While some people enjoy the pleasure of their own company on a run, solo runners are increasingly discovering the advantages of training in a team or group for the sa国际传媒 10K.
The popularity of running with family, friends, organizations and co-workers is reflected in the registrations.
Of the 10,478 registrants signed up to date, more than half 鈥� almost 6,000 鈥� will run in 342 teams.
The smallest team has 10听members and the largest has 136. The team travelling the farthest to take part in the 24th annual run, set for April 28, is from Australia.
鈥淚t is a morale booster for us,鈥� said Tony Zarsadias, owner of The Condo Group, a condo-specialized real estate company that is entering a team in the 10K.
鈥淲hile we are very professional at work, we try to make time to play.鈥�
The company encourages participation in sports throughout the year with boot camps, cross-fit sessions, hot yoga, gluten-free diets, self-help books, recreational hockey, triathlons and marathons.
This is the third year the team has entered the TC 10K, and each year, they have approached the training a little differently.
This year, they hired Jasper Blake, 2008 Ironman sa国际传媒 Champion, as a coach.
鈥淚 now look forward to our weekly group run,鈥� said Amy Francoeur, manager at the company, a division of Burr Properties.
鈥淒espite the fact he is an Ironman champion, the coach has turned out to be the least intimidating person I have met.鈥�
Their enthusiasm is infectious 鈥� seven of the firm鈥檚 10 employees have signed up for the team.
鈥淚t鈥檚 not just a corporate atmosphere 鈥� it is a mandate of the company to support the employees on their athletic goals,鈥� Zarsadias said.
He says being fit pays dividends to the company, since people who look after themselves are generally healthier and take fewer sick days off work.
In addition to the TC 10K, the company supports The Condo Group Bastion Square Grand Prix and a junior men鈥檚 curling team, which recently won the sa国际传媒 championship.
Race director Jacqui Sanderson said teams are an important component of the TC 10K.
Not only do employees involved in a team get healthier as a result, she said, they also likely develop a better rapport with co-workers.
鈥淓mployers encourage participation because they realize the benefits of being a part of their employees鈥� well-being.鈥�
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HOW TO ENTER
Individual participants in the sa国际传媒 10K and 1.5K Thrifty Foods family run can register until April 24 at tc10k.ca.
