Running for Fun
On May 29, the NYCHA running team gathered once again for the annual New York City “Corporate Challenge” race, an event solely for corporate runners sponsored by JPMorgan Chase. The 3.5-mile race series is a global celebration of teamwork, camaraderie, and community, and is inclusive, with a 50/50 split of men and women, from entry-level employees to CEOs.
This was “Fast Bob” Nordman’s last race with the NYCHA Runners. The computer specialist and president of the NYCHA Running Club has been running with the club for over 20 years. In that time, he has achieved a number of accomplishments, including completing more than 100 marathons and running a marathon in every state. While Nordman is an accomplished runner, he noted that it is the camaraderie that keeps him going.
“I began running with the NYCHA Running Club 20 years ago for health reasons, but fell in love with the sport and the club for the way it brings people together from departments across NYCHA,” he explained.
“Our amazing NYCHA employees work hard every day providing homes to over 600,000 city residents and still find time to come together to do something fun,” added club member and NYCHA CEO & Chair Shola Olatoye.
Nordman is happy to pass the leadership on to Certified LAN Administrator Ramon Lugo and Deputy Director of the Department of Real Estate Services Rico Velez, who are seeking to expand the size and activities of the club, beginning with the New York Road Runners’ 5K weekday race in Central Park on July 27, 2017, at 7:00 p.m. Lugo and Velez are excited to expand the club membership and bring more employees to the finish line.
“There’s no such thing as a slow runner to us; we are just interested in people who want to be active! We are an equal opportunity running group,” Lugo said.
To join the running group, NYCHA employees should email Bob Nordman at bob.nordman@nycha.nyc.gov or Ramon Lugo at ramon.lugo@nycha.nyc.gov.
