Last July I ran into Vermont Bar Counsel (and former RunVermont Board Member) Mike Kennedy at Vermont 100. In addition to being at Vermont 100 to support a friend, Mike was also supporting his own well-being. Over the summer, Mike had committed to doing “summer stuff,” with the goal “of balancing a career in the legal profession with interests outside the law.” See Wellness Wednesday: Summer Stuff, Volume 5 (worth reading in full). By prioritizing his wellness and staying accountable through a commitment to blogging about his summer adventures, Mike did some really cool things, ran an impressive amount, and spotted lots of “attorneys in the wild.”
Crewing at VT100
The Challenge of Prioritizing Self-Care
Self-care is genuinely hard, and while we often have the best intentions, exercise and other commitments to personal well-being frequently fall by the wayside due to work obligations like finishing reports or sending emails.
While it is easy to think—and I’m 100% guilty of this—that we’ll be our most productive selves if we just keep our nose down and get XYZ finished, not prioritizing things like getting up from our desks and moving prevents us from being the best employees, parents, partners, and friends we can be.
Attorney well-being has become such a critical issue that, as of 2020, Vermont attorneys are now required to attend continuing legal education (CLE) credits devoted specifically to wellness. And Vermont is far from the only state to implement this sort of CLE requirement.
Introducing the RunVermont Company Health & Wellness Program
While meeting my own CLE requirement recently, a new idea for RunVermont was born to help employers remove some barriers to their employees’ physical activity.
For years, we have partnered with a small number of local companies to allow their employees to register for our events without paying an upfront fee, invoicing the company afterward—sometimes at a discount.
Starting in 2026, we are formalizing this as the RunVermont Company Health & Wellness Initiative to help any employer make it easy for employees to participate in RunVermont races, with their coworkers or solo, at no cost to the employee.
The Proven Benefits of Workplace Movement
The Vermont Department of Health’s Worksite Wellness standards note that physically active people have a reduced risk of heart disease, diabetes, and dementia while benefiting from significant stress reduction. These health improvements contribute to happier, more productive employees, which ultimately saves an organization money. When employers actively support physical activity, they are not just offering a perk; they are making a powerful investment in their people’s long-term energy and mental health.
Building Culture Through Shared Experiences
Making it easy for employees to participate in events—perhaps even as a team in the M&T Bank Vermont City Marathon & Relay—turns healthy choices into shared experiences. These programs build deep camaraderie and strengthen company culture, proving to employees that their well-being truly matters to the organization. The result is a more engaged and resilient workforce that feels supported both in the office and at the starting line of our Vermont running races.
Become a RunVermont Wellness Partner
RunVermont is ready to help you make this vital investment in your employees’ health and happiness. Interested in learning more about how your organization can join us as a Wellness Partner for 2026? Check out our one-pager on the initiative today!