I’ve been a runner for 20 years or more, although I just started getting into distance and half marathons fairly recently. I was training pretty hard for a half marathon earlier this year and was trying to get a new personal best, and I didn’t feel like I was making any progress.
I work at Health Alliance as a Sales and Retention manager for large group business. After 18 years in sales, I took a job as a manager, which means much more computer time. I work from home these days and also do a fair amount of driving. I took the Rally HealthSM Survey and one of the questions was, how much do you sit each day? I answered honestly that I probably sit six - seven hours a day.
“Sitting less has really changed my life and most likely increased it, too. Thanks to Rally for the insight and guidance.”
Because I’m a runner I stay in decent shape, but I felt I should be better considering the amount I was running. One day not long after doing the survey I received an email from Rally about the dangers of sitting too much. I also found out that sitting counteracts your training, and you really can benefit by standing more. It made a lot of sense and I realized that all this sitting was really working against my fitness goals, so I decided to make a big change.
After 20 years of running, Dane Spalt (top) had hit a plateau, until Rally helped him progress. He built a standing desk, and drumming also helps mix things up (left). Now that he works from home more, he makes sure to take quick breaks, too (right).
Standup desks can be pretty expensive but I do some carpentry, so I thought, Why not build my own? Now I stand while working on the computer and doing conference calls. I have an anti-fatigue mat, plus I wear my running shoes. I also make it a point to take breaks -- walk around the house, walk into the kitchen and get something to drink, or take the dog on a walk.
The first couple of days after I made the change, I was exhausted by the end of the day. I told my wife, now I know what it’s like to work at a factory all day! But little by little I got used to it. I now stand five - six hours a day without much problem, and I’ve noticed an improvement in my endurance while running.
There’s a 10-mile run in a couple of months called The Tunnel Hill run – it’s an old train track turned into a scenic jogging trail. I am looking forward to seeing how I do. I also think that I am more productive while standing. Sitting less has really changed my life and most likely increased it too. Thanks to Rally for the insight and guidance.
