Sweat it out at Cisco

I have a mantra. Exercise shouldn’t be lonely or expensive. There are others who share that belief at Cisco, so we decided to “mantra” together. I found my community, my #WeAreCisco TRIBE if you will.

Led by the Early Career Network group in Cisco UKI (United Kingdom & Ireland), Sports@Cisco is for people who want to exercise more. You don’t have to be early in your career to participate; you just have to want to get your plan of getting healthier into action.

Technically, a Cisco badge isn’t required either. We invite our friends to participate with us all the time. But since Cisco actively promotes for our health and wellbeing, our calendar of events – from football training (that’s soccer to you Americans) to triathalons – is open to Cisco employees at a subsidized cost. We’re participating in a Run-a-thon as part of our CEO Chuck Robbins’ Early Career week, the London Winter 10K and a host of other events. It’s really great to break those boundaries between work and play.

I, myself, am a budding runner. (Who doesn’t want to feel like they’ve earned that post-run burger?!) I actually have a place in this year’s London Marathon(!), so I ran the Movember MoRun 10K with our Sports@Cisco community, and will be aiming for a PB at the Hampton Court Half Marathon in March.

What’s stopping you? Here are some of the tips we’ve learned as the Sports@Cisco team to get you moving…

Set yourself a target. Be it a smaller notch on the belt loop, or the ability to run a mile without stopping, a goal will give you focus.

Tell other people! Once the cat’s out of the bag about your fitness goal, you’ll feel more inclined to meet it. Good friends make the best personal cheerleaders.

Multi-task. Call your parents, listen to podcasts, turn a social date into walk or a cycle.

Any exercise is better than none. So, don’t beat yourself up about taking it easy one day!

Questions or ideas? Leave me a comment below or find me on Twitter @lizcookcisco.

Join the We Are Cisco tribe here.