Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
Dozens of frantic people dashed through Salt Lake City today in a race against time to find clues and complete challenges.
It was part of an "Amazing Race" of sorts aimed at helping employees lower stress levels so they don't blow their tops at work.
From solving clues under pressure to racing the clock and juggling the TRAX schedule, the employees had a lot to deal with. But it was a welcome, fun break from the monotony of the day to day.
It was an "Amazing Race," Salt Lake style. Nine teams of four employees and at least one client from the Summit Group sprinted around the valley solving clues and completing tasks.
Chad Lamb, with team Don't Hassle the Hoff, said, "They told us to look for a name on a brick, and they gave us a clue as to what it was. So we had to search all the bricks and find the name."
It was all part of their company's efforts to make their jobs a little less taxing. Bill Paulos, CEO the Summit Group, said, "We have a crazy business. We are always working really hard. We're in a lot of, we call them sprints. So this is a rest between our sprints."
Each team had one simple direction: take TRAX everywhere you go. At first, some teams ignored the rule. Stephanie Smith, with team Hungry, Hungry Hillbos, said, "We decided to take the route of running instead of catching the train, which I thought I was in shape, but I'm not."
Steve Sajer, also on team Hungry, Hungry Hillbos, said, "Running at full speed? Yeah, running at full speed with no air conditioning. It's hot."
But the heat and the exercise, not to mention the fact that all teams were required to carry two watermelons with them wherever they went, soon convinced them all to use the train. And like the TV show, everyone had a chance to fall behind. One team was even given a 15-minute time delay.
But at the end of the day, it was the teamwork and the chance to get out of the office that had the whole group charged. Lamb said, "It's just nice because it shows the company cares about its employees, and they want them to not only succeed in what they're doing but to enjoy working there as well."
The teams eventually had to eat both watermelons with no utensils in a later challenge. And did we forget to mention, it was a paid work day for them. Plus, the winning team will get a cash prize of several hundred dollars as well, which is good incentive for anyone to come to work.
E-mail: kmccord@ksl.com
