and 3 mins recovery.
x3. Aim to keep a 7/10 effort on each block of work.
Tuesday
Time: 5:59am
Location: https://goo.gl/maps/oomJAa31vKy3hQNG6
Entrance fee: https://isddubai.com/athletics-venuehire/
Session: Track Tuesday
This is your chance to run fast with the wider IFE community and coaches. The session today will be 800m repeats that build in pace.
Wednesday
Time: 5:59am & 5:59pm
Location: InnerFight
Session: LRC Intervals
If you didn't run track, today we have some speed work for you. The session is 100m efforts through the park with a 300m recovery.
Friday
Brief time: 5:54am
Start Time: 5:59am
Location: Common Grounds
Session: The Coffee Run
This week we will be looking to dial into
2mins @ 8RPE, followed 9mins @ 6RPE. Repeating the sequence 3x gives you plenty of opportunity to find your rhythm.
Sunday
Time: 06:00
Session: Dubai Creek
Location: TBC
This week we will be at the DCS 10km and half marathon race. Warm-up location and details will be shared in WhatsApp.
This week at Innerfight, we start working on those overhead squat positions, followed by lunging and rowing in the workout.
On Tuesday, we have some clean and jerk barbell cycling, a pair of short, sharp, classic CrossFit-style workouts, and then some assault
bike intervals. We are back squatting heavily on Wednesday before some tough single leg in the workout. Thursday, we have a nice
gymnastics skill session followed by a partner workout, and on Friday, we finish the week with a Long Therapy WOD!
Monday:
Strength:
Over Head Squats
Conditioning:
Every 4 mins x 5 Complete
10 DB Overhead Alt Reverse Lunges (50/35)
20/15 cal Row
10 DB Overhead Alt Reverse Lunges (50/35)
Tuesday:
Strength:
Complex Power Clean + Push Press + Push Jerk
Conditioning:
15-12-9
Chest to Bar
Power Clean (60/40)
rest 3 mins
21-15-9
Pull Ups
Push Press (45/35kg)
Wednesday:
Strength:
Back Squat
Conditioning:
In a 4 Minute Window with 2mins rest x 4
1 Lap Car Park KB Farmers Carry
10 KB Box Stepovers
15 Burpee to Target
AMRAP
Goblet Squats
Thursday:
Strength:
A) Double Unders
B) Toes to Bar
C) Russian KB Swings
Conditioning:
21 min AMRAP with a Partner
6 Wall walks
30 Deadlift (60/40)
30 Cal Ass bike
30 Cal Ski
Friday:
Strength:
A) Ring Rows
B) Wall Balls + Goblet Wall Sit
Conditioning:
30min AMRAP - 4 movements that when put together make an epic workout!
ENGINE
8 min AMRAPS with some different dance moves for Engine this week!
GYMNASTICS
We will go upside down again, but this time with HSPU, followed by pull-up progressions. We will finish with some strength work.
HYROX
This week, we hit Half a Hyrox broken down into intervals, with rest!
MOBILITY
Mobility is Back! We will improve on the positions we need fixing from end-of-year testing. Simple hip & ankle mobility & glute stability/activation were big. With overhead stability being much needed, we will start to focus on this.
PURE STRENGTH
On Monday in Pure Strength, we have banded deadlifts and some Bulgarian split squats. On Wednesday, we hit the banded bench press and progress the loading on this and the banded row.
WEIGHTLIFTING
This week in Weightlifting we are focused on the Hang Snatch, with some snatch balance, a Heavy Snatch complex and some Pulls.
Monday Ride
A skills and fitness based ride at the BikeDXB track in Dubai. Some simply structured intervals to enhance cycling ability.
Start time: 05:59 am
Session Length: 1.5 hour
Location: The Loop Cafe, Bike DXB
Track Tuesday
Our weekly on track speed session! For any level of runner looking to build their run speed, threshold and Vo2max fitness and run with the best running community in Dubai.
Start time: 05:59 am
Session Length: 1.5 hour
Entrance fee: https://isddubai.com/athletics-venuehire/
Location: https://goo.gl/maps/oomJAa31vKy3hQNG6
Wednesday - Brick Session
A brick session consisting of 60mins of cycling with 20 - 30mins of running. Great for all levels of triathlete.
Start time: 05:59 am
Location : BOTS - https://goo.gl/maps/6AwtJXW8nA45Cy9H8
Friday - Coffee Run
Our weekly tempo run. This run is currently gearing run fitness towards the incoming half marathons. Sessions are built on an RPE scale and accessible to all levels of runner.
Brief time: 05:54 am
Start time: 05:59 am
Start Location: Common Grounds
Saturday - Long Ride
Saturday long ride is usually 100km long or around 3 - 3.5hrs. It's a ride catered for moderate to advanced cyclists. Please reach out to rf@innerfight.com if you have any questions.
Start time: 05:59 am
Session Length: 1.5 hour
Location : BOTS - https://goo.gl/maps/6AwtJXW8nA45Cy9H8
Sunday - DCS Half Marathon
The world of endurance never ceases to amaze me in so many ways. Endurance is not just "athletes" running marathons and the likes. Endurance spans far wider than that. The "corporate athlete" has always been one I have kept a close eye on. The outright "endurance" of the two may be far closer than we think.
The Endurance of Traditional Athletes
An athlete spends months preparing to summit Everest and on the final push can spend up to or over 12 hours just reaching the peak. They then have to do the route in reverse taking the "awake and under strain" time easily over 24 hours. Their result is celebrated as an incredible feat of human endurance. Along the way they have made huge sacrifices on many levels, two key ones, relationships and their health.
