Take the next step toward corporate health

DUST off the runners, charge the iPod and get involved in this year’s Gold Coast Airport Marathon (GCAM).

According to marathon ambassador and Olympian Rob de Castella, there is not enough emphasis on servicing our human capital and building healthy workplaces.

“We all know that getting out and exercising can be a real challenge with all the other commitments we have in our busy lives, so by getting a group of work colleagues together and all agreeing to set a goal of running in the GCAM it helps by having everyone support each other,” he says.

“Our work colleagues play a really significant part in our lives, in some cases we spend more time with them than we do with our kids or even our spouses. It is therefore really important to have opportunities to interact and get to know each other, away from the day to day working roles.”

De Castella says the positives will have a run on effect through businesses leading to increased productivity, work morale and employee retention.  

The marathon which is staged every year on the first Sunday in July is set to attract more than 21,000 people of all ages and abilities.

The events include the Gold Coast Airport Marathon over 42.195km; the Asics Half Marathon; Southern Cross University 10km Run; the new Gold Coast Bulletin 5km Run/Walk and Queensland Health Junior Dash races for the kids over 4km and 2.25km.

De Castella encourages local businesses to prioritise health and fitness as a long-term commitment, not a short-term fix for the marathon.

“Employees are an organisation’s greatest and most important asset,” he explains.

“We live and work in an environment that is getting further and further away from the environment our genetics evolved in and health problems like stress and depression, back injury, CVD, diabetes, osteoporosis, celiac disease, cancer etc are all increasing. 

“As an employer, we invest huge amounts in developing our human capital, we need to service it, just as we need to service our car. Imagine having a beautiful car with the sort of potential that each of us humans has, and not servicing it. 

“Every employer understands the need to recruit, train, and retain good staff. The days are gone when an employer can separate the work from the person, and we all need to understand how work/life balance affects us, and our work and the business.”