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Best jobs/companies for endurance athletes
I'm working on a story highlighting some of the best companies for endurance athletes to work for. I'm trying to include as many non-endemic companies as possible. I know most Roosters are unemployed like me, but let me know if any of you have experience working for/with companies with a culture of endurance sports.
Comments
Now working a consulting gig with 90-100% travel, have 2 young kids and a third on the way. It's the opposite of training/racing friendly. But that's due to trying to be a good parent when I'm home on weekends.
Honestly, though, energy companies have a pretty strong track record supporting employees in this type of endeavor, with tons fielding teams for MS 150 rides and having work-organized training rides.
- On site gyms at most offices with structured classes
- Reimbursement for gym memberships, races, etc
- Reimbursement for fitness trackers that can we used for higher end Garmin purchases
- Free nutrition and wellness consulting
- Multi day classes by our Human Performance Institute
For a while, we sponsored the Philly TriRock - employees got free race entry and a kit, along with a huge dedicated tent at the race in exchange for raising $ for a local hospital. At the peak, we had ~800 people participating in the oly and sprint races over 2 days! I ran the training at one of the sites, and was able to run lunch meetings and training rides for new triathletes.
My business unit also sponsors a 2 day, 200 mile bike ride from Limerick to Cork. Same sort of deal - matching kits, motorcycle escorts, very well run groups of differing speed, and entertainment and hotel accommodations for the overnight stay in return for fund raising. I'm always impressed at the people who do the ride w/ flat pedals on steel hybrid bikes. There is another business that does a 3 day sportif in Belgium on some of the classic routes with 100+ employees taking part.
It helps that the CEO is a former Army Ranger who (rumor has it) has put a gym into the corporate jet. When I worked with him in the past, most of our discussions centered around his marathon and triathlon training. Once his knees got bad, he switched to aquabike, and won his AG at TriRock.
I can't say that my role always allows me to train as much as I'd like, but over the years I have been able to strike a decent balance between family, work, and endurance sports. I'm happy to talk more about it 1 on 1.
-Sam
I was really impressed - they had an onsite gym and full time trainer/nutritionist on site. They had group training events in advance of the triathlon and the trainer would create basic individual plans for the team members if they wanted. Everyone from the custodial staff, sales, finance, etc. were afforded the same opportunities.
Too many hours. Always worried (some days hopeful) that I'm about to get fired. But since most of the people in the building I work out of have been fired/resigned in the last 7 months, there's no one around to give a shit when I leave my office in the middle of the day with a post-it on the door that says "out for a run". Also no one around to complain if I come back too late to grab a shower and spend the afternoon in stinky run gear.
Also since I'm old, I get 8 weeks off a year.
MY PATREON!
Try to get most of my workouts in before work but it's helpful to be able to periodically say, ....No I can't make the meeting at 8am, I'll be running.
Starting a new gig in 2 weeks, still in the sporting goods industry.
Clay Richard Gasway
King of all Mediocrity
I wish I worked for Guy Berkebile, CEO of Guy Chemicals in Harrisburg, PA. Great athlete and motivated business guy. You just need to forgive him for being a trump supporter, though. He was on Fox News for meeting him with Trump and thanking him for the tax cuts to businesses. But he truly will use that money to reinvest into his business. I'd trust him over other CEOs.
Others in the area:
• Strava --- might be considered endemic, but EVERYONE in that office is an athlete
• Facebook / Instagram --- I've been passed by many a corporate kit on rides/races. One of the product higher-ups at Insta is a former Twitter guy that runs ultras (Kevin Weil). His wife is a VC and crazy ultra runner, too.
• Google --- they kick the shit out of people in the JP Morgan Corporate race every year
I'm sure there are others, but a couple starting points at least.
I'm keeping Strava out of this article because that story has been told and I'm trying to find less endemic brands. It sounds like I should definitely include the Canadian government though.
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