I have a mantra. Exercise shouldn’t be lonely or expensive. There are others who share that belief at Cisco, so we decided to “mantra” together. I found my community, my #WeAreCisco TRIBE if you will.

Led by the Early Career Network group in Cisco UKI (United Kingdom & Ireland), Sports@Cisco is for people who want to exercise more. You don’t have to be early in your career to participate; you just have to want to get your plan of getting healthier into action.

Technically, a Cisco badge isn’t required either. We invite our friends to participate with us all the time. But since Cisco actively promotes for our health and wellbeing, our calendar of events – from football training (that’s soccer to you Americans) to triathalons – is open to Cisco employees at a subsidized cost. We’re participating in a Run-a-thon as part of our CEO Chuck Robbins’ Early Career week, the London Winter 10K and a host of other events. It’s really great to break those boundaries between work and play.

I, myself, am a budding runner. (Who doesn’t want to feel like they’ve earned that post-run burger?!) I actually have a place in this year’s London Marathon(!), so I ran the Movember MoRun 10K with our Sports@Cisco community, and will be aiming for a PB at the Hampton Court Half Marathon in March.

What’s stopping you? Here are some of the tips we’ve learned as the Sports@Cisco team to get you moving…

• Set yourself a target. Be it a smaller notch on the belt loop, or the ability to run a mile without stopping, a goal will give you focus.
• Tell other people! Once the cat’s out of the bag about your fitness goal, you’ll feel more inclined to meet it. Good friends make the best personal cheerleaders.
• Multi-task. Call your parents, listen to podcasts, turn a social date into walk or a cycle.
• Any exercise is better than none. So, don’t beat yourself up about taking it easy one day!

Questions or ideas? Leave me a comment below or find me on Twitter @lizcookcisco.

Join the We Are Cisco tribe here.