Winners announced in walking challenge

by TALLEY HENNING BROWN

There’s no charity fundraising, no 26-mile course or nationally televised fanfare, but here on the Upper East Side, Rockefeller University has begun its own rendition of a New York City marathon. From October 13 to November 2, Human Resources hosted the first semiannual Rockefeller Walks competition, an initiative of HR’s Wellness program designed to promote a greater consciousness of healthy physical activity through the stimulus of a little healthy competition.

In the works for the last few years, Rockefeller Walks came together this fall through the efforts of Director of Benefits Ginny Hansen and HR Assistant Courtney McBride. HR purchased 150 pedometers, measured out two campus walking courses and brought to campus life coach/health psychologist Michele Kofman to lead a walking meditation workshop.
Of 146 participants who registered, 135 joined the team competition as well, creating 27 teams of five. “There was an incredible variety of people — heads of lab, administrators, students and postdocs, support staff,” says Ms. McBride. “The Finance Office fielded four teams by itself.” Based on advice from health professionals, HR urged walkers to aim for at least 10,000 steps every day, a number that, depending on the length of a walker’s stride, equals up to five miles. Participants recorded daily steps taken and HR posted weekly counts on the Benefits Web page. In addition to the contest for most steps taken, walkers were judged on how much they increased their steps taken from week one to week three.

“We had a playful approach to the competition, but as it turns out, we were serious competitors,” says Daniver Morales, a postdoc in the Hatten Laboratory and member of the first-place team.

Ms. McBride solicited prizes from vendors including Plum Benefits, LA Sports Club, Asphalt Green, Global Fit, Sterling Optical and The New York Times, as well as Amy Elers, on-campus yoga instructor. Awards went to the top 12 in the individual category, the top six most-improved-steps winners and the top four teams. The next contest will be held in the spring. Until that time, HR is offering pedometer rentals with a $15 refundable deposit to all campus members, “to keep up the good work all year,” says Ms. McBride.