The secret in the stacks

MIT librarians share their tips on building a successful getfit team

If you've noticed MIT's librarians slinging those heavy books about with greater ease of late, it just might be that after two years of enthusiastic participation in getfit@mit, they're a bit stronger than before. In fact, almost a quarter of MIT Libraries employees successfully completed the 2006 getfit@mit challenge. "There were a number of teams in the Libraries," says Kim Maxwell of the 3Ps. "When one team filled up, someone just started a new one."

And at the end of the most recent challenge, one Libraries team, the Barker Stair Steppers, stood alone as the 2006 grand prize winner, chosen at random from all teams successfully meeting the exercise-minute goals for at least nine of the 11 weeks. Actually, most of the Libraries teams ended the challenge in contention for the grand prize. Although not every team member on every team met every exercise goal every week, most Libraries teams' averages met or exceeded each weekly threshold.

How did they do it? What advice can they offer 2007 participants? This is what they told us:

Find your teammates among your co-workers. Darcy Duke, captain of the Barker Stair Steppers, has participated in getfit@mit for the last two years. The first year, she says, because her team was scattered among the staffs of various MIT libraries, they didn't see each other every day or participate in any activities together. In 2006, however, "there was enough 'local interest' that we were able to put together a whole team just from within the Barker Library." she explains. Having all the team members under one roof really made a difference in morale, she notes. "I feel we all encouraged each other and really bonded as a team."

Recruit team members with varied exercise backgrounds. Most of the Libraries teams included a mixture of serious exercisers and beginners, which, participants report, worked well for a number of reasons. Experienced exercisers said they enjoyed taking a leadership role on their teams and helping newer exercisers with tips on setting up a routine, suggestions on setting reasonable goals, and general encouragement. And, adds Christine Moulen of the 3Ps, "Having at least one very active person on the team helped us to reach the overall team goals when one or more of the others had an off week."

Do things together. Most successful Libraries teams participated in regularly planned group walks, special one-time group activities, or one or more of the special getfit@mit-sponsored team contests. Members of the 3Ps and Fitter Happier walked the tunnels together every week while the hardy Barker Stair Steppers ventured outdoors each Wednesday for a walk around campus. And at one point during the program, members from several teams got together for a grand walking tour of all 12 campus libraries. "Since half our team members were not on campus regularly, we asked them to take a walk to their local, hometown libraries that day," Moulen explains. "You can find creative ways to include everyone."

"For our team, exercising together gave the program a focal point each week beyond just sending the minutes in," Duke adds. "Even those who didn't walk with us got the weekly invitation, and perhaps it reminded them to get to the gym."

Try new activities. Every year, getfit@mit participants report that the program was an impetus to try new sports or activities, and members of successful Libraries teams agree that the fitness challenge is an opportunity to add some variety to an exercise routine that may have gotten a little too routine. Sometimes a team member is the one to introduce a new activity to his or her teammates, or sometimes team members explore a new sport together. For example, a number of Libraries participants signed up for, and attended, getfit@mit-sponsored events with teammates. "I started going to yoga classes for the first time in my life during the getfit program," reports Ellen Duranceau of Fitter Happier. "That has been a fabulous new activity!"

With the next getfit@mit challenge on the horizon, Libraries staff members are starting to organize their 2007 teams. "It's good to be reminded, especially during chilly Cambridge winters, how important exercise is," Maxwell says. "And having lots of other people on campus involved in the challenge creates a sense of camaraderie that makes it fun."

"The program brings colleagues together towards something fun and productive, and it makes people feel connected and happy," says Duranceau. "This is really significant when we are all working very hard, in jobs that are quite sedentary. I feel very proud of this program and often tell others outside of MIT about it. It's one of the many really positive aspects of working here. It makes you feel the Institute is a place that cares about the whole person."