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40th Annual NIH Institute Challenge Relay Moved to This Thursday, December 11

On Your Mark, Get Set… Go! It's finally happening…the 40th Annual NIH Institute Challenge Relay, will be held this Thursday, December 11 with a holiday theme “Holiday Jingle Bell Run." All attendees are encouraged to dress in their favorite holiday sweater or outfit. Opening remarks begin at 11:25 am and the first of three heats starts at 11:45 am.

Although the official deadline for registration has expired, if you are still interested in fielding a team, please email David Browne, R&W. All NIH staff, including contractors and fellows, may enter as many teams as they wish. This year, we will have three heats comprising up to 55 teams each.

Important things to note:

  • Each team will include five runners, each of whom will run a one-half-mile loop around Building 1
  • Each team must have a variety of gender representation and a team name. Fun examples from 2024 include: " FASTA Than Lightning", “Septic Shockers", “Lymph-Laugh-Love" and “Ignorance is Blisters"
  • Each team must provide at least one point of contact
  • Please obtain your supervisor's approval before registering if this event occurs during your work hours
  • Each participating runner and volunteer will receive a free Relay T-Shirt, water bottle and a free scoop of ice cream or hot chocolate from Ben & Jerry's® (while supplies last)
  • Visit event sponsor information tables

To volunteer or obtain more information, please email David Browne, R&W.

Individuals with disabilities who need sign language interpreting and/or other reasonable accommodations to participate in this event should email Jan Tortarella or call 301-443-7133. Call 711 to access Telecommunications Relay Services (TRS).

This event is sponsored by the NIH Office of Management, in partnership with the Office of Research Services (ORS), Division of Amenities and Transportation Services (DATS), and operated through the Recreation and Welfare Association (R&W) Fitness Program.

​For more fitness and well-being information, visit https://www.ors.od.nih.gov/wellness. If you are interested in communicating with other like-minded NIH employees about topics of fitness and well-being, join the interactive Wellness@NIH listserv.

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