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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
Building those engines with a partner this week, which means higher intensity intervals across the machines.
GYMNASTICS
We continue to focus on the infamous bar muscle and the Handstand push-up in gymnastics. As always, we break down the skills, and these sessions are for all levels!
HYROX
Anything from a half hyrox to a full hyrox depending on your goals. We will change the distance of the runs so that we all finish together.
MOBILITY
Lower mobility/flexibility takes the front seat now. We will retest a few weeks ago to see if we are improving. The finisher will be upper stabilisation drills.
PURE STRENGTH
This week in pure strength, have some tough bench press cluster sets and then some upper body accessory work on Monday, followed by a chance to progress the loading on the Single Leg work from last week,
WEIGHTLIFTING
This week in weightlifting, we are dialling in positions with a muscle clean and press followed by a heavy clean hang clean and Jerk complex followed by a tough EMOM.
Track Tuesday
This week is descending 400’s, dialling in some pace work ready for testing next week.
Start time: 05:59 am
Session Length: 1.5 hour
Location: Sport City Track
Entrance fee: https://isddubai.com/athletics-venuehire/
Wednesday Ride
Back to some hard Vo2max efforts this week. 6 X 4min zone 5!
Start time: 05:59 am
Session Length: 1.5 hour
Location: BOTS, Al Qudra
Coffee Run
Hill reps! Our monthly hills session. This week we will start from a different location at the same time.
Brief time: 05:54 am Start time: 05:59 am
Session Length: 1.5 hour
Location: Start Location (Common Grounds)
Parking is available here (underneath the bridge): https://maps.app.goo.gl/1VEi1knJQncTAopc9
Post run coffees at To the Moon and Back: https://maps.app.goo.gl/YZ2guifBnTQZLokMA
IFE Run WA link: https://chat.whatsapp.com/L0P8uWduZeiE7kin64pYfa
Saturday Ride
Our longer group ride, for riders who can avg around 30kph n group rides. We welcome anyone to join us.
Start time: 05:59 am
Monday
Time: 5:59pm ONLY
Location: InnerFight
Session: Ladies Only Tempo
This Monday we will be holding that Tempo pace (7/10 effort) for 10- and 5-minute blocks. Ensure to use the recovery to have the HR come down, if that means walking the recovery that is ok!
Tuesday
Time: 5:59am
Location: Sports City
Session: Track Tuesday
This week we have descending 400s, each with a 40 sec rest. You will start at 10km pace and work down towards 3km pace on these reps. This is a chance to run fast with the wider InnerFight Endurance community and coaches.
Wednesday
Time: 5:59am & 5:59pm
Location: InnerFight
Session: Ladies Only Intervals
Today we have 1km repeats off a 2 min rest. Rest will be standing to ensure the body recoveries after each rep. If you ran hard at Track yesterday, feel free to come along for an easy run.
Friday
Time: 5:59am
Location: Kite Beach
Session: The Coffee Run
This week we have hill repeats. We will meet further up the beach track this week to give us more time on the bridge/hill. Post run coffees at To The Moon and Back.
Sunday
Time: 04:29am
Location: TBC - will be shared in WA
Session: Dubai Run
This will be a fun, social run where we'll stick together, celebrating our passion for running, our community, and the rare chance to go along Sheikh Zayed Road without road rage.
This week at InnerFight, we will start off with some back squats and then leggy conditioning. On Tuesday, we have some gymnastics work followed by a tough EMOM. Wednesday, we will Sumo deadlift, then get into a rowing power clean WOD with ascending weight on the power cleans. Thursday, we focus on some upper body pulling work coupled with some single leg work and then some fast short AMRAPS. Friday, we are snatching, followed by a long continuous mover for Friday therapy.
Monday:
Strength:
Tempo Back Squats & Banded Pull Aparts
Conditioning:
Every 4 mins x 5 sets complete:
2 rounds
8 front squat (50/35)
8 lateral hops over the bar
8 box Jump over
Tuesday:
Strength:
A) Handstand Holds + Hollow Holds + Dual DB Strict Press + Hanging Leg Raises
B) Toes To Bar
Conditioning:
EMOM15
Min 1 - 5 wall walks
Min 2 -10 burpee shuttle runs (5m)
Min 3 -15 TTB
Wednesday:
Strength:
Sumo Deadlifts + DB Lateral Raises
Conditioning:
20 Min amrap
500/400m row
5 Power clean
*Every round build PC weight starts at 60/40kg plus 2.5/5kg
Thursday:
Strength:
A) Pull-Up Complex - Strict / Kippin C2B / Kipping Pull-Ups
B) Dual KB Front Rack Box Step Ups
Conditioning:
3 Rounds
3 min amrap
6 C2B
12/9 cal Ass bike
rest 2 mins
3 min amrap
6 Kb Push Press (2 x 12/16)
12 KB forward lunge
rest 2 mins
Friday:
Strength:
Snatch Complex - Power Snatch / Overhead Squat / Hang Power Snatch
Conditioning:
Its Friday so 30 Rounds of Fun.... Letsss Gooooo!
