The 100 members of the United Space Alliance running club understand distance and speed. After all, their livelihood is attached to sending vehicles far into the heavens at speeds of 17,500 miles per hour or more.

It’s no surprise then, that several club members signed on to compete in or volunteer during the Sunrise to Sunset relay that started in Jensen Beach on March 28 and ended– 170 miles later – in Ft. Myers.

“It was the most fun thing I’ve done,” said club president Nancy Rowan, an electrical engineer and LEAN six sigma black belt. “Six of us took turns running the 36 legs of the course that ranged from 2.9 miles to 8 miles. We let Rory (Rowan, Nancy’s son) run the most since he was the youngest and the fastest.”

The team utilized two SUVs in which to carry supplies and allow those not running to grab a quick bite or some shut-eye. “I only got an hour-and-a-half of sleep,” said Rowan, whose stints included a few miles around Lake Okeechobee during the dead of night. “When I ran those, I wore a headlamp on my head. I would have been afraid but volunteer Barbara Krause ran with me because everyone else was sleep.”

As they approached the Ft. Myers area, however, the team was ready to rock. “Rory ran last,” said Rowan. “Our entire team ran with him.”

The team was clocked at 24 hours, 21 minutes and 12 seconds, earning special etched glasses for their top finish in the Ultra Open division. It’s not the first time the club has brought home distinguished hardware.

“Last year we won the top men’s and mixed team awards in the ‘Transportation’ division at the corporate challenge in Orlando,” said Rowan. “We also won the ‘Most fit – large company’, not by having the fastest runners, necessarily, but because of what our company offers in terms of building fitness.”

“We have three fitness centers with weights and cardio machines as well as classes in things like nutrition and weight management. The company also subsidizes our races by paying 60 percent of our entry fees for up to four races per person.”

While increased health and team camaraderie are certainly an employee benefit, the return on investment for corporate fitness programs are proving to help the company’s bottom line remain equally fit.

The Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (JOEM) showed that companies could save $1.65 in health care expenses for every dollar spent on a comprehensive employee wellness program. And a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services report also revealed that at worksites with physical activity programs, employers have:

• Reduced short-term sick leave by six to 32 percent
• Increased productivity by two to 52 percent

Do you work for a fitness-friendly organization? We’d love to hear about it. Contact us at newsletter@ runningzone.com