Want to get your employees up and moving? NIFS desk to 5K program was a total hit with one of our clients. Find out how you can run your own desk to 5K challenge at your business.

1. Encouraging employees to get up from
their desk to be active by challenging
participants to train for and complete a 5K
event in eight weeks

2.  Encouraged employees to get up from their desks and
make time to be active with a goal in mind
 Designed to offer 5K training for walkers and runners
during their work day
 Built in top level support to improve the overall success
of the Desk to 5K program
“The practice sessions got me up from
my desk and moving again. I only
walked the 5K (not quite ready for
running), but walking 2 – 5 miles is a
part of my everyday life now. Thank
you for your role in organizing it. I’m
looking forward to next year’s event!”

3.  Hosted at three different weekly training locations on the
company grounds to allow good access to staff-led training
groups for all employees
 Scheduled training sessions before work, at lunch, or after
work to meet the needs of employees with hectic schedules
 The staff goal of 200 registered participants was reach 100%
“The training program alleviated any
excuses as it walked me through a
weekly training schedule to make sure I
was ready for the actual 5K event. The
weekly group training run / walks were
helpful to keep me motivated to
progress.”

4.  Supported diverse training programs to help all
participants reach their goal whether it was to improve race
time or build endurance to complete their first 5K event
 Twenty-five percent of all training
participants attended at least
half of the group training runs
with 14% attending six of
the eight training runs

5.  Established program cost
 Training program: $20; participants
received:
o Weekly group trainings and
detailed training schedule
o Desk to 5K training shirt
o Prize drawings throughout the
program
 5K event: $15 to help offset the cost
of the event
 Other program supplies and
training schedules were
determined following
registration via survey

6. Weekly Trainings:
 Stop watches
 Reflective gear for
leaders
 Snacks – apples, trail
mix, water
 First aid kit, cell phone
 Cones for marking the
route if necessary
 Volunteer group leaders
5K Event items:
 Race bibs for participants
 Water stations
 Route markers
 Staff – evaluate your needs
o Registration check in
o Start/Finish Line
o Route leaders
o Family event organizers

7.  Support from the CEO to live a healthier lifestyle really
encouraged employees to participate and feel
supported in making time for exercise in their work
day
 Made it a family event, spouses and partners were
welcome to participate in the 5K (Our staff also
provided activities for kids
of all ages during the 5K)
 Used the event to
promote onsite fitness center
and program offerings

8. I just wanted to let you know
how much FUN my daughters and
I had at the 5K on Saturday. It
was just a wonderful experience
and one that we hope to do again
next year. Thank you for all of
your support!!
That was a fantastic event! Saturday
morning I woke up feeling very blessed by the
resources our company has dedicated to
physical well-being and by the knowledge
that you, the NIFS team, had organized things
so well and would be there to create a great
experience for all the participants. I went
home feeling even more thankful. You did an
incredible job! Thank you very much!

10. If you like this idea, sign up for our
best practice series. Click below.