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
Track Tuesday
This week is descending 400’s, dialling in some pace work ready for testing next week.
Start time: 05:59 am
Session Length: 1.5 hour
Location: Sport City Track
Entrance fee: https://isddubai.com/athletics-venuehire/
Wednesday Ride
Back to some hard Vo2max efforts this week. 6 X 4min zone 5!
Start time: 05:59 am
Session Length: 1.5 hour
Location: BOTS, Al Qudra
Coffee Run
Hill reps! Our monthly hills session. This week we will start from a different location at the same time.
Brief time: 05:54 am Start time: 05:59 am
Session Length: 1.5 hour
Location: Start Location (Common Grounds)
Parking is available here (underneath the bridge): https://maps.app.goo.gl/1VEi1knJQncTAopc9
Post run coffees at To the Moon and Back: https://maps.app.goo.gl/YZ2guifBnTQZLokMA
IFE Run WA link: https://chat.whatsapp.com/L0P8uWduZeiE7kin64pYfa
Saturday Ride
Our longer group ride, for riders who can avg around 30kph n group rides. We welcome anyone to join us.
Start time: 05:59 am
Monday
Time: 5:59pm ONLY
Location: InnerFight
Session: Ladies Only Tempo
This Monday we will be holding that Tempo pace (7/10 effort) for 10- and 5-minute blocks. Ensure to use the recovery to have the HR come down, if that means walking the recovery that is ok!
Tuesday
Time: 5:59am
Location: Sports City
Session: Track Tuesday
This week we have descending 400s, each with a 40 sec rest. You will start at 10km pace and work down towards 3km pace on these reps. This is a chance to run fast with the wider InnerFight Endurance community and coaches.
Wednesday
Time: 5:59am & 5:59pm
Location: InnerFight
Session: Ladies Only Intervals
Today we have 1km repeats off a 2 min rest. Rest will be standing to ensure the body recoveries after each rep. If you ran hard at Track yesterday, feel free to come along for an easy run.
Friday
Time: 5:59am
Location: Kite Beach
Session: The Coffee Run
This week we have hill repeats. We will meet further up the beach track this week to give us more time on the bridge/hill. Post run coffees at To The Moon and Back.
Sunday
Time: 04:29am
Location: TBC - will be shared in WA
Session: Dubai Run
This will be a fun, social run where we'll stick together, celebrating our passion for running, our community, and the rare chance to go along Sheikh Zayed Road without road rage.
This week at InnerFight, we will start off with some back squats and then leggy conditioning. On Tuesday, we have some gymnastics work followed by a tough EMOM. Wednesday, we will Sumo deadlift, then get into a rowing power clean WOD with ascending weight on the power cleans. Thursday, we focus on some upper body pulling work coupled with some single leg work and then some fast short AMRAPS. Friday, we are snatching, followed by a long continuous mover for Friday therapy.
Monday:
Strength:
Tempo Back Squats & Banded Pull Aparts
Conditioning:
Every 4 mins x 5 sets complete:
2 rounds
8 front squat (50/35)
8 lateral hops over the bar
8 box Jump over
Tuesday:
Strength:
A) Handstand Holds + Hollow Holds + Dual DB Strict Press + Hanging Leg Raises
B) Toes To Bar
Conditioning:
EMOM15
Min 1 - 5 wall walks
Min 2 -10 burpee shuttle runs (5m)
Min 3 -15 TTB
Wednesday:
Strength:
Sumo Deadlifts + DB Lateral Raises
Conditioning:
20 Min amrap
500/400m row
5 Power clean
*Every round build PC weight starts at 60/40kg plus 2.5/5kg
Thursday:
Strength:
A) Pull-Up Complex - Strict / Kippin C2B / Kipping Pull-Ups
B) Dual KB Front Rack Box Step Ups
Conditioning:
3 Rounds
3 min amrap
6 C2B
12/9 cal Ass bike
rest 2 mins
3 min amrap
6 Kb Push Press (2 x 12/16)
12 KB forward lunge
rest 2 mins
Friday:
Strength:
Snatch Complex - Power Snatch / Overhead Squat / Hang Power Snatch
Conditioning:
Its Friday so 30 Rounds of Fun.... Letsss Gooooo!
ENGINE
Building those engines with a partner this week, which means higher intensity intervals across the machines.
GYMNASTICS
We continue to focus on the infamous bar muscle and the Handstand push-up in gymnastics. As always, we break down the skills, and these sessions are for all levels!
HYROX
Anything from a half hyrox to a full hyrox depending on your goals. We will change the distance of the runs so that we all finish together.
MOBILITY
Lower mobility/flexibility takes the front seat now. We will retest a few weeks ago to see if we are improving. The finisher will be upper stabilisation drills.
PURE STRENGTH
This week in pure strength, have some tough bench press cluster sets and then some upper body accessory work on Monday, followed by a chance to progress the loading on the Single Leg work from last week,
WEIGHTLIFTING
This week in weightlifting, we are dialling in positions with a muscle clean and press followed by a heavy clean hang clean and Jerk complex followed by a tough EMOM.