Other athletes complete ultra marathons or Ironman distance triathlons, ranging from 8 to 114 hours of physical labour solely on the event day. Before reaching the start line, they have made a number of choices which again may have some negative effects in other areas of their lives and on their health.
In 2022 I had the opportunity to coach an athlete to run 6.7km every hour for 89 consecutive hours. Forget about the training, the sleep deprivation and nutrition alone during those 89 hours took over 8 weeks to recover from.
Before reaching the start line the athlete made a number of choices, which again may have some negative effects in other areas of his life and on his health. We celebrated his feat of human endurance.
The Unsung Endurance of Corporate Athletes
When the world of athletic endurance meets that of social media, we see these achievements celebrated with only the cynical questioning the fall out. I do not recall such posts or celebrations for the corporate athlete that has worked a 90-hour week or pulled an "all-nighter" to get a business deal across the line or a court case prepared for a hearing. The athlete normally has recovery time away from their sport after big events. The corporate athlete normally is expected to be at the office at 9am on Monday morning ready to go again.
The Shared Challenges
The fall out is the same. For each athlete when it comes to sacrifices and negative impacts on their health. Some manage it others do not. In sport "longevity" is being spoken about more and more which is a huge positive. My primary goal for my athletes is that they are able to do these things that make them happy for a number of years. My primary goal for my corporate athletes is the same.
The considerations have to be the same. Perhaps heavier when it comes to the corporate athlete. It is very clear that they possess and continue to train and test a phenomenal level of endurance. Those who do not get help along the way, that do not periodize their work load and address their intensity, just like athlete who ignore the basics "burn out" early. They never really "make it". It does not need to be that way, with the right approach both athletes can continue to achieve great things in their chosen endeavours be it sport or business.
Every Human is an Athlete
I have long believed every human is an athlete, we just perform in different arenas. I feel that the sooner we are ready to accept this then the sooner we can deploy a high-performance mindset to the arena that we are performing in.
The Path Forward
With the right approach, both traditional and corporate athletes can continue to achieve great things in their chosen endeavours. This involves:
- Seeking help and guidance
- Periodizing workload
- Addressing intensity
- Focusing on the basics of health and recovery
By treating corporate performance with the same respect and strategic approach as athletic performance, we can celebrate and support the incredible endurance of all types of athletes.
Fun - Honesty - Simplicity - Smash Life - MENTAL TOUGHNESS - Hard Work
The world of endurance never ceases to amaze me in so many ways. Endurance is not just "athletes" running marathons and the likes. Endurance spans far wider than that. The "corporate athlete" has always been one I have kept a close eye on. The outright "endurance" of the two may be far closer than we think.
The Endurance of Traditional Athletes
An athlete spends months preparing to summit Everest and on the final push can spend up to or over 12 hours just reaching the peak. They then have to do the route in reverse taking the "awake and under strain" time easily over 24 hours. Their result is celebrated as an incredible feat of human endurance. Along the way they have made huge sacrifices on many levels, two key ones, relationships and their health.
Other athletes complete ultra marathons or Ironman distance triathlons, ranging from 8 to 114 hours of physical labour solely on the event day. Before reaching the start line, they have made a number of choices which again may have some negative effects in other areas of their lives and on their health.
In 2022 I had the opportunity to coach an athlete to run 6.7km every hour for 89 consecutive hours. Forget about the training, the sleep deprivation and nutrition alone during those 89 hours took over 8 weeks to recover from.
Before reaching the start line the athlete made a number of choices, which again may have some negative effects in other areas of his life and on his health. We celebrated his feat of human endurance.
The Unsung Endurance of Corporate Athletes
When the world of athletic endurance meets that of social media, we see these achievements celebrated with only the cynical questioning the fall out. I do not recall such posts or celebrations for the corporate athlete that has worked a 90-hour week or pulled an "all-nighter" to get a business deal across the line or a court case prepared for a hearing. The athlete normally has recovery time away from their sport after big events. The corporate athlete normally is expected to be at the office at 9am on Monday morning ready to go again.
The Shared Challenges
The fall out is the same. For each athlete when it comes to sacrifices and negative impacts on their health. Some manage it others do not. In sport "longevity" is being spoken about more and more which is a huge positive. My primary goal for my athletes is that they are able to do these things that make them happy for a number of years. My primary goal for my corporate athletes is the same.
The considerations have to be the same. Perhaps heavier when it comes to the corporate athlete. It is very clear that they possess and continue to train and test a phenomenal level of endurance. Those who do not get help along the way, that do not periodize their work load and address their intensity, just like athlete who ignore the basics "burn out" early. They never really "make it". It does not need to be that way, with the right approach both athletes can continue to achieve great things in their chosen endeavours be it sport or business.
Every Human is an Athlete
I have long believed every human is an athlete, we just perform in different arenas. I feel that the sooner we are ready to accept this then the sooner we can deploy a high-performance mindset to the arena that we are performing in.
The Path Forward
With the right approach, both traditional and corporate athletes can continue to achieve great things in their chosen endeavours. This involves:
- Seeking help and guidance
- Periodizing workload
- Addressing intensity
- Focusing on the basics of health and recovery
By treating corporate performance with the same respect and strategic approach as athletic performance, we can celebrate and support the incredible endurance of all types of athletes.
Fun - Honesty - Simplicity - Smash Life - MENTAL TOUGHNESS - Hard Work
One-Hour Workout: Revving Your Swim Engine
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