Clean Room Construction (CRC) in Kent is fit for business – and that’s official! Its employees are among the fittest in the industry and the team now also boasts a champion runner.
Stephen Poole is CRC’s Service Manager, responsible for ‘running’ the company’s dedicated service and validation department. He crossed the line in first place at the recent Whitstable Time Trial over a distance of 5km, finishing in a personal best time of 18 min 16 sec after only taking up running just over 12 months ago.
The 37-year-old from Halling in Kent, said: 'I originally started running just to lose weight, resulting in me shedding four stone in 12 months. But I’ve now got the running bug and, as I’m very competitive, I want to see just how far I can push myself.'
Running around 30 miles a week, Poole, who has worked for CRC since 1998, has seen his Run Britain ranking handicap improve from 15.1 to 3.9 in less than a year. He is now running in the top 1.6% for 5km park runs in England, having notched up several second and third places too.
Now Poole, a member of Larkfield Athletics Club, has set his sights on other targets – to run a sub 18-minute 5km, a sub 36-minute 10km and perhaps even a marathon in under three hours.
Clean Room Construction Director Steve Lawton said: 'As well as the obvious personal benefits of remaining active and healthy, it is just plain commercial common sense to support and encourage employees to do more exercise. A healthy business needs a healthy workforce.'
CRC also boasts marathon runners, triathletes, golfers and badminton players among its fit team. Director Ian Isted, 43, recently competed in the open age group race at the PruHealth World Triathlon Grand Final in London’s Hyde Park.