As far as races go, this one is a monster. Just to write about it is hard let alone to direct it. So that is where I will start with Mark Warner who has taken over the reins since 2013 and handled it superbly. Why anyone would do this enthusiastically with no pay is amazing on its own. He has to plan and worry about crafting a race for 10,000 yes 10,000 people and make sure that all goes well because as we know America is a litigious society, but a greater concern for him is ensuring that each person enjoys their run. Next he has to secure a network of likeminded volunteer captains who will coordinate a section of the race that will take them hours or days of planning and too with only the satisfaction of seeing the race do well. Breaking all rules of journalism, I will list the captains immediately and thank them for their selfless service:
Race Treasurer |
Cathy Sliwinski |
Master of Ceremonies |
Chad O’Hara |
Advertising Coordinator |
Nick Webster |
Awards Coordinator |
Christine Bishop |
Charity of Choice Coordinator |
Angela Warner |
Communications/Packet Pick-up |
Debbie Beach |
Corporate Sponsors Coordinator |
Tom McGuire |
Course Coordinator |
Ken Skinner |
Course Entertainment Coordinator |
Dave Heyward |
Information Tent |
Stephanie Kite |
Logistics Coordinator |
Ed Neiles |
Medical Coordinator |
Tracy Callaghan |
Refreshment Coordinator |
Maureen Cox |
Security Coordinator |
Mike DelRocco |
Set-Up Coordinator |
Tom Fitzpatrick |
Start and Finish Line Coordinator |
John Parisella |
Team Captain Coordinator |
Clay Lodovice |
T-Shirt Coordinator |
Arleen Reyell |
T-Shirt Coordinator |
Jill Mehan |
Volunteer Tent |
Dave Heyward |
Water Coordinator |
Jon Rocco |
CDPHP Sponsorship Representatives |
|
Community Relations/Sponsorship |
Victoria Baecker |
Community Relations |
Adele O’Connell |
Marketing Communications Manager |
Alexa Kerins |
Public Relations |
Ali Skinner |
Population Health Coordinator |
Cassandra Diorio |
Public Relations Specialist |
Natalia Burkart |
This impressive list is only “tip of the iceberg” as far as volunteers go, but we will take a break so list fatigue doesn’t strike and instead will supply mind-bending facts and statistics designed to stimulate.
The HMRRC website furnishes the following history of the event.
1980 was the inaugural year. This event was known as the Manufacturers Hanover Capital Challenge ("Manny-Hanny") from 1980-84, the Manufacturers Hanover Corporate Challenge from 1985-91, the Chemical Bank Corporate Challenge from 1992-95, the The Chase Corporate Challenge from 1996-2000, the JP Morgan Chase Corporate Challenge in 2001, the GHI Workforce Team Challenge from 2002-2009 and the CDPHP Workforce Team Challenge starting in 2010. The event was directed by (HMRRC) committee from 1980-82, by Carter Andersson-Wintle from 1983-92, by Al Maikels from 1993-2003, by Mark French from 2004-05, by Pete Newkirk from 2006-11, by Mike Rabideau in 2012 and Mark Warner starting in 2013. The 1980-1994 Course was two loops around the Empire State Plaza (a killer hilly course!) ending on the plaza near the "pool of reflections." In 1995 the race adopted the "Up Madison Ave, around the Park and back to the Plaza" route, more or less. The 2015 event had a record 10,237 entrants. Chip Timing started in 2013.
Course Records: Speed: Nobert Berenyi, May 18, 1995: 16:17 and Megan Hogan, May 15, 2015: 18:32. Most Wins: Tom Dalton: 14 total- 1982-86, 1988-89, 1992-94, 1998, 2002, 2004-05; and Emily Bryans: 6 total- 2000-05.
2018 winners were Matt Brooker, 27, 17:29 third consecutive win; Karen Bertasso, 33, 20:30 third win.
Each year, the HMRRC and CDPHP select charities of choice – and encourage participants to donate to those organizations. This year, two charities of choice were named: the Albany Public Library Foundation and Regional Food Bank of NENY. We asked our race participants and volunteers to raise funds for our 2018 Charities of Choice and they responded with double over last year raising $45,000! Our highest fundraising team was GE this year under group team captain Aaron Knobloch! If you haven’t yet made a donation but would like to, there is still time. You can donate at www.cdphpwtc.com
While 10,000 runners whizzed by there was music wafting in the air from Playin’ With Fire, in front of the State Museum and Big Fez and the Surfmatics, Unfinished Business, and the Albany High School Jazz Band dotting the course.
Of course all this could not go on without financial support. First, a special thanks to our title sponsor – CDPHP. CDPHP has sponsored the Workforce Team Challenge going on 10 years. We also wantto recognize CDPHP for winning the JD Power award for the second year in a row. Congratulations CDPHP! Next, we thank our media sponsor B95.5, and All-U for the great work they do year after year on the race t-shirts.
Of course, we couldn’t do this without the support of our …
Premium Plus sponsors:
· Capital Cardiology Associates
· Jaeger & Flynn
Premium sponsors:
· AREEP
· Atlas Copco
· Bimbo Bakeries
· Hannaford
· Regeneron
· Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
· Trustco Bank
· Tyler Technologies
AND
· University at Albany
Additional sponsors include…
· Accenture
· Adirondack Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery
· Aflac
· NYSTEC
· AND
· Pioneer Bank
And, now, for some team recognition …
The “largest participation” awards in several categories are presented to the teams with the most registered participants. The winners are:
Public Corporation:
General Electric (Aaron Knobloch) – 268
Regeneron (Jenny Ming) – 239
Trustco Bank (Michaela Martin) - 129
Not-For-Profit:
Albany Medical Center (Stephen Jones) – 308
CDPHP (Cassie Diorio) - 251
NYSTEC (Peter Zwagerman) – 66
Government Agency:
NYS ITS (Mike Becker) - 144
Health Department (NYSDOH) (Leeander Essenter) – 125
Office of the State Comptroller (Mary Eileen Barret) – 111
Private Corporation
Community Care Physicians PC (Christina DeStefano) – 166
Pioneer Bank (Kelli Rappleyea) – 98
BBL (Kathleen Tersigni) – 95
Educational
1. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (Cameron McLean) - 95
2. Shenendehowa Central School District (Kelly Ann Keller) – 81
3. University at Albany (Michael Christakis) – 65
As is evident, planning a race of this magnitude is quite an undertaking. We thank all involved and hope to see them running happily down the streets of Albany next year. In the meantime, consult our website during the coming year to see our progress for 2019!
More Articles & Pictures:
Brooker, Bertasso CDPHP WTC 24 Pictures