It’s the ultimate test of a New Year’s resolution to exercise more.
This Sunday, February 27, 4,000 people (including five FIJI Water employees) will be participating in Chicago’s Hustle Up the Hancock. The run/hike up the 94-story John Hancock Center (pictured at left, worm’s-eye view) is in support of the Respiratory Health Association of Metropolitan Chicago, an appropriate cause for what may be one of the most physically challenging charity events all year.
Want to help the Respiratory Health Association meet its fundraising goals this year? Donate below.
FIJI Water Employees Participating in the Hustle
FIJI Water is not merely sponsoring the Hustle, we’re participating. Five of our local employees will be rocking their quads as they ascend the tower on Sunday. To find out how they are preparing for the 94-story climb, we caught up with two of them, Robbie Dunsworth, our District Sales Manager, and Erin Kate Johnson, our Northeast Event Marketing Manager.
Robbie Dunsworth, 1-Year Veteran of the Hustle
Q: Is this your first time participating?
A: No, Erin [his girlfriend] and I participated last year. My time was around 18:43.
Q: Have you started training for the 94-story climb? If so, what have you been doing?
A: A little. I do the stair climber about 10 minutes once or twice a week. But I’m going to move to 20 minutes on the stair climber twice a week. Shouldn’t be too hard.
Erin Kate Johnson – Very Scared First Timer
Q: Is this your first time participating?
A: Yes – I am stressing. The only stair experience I have is when living in the dorms in college. I lived in the Athletes Building and the football players thought it was funny to break the elevators by jumping up and down. When they did this, I would then have to take the stairs to the 20th floor. This was ten years ago and now I currently live in an elevator building. (The elevators never break.) My biggest fear is getting inside the staircase and not being able to complete the full climb and literally be sitting on a step as others “hustle” by me. I have never done any marathons or physical challenges. My biggest challenge is going to Tabata at Equinox two times a week, which is only a 45-minute class.
Q: Have you started training for the 94-story climb? If so, what have you been doing?
A: Absolutely NOT! As I think for many of us, my New Year’s resolution of working out has ended due to traveling for work and laziness. I haven’t gone to the gym in over two weeks!
Q: If not, what is your strategy moving forward? What are your biggest fears about the climb?
A: My strategy is to start a crash training program. I plan on going to the gym every day until the day of the event and get time logged on the Stairmaster. I am also hoping to use the stairs in my building and do test climbs of 30 stories.
Good luck, Erin, Robbie, and the rest of the FIJI Water contingent!
Highlights
