Market: Boston

Athlete: John Osbon (Osbon Capital Management LLC)

The 800 meter run is the last and longest event in The Decathlon. By the time you get to this tenth event you’re pretty tired and perhaps wondering how fast you really can run.

Just before the starter pistol for the 800m goes off, I think of the kids. The Decathlon magic for me switches into high gear. If the kids in the pediatric cancer ward can tough it out, then surely I can do the same. What I am about to do is nothing compared to what they…

Market: New York

Athlete: David Lazarus (Trillium Trading)

This June was my second Wall Street Decathlon. I started fundraising for Memorial Sloan Kettering in 2014 for a different charity supporting the same cause, Cycle for Survival. One of our close friend’s nephews, Luke, was diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma at the age of three. As if that wasn’t reason enough to get involved, one of my wife’s friends from residency has a son Max who was also diagnosed with stage-four neuroblastoma also at the age of three. Because of their treatments at Memorial Sloan Kettering, both Max and Luke have survived…

Market: New York

Athlete: Thomas "Scooter" Moles (AMG Funds)

I had a simple dream as a kid: I wanted play forward for Dean Smith at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. I needed, among other things, to grow to a height of at least 6’6” to make this dream a reality. As a 5’10” thirteen-year-old, I was well on my way. Devoted as I was to the idea of playing basketball, I was unfazed by the persistent growing pains that accompanied my rapid growth. Soon though, a “growing pain” in my left leg never went away.

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Market: New York

Athlete: Nick Fincher (Pimco)

Although my Decathlon experience to date has been brief, it has left a lasting impression. What has inspired me most is the enthusiasm behind the Decathlon’s mission: raising money for children whose needs could not be more immediate. After getting an initial taste of the comradery and energy at last year’s team competition, I couldn’t wait to compete in this year’s main event.

Football was an early conduit for my competitive drive, as its intensity and grittiness had me from the start. Through the years, my coaches’ channeled this passion for…

Vinny Talluto is a trainer at Mike Boyle Strength and Conditioning with degrees in Exercise Physiology, Nutrition and Psychology. He has been working with The Decathlon’s Boston athletes in preparation for competition.

Everyone loves the bench press, but what most people don’t realize is how crucial proper set up is. Here are my go-to tips for improving performance in the bench press;

Tip 1: Set your feet firmly
You want to screw your feet into the ground to allow yourself to push and drive your body back into the bench. The more leg drive used the more this exercise becomes…

Tone House was founded in 2014 by Alonzo Wilson, a former collegiate and professional athlete and private trainer in New York City. In high school, he was introduced to athletic-based extracurricular activities in football, basketball, and track, lettering in all three sports and igniting his passion for fitness and a healthy lifestyle. He then played collegiate football at Grand Valley State University, helping the team win two Division II National Championships, and earning his Bachelor’s Degree in Movement Science Education and Professional Instruction before continuing on to play professionally.

In the midst of his blossoming football career, Alonzo’s mother became…

Market: New York

Athlete: Laura Placentra (Citigroup)

The business of Wall Street represents an amazing mental and physical challenge. It’s a daily grind that requires hard work and dedication. College athletics poses similar challenges and rewards. For me, whether it has been work, sports, or academics, it’s been a joy to push my limits on all fronts. It is also a luxury for which I am very grateful.

Arriving at St. John’s University to compete in The Decathlon last year was both exciting and nerve-wracking. It was my first time competing and the daunting task of completing ten events…

Matt Wilpers has been a coach and judge for The Decathlon for four years. He is a former NCAA Division I cross country/track distance runner and now is a full-time coach and creator of the training app CoachCasts.

I cannot stress how important a good thorough warm-up is to your performance in The Decathlon. The point of a warm-up is to prepare the mind and body for the task ahead. A good warm-up will elevate your muscle temperature and heart rate, stimulate the nervous system, and open the pathways that deliver oxygen to your muscles. Remember that a good…