The story of HIIT Pekk

At Codeborne, we believe that work should be balanced with fun and fitness. Our journey with high-intensity interval training (HIIT) began as a creative response to the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

When the pandemic struck, it disrupted many of our routines, including our fitness habits. Gym doors were closed, and staying active became a challenge. However, our business developer, Tiit Pekk, saw this as an opportunity rather than an obstacle. He initiated weekly HIIT sessions in our office, leveraging our spacious, high-ceilinged meeting area providing ample fresh air.

Tiit’s sessions, focused on bodyweight exercises, quickly gained popularity. On peak days, a third of the company and half of the board would join. Each week, Tiit manually curated the exercise sequence, a task that was as rewarding as it was demanding.

Automating the routine

The question arose: what would happen when Tiit was away? This led to our first innovative solution. Our colleague Kirill developed an application that automated the exercise selection process. Using an algorithm, the app chose from a database of 125 exercises, signaling the start and end of intervals with beeps. It even included a pre-warning sound to push participants through the final seconds of their workout. To keep the energy high, we created a Spotify playlist, adding a rhythmic touch to our sessions.

A new challenge for interns

When the next group of interns from the Vali IT program joined us, we saw a new opportunity. Each group of interns typically works on a real-life project during the last two months of their internship. We decided that this group would refine and expand our HIIT training application.

After two months of hard work, the first version of the new HIIT Pekk app was ready (Tiit Pekk, HIIT Pekk… coincidence? We prefer to call it fate!). While the backlog of improvement ideas is long, the app is fully functional and has become an integral part of our weekly fitness routine. Thanks to the interns’ efforts, Tiit no longer has to come up with new exercise lists every week.

Try out HIIT Pekk

Interested in trying it out? You can access our app at hiit-pekk.codeborne.com. As a user, all you need to do is log in with your Spotify account to use our curated playlist. Alternatively, you can use your own music. Choose a ready-made training from the list, and the next 60 minutes of your workout are taken care of.

At Codeborne, we’re not just about coding – we’re about cultivating a healthy, fun, and collaborative work environment. Our HIIT sessions are a testament to that spirit, combining fitness with innovation in a way that keeps us all moving forward, together.

Join Codeborne!

Codeborne is full of interesting people and exciting challenges. We’re expanding our team and currently looking for a full-stack developer. If you love solving real-world challenges with a skilled team, we’d love to hear from you!