Helen Warren, 24 April 2006
Jogging. Is it a bit like blogging? Actually, no, I don't think that comparison has much mileage. And anyway, the word 'jogging' has somewhat negative connotations (picture leisurely excercise in shell suit). At Torchbox I've recently started a running club - project Torchbod. We want to prove that geek can be sleek. The uptake has been fantastic, surprising me somewhat. A group of around 8 of us go out for a run 2 - 3 times a week. Occasionally we venture out into the wider world - last weekend a few of the team participated in the Blenheim Palace 7k run around the stunning grounds of this famous house.
This sudden enthusiasim for getting fit was sparked by our recent skiing trip to Chamonix. After a couple of days away from my computer, and exercising muscles that haven't seen the light of day for some time, I released this was an opportunity too good to miss. I didn't want to waste that conquering of the pain barrier that goes with starting to exercise properly after a long episode of sprog hatching.The environment in which we work is perfectly suited to running. Torchbox is based at Cornbury park - a beautiful deer-park estate in the Cotwolds, so we couldn't be more spoilt for scenery, flora and fauna. It's really exhilarating rushing through the countryside with one's colleagues - and Stanley (the dog) of course - and it really sets one up for an afternoon of Java application profiling. Perhaps one day we will be as big as the Canberra lunch time running club.
