Kicked out of my company's wellness competition for being "too fit"

6/10

I'll bite.

I've worked for several companies that have done this type of thing.

Never once have I participated. A competition like that isn't meant for people like "us". By "us" I mean fit, competitive runners. I wouldn't even run the corporate 5ks they'd put on twice a year, despite the winning times being high-17s, over a minute slower than my marathon pace. Why would I? Again, those competitions aren't meant for actual fit people.

I'm not sure anyone really knows I run. I like it that way. Around corporate 5k time, I get a lot of, "you're skinny, why don't you run the 5k?". Sorry, busy that morning. I'm happy to congratulate the dude who got off the couch and did a 5k, or even marathon. I'm happy they're doing anything.

I actually believe this one. We have the same thing at work. It's obvious the program was not intended for you, but for sedentary folks trying to fight off diabetes.

sjgf wrote:

I wouldn't even run the corporate 5ks they'd put on twice a year, despite the winning times being high-17s, over a minute slower than my marathon pace. Why would I?

So your marathon pace is like 4:45 per mile? Who are you?

Been there done that.

I was training for a marathon so I figured the prize of a new pair of shoes was a done deal. I was running around 50-75 mpw plus I was doing 2 days of circuit training in the AM.

So while I do work in a building full of fat @sses, I also work in a building full of liars. I didn't even place.

I guess these folks put down 1500 steps when they walked from their car to the office, and another 1500 going to the bathroom and back.. stuff like that.

After that I completely stopped participating in any wellness stuff here at work.

wake up people wrote:

I actually believe this one. We have the same thing at work. It's obvious the program was not intended for you, but for sedentary folks trying to fight off diabetes.

Then they should have said it wasn't for him. Employers are always making policies without knowing their employees or asking for their input and then retroactively changing the rules when the results don't fit their preconceived notions. Sounds like the OP ought to be the one managing the company's wellness competition. Hats off to the guy or gal who got 500k steps but they didn't win.

Sorry, marathon pace was about 16:50 per/5k! 5:25/mile!

YacksTracks wrote:

sjgf wrote:

I wouldn't even run the corporate 5ks they'd put on twice a year, despite the winning times being high-17s, over a minute slower than my marathon pace. Why would I?

So your marathon pace is like 4:45 per mile? Who are you?

If he runs 16:45 pace per 5k for his marathon that is a 2:21 marathon.

My company has a similar program. The way they deal with this is to have a daily limit to the number of steps that can be logged. For a competition such as you describe the effect is that there is a pool of persons who have maxed out their daily step count and the prize winners are selected by lottery from that pool. Thus you don't have a single person winning everything in sight.

More broadly the objective of these programs is to increase the activity level of the whole population. It seems it would make more sense if at least some of the competitions were structured as a percent improvement for individuals over their baseline activity. This obviously favors the couch potatoes, but that really ought to be the target population for the program.

Forget the prize. The bigger problem you have is that someone in your office thinks you're a liar and a cheat and is willing to be public about saying so. You're name is tarnished and your career could suffer. That's what you should be thinking about.

You have a big, big problem.

DiscoGary wrote:

Forget the prize. The bigger problem you have is that someone in your office thinks you're a liar and a cheat and is willing to be public about saying so. You're name is tarnished and your career could suffer. That's what you should be thinking about.

You have a big, big problem.

This. She didn't really believe you. You are now the Mike Rossi in the office. Sucks to be you.

Talk to HR. Let them know a lawsuit is in the works.

wake up people wrote:

I actually believe this one. We have the same thing at work. It's obvious the program was not intended for you, but for sedentary folks trying to fight off diabetes.

The intention is to get sedentary people off the couch. I get that. The thing is that it was mandatory. It was not something that we could opt out of if we thought we didn't need it.

I hadn't thought about that until now. The memo we received from the sr leadership team said participation was mandatory. I think I may go have a chat with someone. :)

what apps my chass wrote:

wake up people wrote:

I actually believe this one. We have the same thing at work. It's obvious the program was not intended for you, but for sedentary folks trying to fight off diabetes.

Then they should have said it wasn't for him. Employers are always making policies without knowing their employees or asking for their input and then retroactively changing the rules when the results don't fit their preconceived notions. Sounds like the OP ought to be the one managing the company's wellness competition. Hats off to the guy or gal who got 500k steps but they didn't win.

Thanks, but no thanks. I don't want anything to do with running this thing.

Too Fit wrote:

then she says that I can't do the competition because I am "too fit" and that she really would like a "regular": person to win the contest so it shows anyone can get in shape. She already gave the January prize to the person who finished second.

Part of me just wants to say screw it, it's not worth it and stop since I really do't care about it. But another part of me (and it is growing) just wants to say screw it and lap the f***ing field, grab an American flag and do an victory lap around the office when it's over..

Yeah sock it to her. Tell everyone on the staff, and in the town that you won, and what a crock the contest / company is. But do it in a nice way so it doesn't come back to you.

That's Great! Thanks for posting!

Sesamoiditis wrote:

If he runs 16:45 pace per 5k for his marathon that is a 2:21 marathon.

So 2:21 while working a corporate office job. And you still have time to argue with Janice from accounting.

Your [sic] a numbers cheat.

Counting to 800,000 would require 8-9 hours of counting per day for an entire month.

Maybe you tap your foot all day at work all day to get your "numbers".

Your [sic] a numbers cheat.

Counting to 800,000 would require 8-9 hours of counting per day for an entire month.

Maybe you tap your foot all day at work to get your "numbers".