CEO Challenges completes busiest season ever
TEMPE, Ariz.—December 2, 2008—Christoper Thompson of Austin, Texas, took first place at the AIG CEO Challenge at the 2008 Ford Ironman Arizona in Tempe on Nov. 23, hosted by CEO Challenges (CEOChallenges.com) ), the world leader in sport competitions for CEOs. In the last CEO Challenge of the year, Thompson outraced his fellow CEO competitors with a time of 10:27:57, a new personal best.
Thompson, owner of Capital Otolaryngology, a medical and surgical practice specializing in treating disorders of the head and neck, has now completed four Ironman distance events. Chris Shackelton, managing partner and co-founder of Coliseum Capital Management in New York City, earned second place with a time of 10:35:45. Third place went to Donald Booth, co-owner and principal architect at DJG, Inc., in Poquoson, Va., finishing in 10:43:14.
“I like the idea of competing with people who, like me, try to juggle running a company with training and family time,” said Thompson.
The 2008 Ford Ironman Arizona consisted of a 2.4-mile swim (3.8 km), 112-mile bike (180 km), and 26.2-mile run (42.2 km) through the city of Tempe.
“Our last event of the year was very successful,” said Ted Kennedy, president of CEO Challenges. “We’ve been all over the world, from several places here in the U.S., to Canada and even Singapore. Each challenge is better than the last, and we hope to carry over some of our great experiences in 2009, with CEO Challenges such as skiing and fly fishing. Our events calendar has something for everyone.”
“This is the best way to do an Ironman,” said Booth. “The details are worked out long before we ever needed to think about them.”
“CEO Challenges is a first-class operation that made the time leading up to the race stress free,” said participant Chuck Bengochea, CEO of HoneyBaked Ham in Norcross, Ga. “The team truly makes you feel special.”
Chris Cobb, CFO and COO of Simpler-Webb in Austin, Texas, said the challenge was “a well-run event with incredible support throughout the week for both the competitor and families. Meeting a peer group of amazing, like-minded executives is the added bonus.”
During 2008, more than 125 CEO participants competed in a dozen CEO Challenge events. Fifteen percent of the net proceeds from participant fees for the 2008 Ford Ironman Arizona were donated to the Challenged Athletes Foundation, founded in 1997 to provide opportunities and support to people with physical disabilities so they can pursue active lifestyles through physical fitness and competitive athletics.
In early 2009, participants can look forward to the CEO Skiing Challenge in Vail, Colo.; the CEO Fly Fishing Challenge in Cody, Wyo.; St. Anthony’s Triathlon in St. Petersburg, Fla.; new CEO Corporate Challenge events offered at select triathlons; and many more challenges, no matter the athletic interest. For a complete list of events in 2009, visit www.ceochallenges.com.
About CEO Challenges (CEOChallenges.com)
CEO Challenges is the world leader in sport competitions designed specifically for CEOs. The firm’s goal is to find the world’s best CEO in several sports. Founded in 2001 with the CEO Ironman Challenge, CEO Challenge has expanded to include CEO Triathlon, Golf, Cycling, Marathon, Fly Fishing, Sailing, Hockey, Driving, Skiing, Fitness and Tennis Challenges in settings worldwide.
Know someone else who's interested in running and triathlon?
