It’s Monday, almost 4:00 p.m. Instead of working another hour, Spectro employees have the option to change into their workout clothes. Marleen Frunt from FruntRunners is already waiting in the parking lot, ready for the regular walking and running session. Time to get moving! “This activates everything—your body, your mind, and even your relationships,” says Marleen.
Every week, about 25 Spectro employees join the training session organized by FruntRunners. From production staff to executives, everyone is welcome. “We start with a joint warm-up, sometimes including strength exercises or other drills,” Marleen explains. “After that, we head to the park, where everyone trains at their own level. One person might clock ten kilometers in an hour, while another walks five. It doesn’t matter.”
A Raised Heart Rate
After an hour of exercising—and yes, walking definitely counts as that, according to Marleen—everyone returns to Spectro. Sweaty and with an increased heart rate. “That’s exactly the goal,” says the running coach. “When your heart beats faster, your circulation improves. And that means everything works better—not just your body, but your brain too. Exercise transforms you, because you grow both physically and mentally.”
Magic Words: Outdoors and Together
‘Outdoors’ and ‘together’ are key principles for FruntRunners. But why are these elements so important? “In the fresh air, your mind is freer,” says Marleen. “There are far fewer distractions for your brain. Unlike indoors, sounds don’t bounce around. And if you open yourself up to what you see and hear, nature can make you feel totally zen. That emotional openness helps you see difficult situations—and colleagues—in a different light.”
“It’s wonderful to see how easily Spectro’s athletes connect with one another.”
“Exercising together makes it easier to talk about complex issues,” Marleen continues. “But the biggest benefit is how it brings employees together. It’s great to see how easily the Spectro team blends. All hierarchy disappears during training. I also hear that communication has become smoother. It certainly helps when managers and executives are gasping for breath and doing squats alongside everyone else.”
Everyone Benefits
As a lifelong athlete, Marleen believes it’s essential for employers to care about their employees’ well-being. And she emphasizes that ultimately, everyone gains from it. “When companies invest in this, they increase loyalty and productivity, and reduce absenteeism over time. That’s what all the research shows.”
Freshly Washed Gear
Marleen is more than happy to help keep her fellow Spectro colleagues fit. She’d love to see even more employees show up at 4:00 p.m. on Mondays in the parking lot. “Wearing a freshly washed outfit, of course,” she adds with a smile. “Exercising with bad odors isn’t pleasant—for yourself or your teammates. It creates distance, which is exactly what we don’t want during training. Luckily, Spectro has plenty of ways to fix that, haha.”