The Rat Race

Who knew . . .  the term rat race was not just figurative but becomes literal once a year in Central Park?

Every year JPMorgan Chase sponsors a race called the Corporate Challenge.  It takes place in various locations over several months with two of the evenings taking place in New York in mid June. Corporations from all over Manhattan organize teams of runners to run ~3.2 miles in Central Park.  In one night there are around 15,000 rats or should I say corporate america employees/runners that participate.  

Each Corporation provides team t-shirts to their runners and as everyone lines up on the start line there are pockets of white, blue, red, green, greay, etc. t-shirts based on the company.  The gun goes off and the elite runners start.  Then everyone slowly inches forward, then starts to shuffle, then walk, then speed walk, a slow motion jog, and usually after one mile everyone has distanced themselves out enough to actually get a full stride in.  By mile two there is a little more room to weave around slower runners or walkers and by the time there is enough space to actually run the finish line appears.  After you cross the finish line you are herded like cattle into the water and banana line and spit out into the open park to wander around until you find the free t-shirt line a hopefully your co-workers and pile of bags you left behind.  Then for most it is off to the bars for some post race hydration.

My co-worker Lauren and I joined in on the fun this year.  Our first mile took us 20 minutes to complete, our second mile took us 10 minutes and the third took us around 9 minutes.  Not too shabby for running in a big pack and running in the rain.  However the elite runners had started and completed the race by the time we were passing the 1st mile marker.  I guess it helps to start at the front rather than in the middle of the pack.

Since this was my second year running I knew what to expect but as for Lauren she was full of questions.  My favorite was "How will I know where I am going?"  It's an honest question for someone who is not familiar with the course but it made me laugh because I knew there was NO WAY she could get lost.  I told her to follow the crowd and if she wasn't careful it would pick her and a sweep her away because it is one BIG wave of runners.  Afterwards she was a good sport and was able to laugh at her questions once she knew you can't get lost in Central Park with 15,000 other runners.

Ahh the rate race, running for a vague but seemingly good cause hoping for a little pay off at the end.  Sounds a little like most people's careers.  This time the reward was water, bananas, t-shirts and beer and when we all went back to work today we worked just as hard for the rewards of paychecks, benefits, and a chance to do our part for corporate domination.