CEO Challenges

CEO FITNESS CHALLENGE - WINTER 2010

Objectives

1.  Identify the Fittest CEO's® in multiple locations throughout North America

2.  Allow CEOs the forum to demonstrate why keeping fit is good for them personally, and a benefit to their companies

Format

 The CEO Fitness Challenge is open to CEOs / Owners / Presidents / and C-suite Executives of companies with at least $1 million in annual gross revenue.

CEOs will have the opportunity to go into specified clubs to take a simple, quick, 'age-graded' test that consists of 5 distinct exercises that have been proven to be an accurate method of evaluating a person's fitness .   As a way to compensate for age, the older a person is, the larger 'adjustment' they receive for their scores on three of the tests.   At the end of the test each person will be given a score they can compare to other CEOs from across North America.   The lower the 'score', the better.

1. Endurance - Step-ups
2. Core strength - Crunches
3. Upper Body Strength - Push-ups (30 secs)
4. Speed & Agility - Laterals (30 sec)
5. Lower Body Strength - Vertical jump

Age Grading ('AG') is arrived at by deducting the person's age (year in which they were born) from 100.   For example, person born in 1955 is 55 years old in 2010.  Therefore his AG is 100 - 55 = 45.    If born in 1965 the AG is 100 - 45 = 55 .  The maximum AG is 60, even if the person is younger than 40.

Testing Order:

1.  Lower Body Endurance - Step Test - 1 Minute

• How many steps a person can do in one minute
• Step onto an exactly 12" high platform or step where both feet must land on the platform, both feet must return down again (counts as one rep)
• Take the age-grade (e.g. 45), minus the number of steps = result for this test (e.g. age grade of 45 - 50 steps in 1 minute = -5)

2.  Trunk Flexion Muscular Endurance - Curl-ups (Crunches) - 1 Minute

• Individual assumes a supine position on a mat with the knees at 90 degrees.  The arms are at the side, with fingers touching a piece of masking tape.  A block or weight is placed 8cm (3 inches) beyond the tape, and one crunch is complete when the person touches the block or weight and returns to neutral
• How many crunches a person can do in one minute
• Elevation of the trunk (THORACIC SPINE) to 30 degrees is the important aspect of the movement
• Take the age-grade (e.g. 45), minus the number of crunches = result for this test (e.g. age grade of 45 - 60 crunches in 1 minute = -15)

3.  Upper Body Local Muscular Strength-Endurance – Push-ups (30 secs)

• The push-up test is administered with subjects in the standard "up" position (hands shoulder width apart, back straight, head NEUTRAL, using toes as the pivot point).  *ACSM uses different position for women, but to score this challenge, all must use the same position*
• The subject must lower the body until ELBOWS ARE AT A 90 DEGREE ANGLE and the sternum touches a 4" yoga block, or ball (5" for longer forearm length, 3" for shorter forearm).  The stomach should not touch the mat
• For both men and women, the subject's back must be straight at all times and the subject must push up to a straight arm position
• Score for this exercise is the AG minus the number of crunches in 30 seconds (e.g., 45 - 40 = -5)

Anaerobic Power - Vertical Jump

• The participant puts chalk on the fingertips of the right hand
• Participant stands with his or her DOMINANT side to the wall, making sure the feet and hips are next to the wall
• Participant reaches as high as possible with feet flat and makes a chalk mark on the wall
• Participant positions him or herself comfortably, hand still as high as possible.  Without moving the feet, the participant flexes the knees, jumps, and places a second chalk mark as high on the wall as possible
• Measure the distance between the 2 chalk marks
• Record the best of three trials to the nearest 0.5 inches
• Score for this exercise is the standard of 20 minus the vertical leap distance in inches (e.g., 20 - 16 = 4)

5. Speed and Agility – Lateral Shuffle Cone Touch Test (30 sec)

• Two 6" cones exactly 15 feet apart
• Participant stands beside one cone, and when told to go, runs LATERALLY to the opposite cone and touches THE TOP OF that cone with one hand, then returns as quickly as possible to the first cone
• Number of cones touched in timed 30 seconds (any cones knocked over must be put back in place before ‘that side’ counts)
• Score for this exercise is the standard of 18 minus the number of cones touched in 30 secs (e.g., 18 - 15 = 3)

Scoring

• Competitor's results for each of the 5 elements is recorded and sent to CEO Challenges for tabulation, where they will be recorded in the Results area of the appropriate event page (e.g., Winter 2010 in Boulder)
• CEOs will have the ability to compare their scores to other CEOs in their City, across the USA, and even in North America
• CEOs taking the test will feel compelled to ‘improve their score', workout harder (or workout more specifically to do better on the test), and take the test as many times as they like within the timeframe it is being offered in each location

The Fittest CEO®

• The CEO with the best score will be awarded the title of that City's Fittest CEO®!

CEO Fitness Challenge Locations

• Athletes Performance locations in Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Phoenix, Dallas, and Florida
• Flatiron Athletic Club in Boulder, CO

Timing

March 1-31, 2010

Cost

There is no cost to a CEO to participate in the CEO Fitness Challenge as many times as he / she likes during the testing period.

How to Register

Links are provided below to the CEO Fitness Challenge in each area it is offered.   To register, simply fill out the form at the bottom of the page and you will be contacted by the Club to arrange the test at a time that works for both of you.

At the Club, CEOs will be treated to a day-pass, locker, towel, and (if desired) a tour of the facility.   The test will be conducted by professional Personal Trainers who will record results, and report them to CEO Challenges for tabulation and posting.