Two SU employees run their commute to work — 14.5 miles — as part of Campus Commuter Challenge

Two SU employees run their commute to work — 14.5 miles — as part of Campus Commuter ChallengeOctober 04, 2007Sara Millersemortim@syr.edu

Patricia Ford, financial and budget manager for the physics department in The College of Arts and Sciences, and her husband, Terry McConnell, chair of the mathematics department, are replacing their morning car commute with a 14.5-mile run to work on Friday, Oct. 5, as part of Syracuse University’s Campus Commuter Challenge.

Their decision to run was inspired by the Campus Commuter Challenge, sponsored by the SU Office of Academic Affairs, which began Sept. 24 and continues through Oct. 24. The Campus Commuter Challenge is a friendly competition among 24 schools, colleges and administrative divisions of SU and the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry to encourage employees to try more sustainable transportation options than driving alone to work.

“I run five to six days a week now with a total weekly mileage of 25 to 35 miles,” says Ford. “Currently, my longest weekly run is about nine miles, with an occasional run up to 11 miles. Terry’s longest weekly run is about six miles, and he runs about four days a week for total mileage around 18 miles. His weekly mileage and weekly long run is lower than mine, but he cross trains much more than I do, so he should be fine with it.

“We usually drive two cars to work due to our daughter’s school/athletic schedule, but left one car at the University overnight and will drive it back home together after work.”

Ford and McConnell’s run will begin in Pompey and conclude at Archbold Gymnasium, where they will shower, change and proceed to work. She estimates that it will take about an hour and 56 minutes to run — about eight minutes per mile.

The Campus Commuter Challenge is modeled on similar programs across the continent, with the goal of encouraging people to discover alternatives to driving alone to work. The SU/ESF University Sustainability Action Coalition (http://usac.syr.edu) organized this effort, with the support of the SU Office of Academic Affairs, as part of a broader effort to reduce the universities’ impact on global warming and to promote more sustainable campuses.

Full information on how to participate is available at http://enspire.syr.edu/CCC.