Syracuse WorkForce Run gears up for bigger, better event this year

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — With a successful 2022 event behind them, organizers are gearing up for an even bigger Syracuse WorkForce Run this year, a month from now.

“We want the party to be bigger and better,” Race Director Robert Barwick of Barwick Group says.

Things are already on track to be bigger with registrations, as of press time, up about 75 percent when compared to the same time period last year, he says. Last year’s event —which features a 5K run or walk for teams from area companies as well as individuals — hosted nearly 2,000 entrants from 88 companies.

This year’s race is set for Tuesday, June 20 at Onondaga Lake Park. If registration trends stay on track, Barwick hopes to see 75 percent more people out running and walking this year.

Barwick Group took ownership in 2020 of the event, formerly called the Corporate Challenge and operated by JP Morgan Chase from 1982-2019.

Barwick’s first year owning the event came in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, and he had to switch gears and host a virtual event. In 2021, the race returned in person on a small scale with just 400 participants. In JP Morgan Chase’s last year, the event drew 6,018 participants – and number Barwick is itching to get back to and surpass that number.

The 2022 race was the first one to operate as it had before the pandemic, and Barwick was pleased with how things worked out. “Honestly, we were surprised we had 2,000 registrants last year from nearly 90 companies,” he says. Now, he’s wondering how fast the event can get back to 6,000 participants. The course can hold about 8,500 people — a peak hit in 2016.

He doesn’t want to predict a number of participants for this year, but the signs are good. Along with the overall increase in registrations to date, “some of our larger teams are increasing their teams,” he notes.

JP Morgan Chase’s team in this year’s race is well over 50 people strong. Raymour & Flanigan, Syracuse University, and the Syracuse City School District — usually the three largest teams at the event — are also growing their team sizes, Barwick says.

“We’re getting newer teams we didn’t see last year,” he adds.

As an added bonus, increased registrations will benefit the event’s new beneficiary, AccessCNY. The organization, which serves 2,400 people a year, has participated in the race in years past. Barwick says AccessCNY reached out to inquire about being a beneficiary and he really likes the organization’s mission and message.

“Whether an individual has an intellectual disability, physical disability, or mental-health diagnosis, AccessCNY’s services help them reach their full potential,” Matt Seubert, AccessCNY associate executive director of development, communications, and advocacy, said in a press release. “AccessCNY advocates so everyone has a voice, everyone is heard, and all are connected.”

The organization will receive a portion of the proceeds of the event, Barwick says, and all participants have the opportunity to donate directly to AccessCNY during the registration process.

Registration for the Syracuse WorkForce Run is still under way. Team creation closes May 21, but participants may continue to join registered teams until June 5. Individuals can register until 6:30 p.m. on June 19. The entry fee is $39 per participant with a $25 team-creation fee. The run steps off at 6:45 p.m. with a post-race party to follow. More information is available online at www.syracuseworkforcerun.com.