As humans, we hunger for competition and sport. Many members that exercise at a gym throughout the week engage in some type of competitive sport outside of the gym as well.
Life Time Fitness has realized the importance of great competition and, doubly, the importance of sponsoring competition. Each year, Life Time sponsors 3K, 5K and 10K runs, marathons, mini marathons and triathlons.
“Our Life Time Fitness triathlon is going into its 10th year,” said Karen Leinberger, the public relations manager for Life Time Fitness. “It’s the vision that [CEO] Bahram [Akradi] had and loving the sport.”
Leinberger said triathlons began in the 1980s for bored runners to spice up their workouts. “Most people, up until recently, didn’t know what it was,” she said. “It wasn’t until 1982 that people started taking notice of the sport.”
In 2002, Life Time Fitness sponsored its first triathlon and revolutionized the sport by increasing the purse to $50,000 for the winner.
The competition gave citizens the opportunity to compete next to professional athletes and allowed professional triathletes to gain national recognition and sponsorships.
Almost any club can host a triathlon — even clubs that can’t afford to pay for outside event space. Several Life Time Fitness locations host their triathlons at the club locations.
According to the Event Director for Life Time Fitness Nick Lynch, clubs can set up stationary bikes, treadmills and distinguish pool lanes to host competitions.
Lynch said Life Time Fitness probably host more than 150 events each year, including indoor events.
Last year in Minnesota, Life Time held a kid’s triathlon and brought in 300 kids.
“What it does is get more people excited and gives them something to work towards every single day,” Leinberger said. “I think a lot of people work hard every day toward something. It gives them something to work towards and helps them get away from the TV.”
This year Life Time Fitness held its Chicago Triathlon, one of the oldest running events in the country at 30 years. “It’s such a deep rooted history in downtown Chicago,” Lynch said. The competition this year hosted more than 10,500 athletes from around the world.
