On September 12, more than 400 Atlanta companies participated in the Kaiser Permanente Corporate Run/Walk, a 5K designed to promote health and wellness among metro Atlanta companies and their employees. While approximately 16,000 runners participated in this year's event, Victor Breedveld, associate professor in the School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, was the first to cross the finish line with an impressive time of 16:40. 

For Breedveld, who turned 40 years old earlier this year and now qualifies as a Masters Division runner, his goal for the Kaiser Permanente Corporate Run was to compete for the Masters Title. "During the race, I slowly passed all the young guys ahead of me," Breedveld says. "With 0.8 miles to go, I was in the lead to my great surprise, and from there I never looked back and just pushed myself to the limits. Fortunately, nobody passed me. Never in my wildest dreams did I expect to win the overall race."

An active runner and biker, Breedveld has been training for national championship races with the Atlanta Track Club Masters Team. Recently, his team won the 8K National Masters Team Championship, and in November, he will compete in the Savannah Rock 'n' Roll Marathon. Breedveld was also a member of the ChBE relay team that won the Dixie200 Race, a 200-mile relay race from Atlanta, Ga., to Birmingham, Ala., in March 2013.

While this active lifestyle has benefited his health, Breedveld also notes that it has social advantages, too. "For me, running is a critical element of my mental healthcare," he says. "Some people, including my wife, consider me crazy because I run 5-6 days per week in the very early morning, but these runs with my friends are a big part of my social life and keep me mentally and physically in shape."

Photo courtesy of the Kaiser Permanente Corporate Walk/Run.