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 ONLY
Location: InnerFight
Session: Ladies Only Tempo
This Monday we will be holding that Tempo pace (7/10 effort) for 10- and 5-minute blocks. Ensure to use the recovery to have the HR come down, if that means walking the recovery that is ok!
Tuesday
Time: 5:59am
Location: Sports City
Session: Track Tuesday
This week we have descending 400s, each with a 40 sec rest. You will start at 10km pace and work down towards 3km pace on these reps. This is a chance to run fast with the wider InnerFight Endurance community and coaches.
Wednesday
Time: 5:59am & 5:59pm
Location: InnerFight
Session: Ladies Only Intervals
Today we have 1km repeats off a 2 min rest. Rest will be standing to ensure the body recoveries after each rep. If you ran hard at Track yesterday, feel free to come along for an easy run.
Friday
Time: 5:59am
Location: Kite Beach
Session: The Coffee Run
This week we have hill repeats. We will meet further up the beach track this week to give us more time on the bridge/hill. Post run coffees at To The Moon and Back.
Sunday
Time: 04:29am
Location: TBC - will be shared in WA
Session: Dubai Run
This will be a fun, social run where we'll stick together, celebrating our passion for running, our community, and the rare chance to go along Sheikh Zayed Road without road rage.
This week at InnerFight, we will start off with some back squats and then leggy conditioning. On Tuesday, we have some gymnastics work followed by a tough EMOM. Wednesday, we will Sumo deadlift, then get into a rowing power clean WOD with ascending weight on the power cleans. Thursday, we focus on some upper body pulling work coupled with some single leg work and then some fast short AMRAPS. Friday, we are snatching, followed by a long continuous mover for Friday therapy.
Monday:
Strength:
Tempo Back Squats & Banded Pull Aparts
Conditioning:
Every 4 mins x 5 sets complete:
2 rounds
8 front squat (50/35)
8 lateral hops over the bar
8 box Jump over
Tuesday:
Strength:
A) Handstand Holds + Hollow Holds + Dual DB Strict Press + Hanging Leg Raises
B) Toes To Bar
Conditioning:
EMOM15
Min 1 - 5 wall walks
Min 2 -10 burpee shuttle runs (5m)
Min 3 -15 TTB
Wednesday:
Strength:
Sumo Deadlifts + DB Lateral Raises
Conditioning:
20 Min amrap
500/400m row
5 Power clean
*Every round build PC weight starts at 60/40kg plus 2.5/5kg
Thursday:
Strength:
A) Pull-Up Complex - Strict / Kippin C2B / Kipping Pull-Ups
B) Dual KB Front Rack Box Step Ups
Conditioning:
3 Rounds
3 min amrap
6 C2B
12/9 cal Ass bike
rest 2 mins
3 min amrap
6 Kb Push Press (2 x 12/16)
12 KB forward lunge
rest 2 mins
Friday:
Strength:
Snatch Complex - Power Snatch / Overhead Squat / Hang Power Snatch
Conditioning:
Its Friday so 30 Rounds of Fun.... Letsss Gooooo!
ENGINE
Building those engines with a partner this week, which means higher intensity intervals across the machines.
GYMNASTICS
We continue to focus on the infamous bar muscle and the Handstand push-up in gymnastics. As always, we break down the skills, and these sessions are for all levels!
HYROX
Anything from a half hyrox to a full hyrox depending on your goals. We will change the distance of the runs so that we all finish together.
MOBILITY
Lower mobility/flexibility takes the front seat now. We will retest a few weeks ago to see if we are improving. The finisher will be upper stabilisation drills.
PURE STRENGTH
This week in pure strength, have some tough bench press cluster sets and then some upper body accessory work on Monday, followed by a chance to progress the loading on the Single Leg work from last week,
WEIGHTLIFTING
This week in weightlifting, we are dialling in positions with a muscle clean and press followed by a heavy clean hang clean and Jerk complex followed by a tough EMOM.
Track Tuesday
This week is descending 400’s, dialling in some pace work ready for testing next week.
Start time: 05:59 am
Session Length: 1.5 hour
Location: Sport City Track
Entrance fee: https://isddubai.com/athletics-venuehire/
Wednesday Ride
Back to some hard Vo2max efforts this week. 6 X 4min zone 5!
Start time: 05:59 am
Session Length: 1.5 hour
Location: BOTS, Al Qudra
Coffee Run
Hill reps! Our monthly hills session. This week we will start from a different location at the same time.
Brief time: 05:54 am Start time: 05:59 am
Session Length: 1.5 hour
Location: Start Location (Common Grounds)
Parking is available here (underneath the bridge): https://maps.app.goo.gl/1VEi1knJQncTAopc9
Post run coffees at To the Moon and Back: https://maps.app.goo.gl/YZ2guifBnTQZLokMA
IFE Run WA link: https://chat.whatsapp.com/L0P8uWduZeiE7kin64pYfa
Saturday Ride
Our longer group ride, for riders who can avg around 30kph n group rides. We welcome anyone to join us.
Start time: 05:59 am
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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