An estimated 40 Clinical Center employees took to the races Sept. 20, 2018, as they participated in the 35 annual NIH Institute Challenge Relay. The relay includes teams of five runners who each ran a 0.3 mile route around the parking lot behind Building 10.
Several staff were from the Clinical Center Operating Room (OR)/Surgery Department. Team "Smooth Operators" is one of the few made up of clinical care providers.
Team member Maureen George said, "We generally try to enlist runners from all disciplines that make up the department. We also try to vary who runs. But being a clinical care department we never know if we will make it to the race based on the OR schedule until moments before!"
While the team didn't hit the right stride to place in the competition, George said optimistically, "We appear to be improving every year."
According to David Browne, co-president of the NIH Recreation and Welfare Association, who ran the event, it's an important day for collaboration across NIH and staying active.
"The NIH Institute Relay has been embraced by the NIH community for 35 years as a way to maintain good health while also being a morale booster and a fun team building exercise," Browne said. "It's always wonderful to see the NIH Community come together, get creative and be competitive, while also being active and having fun. Whether it's matching shirts, costumes or coming up with creative names, the employees never disappoint."
