1. 9/22/2016 https://staff.foh.hhs.gov/Lists/newsfeed/display.aspx?ID=517
https://staff.foh.hhs.gov/Lists/newsfeed/display.aspx?ID=517 1/2
FedStrive’s Turkey Trot Sees Record
Turnout
FOH volunteers and participants in the FedStrive Turkey Trot 5k at the Southwest Complex. From left to right: Janae Price,
Lindsey Sastre, Kyree Clark, Aaron Ramsey, Dr. Michelle Smith­Jefferies, Ruth Schulman, Michael Donovan, Priya Saha,
Rebecca Goldfinger­Fein, Kimber Williams, Garry Lindsay.
January 8, 2015
The FedStrive health promotion teams with Federal Occupational Health (FOH) are masterful
at pulling together successful events. In fact, this year’s second annual Turkey Trot at the
Southwest Complex (SWC), attracted more than three times last year’s total number of
participants.
What’s their secret?
Ruth Schulman, the health promotion coordinator (HPC) at the SWC who organized this year’s
November 17th Turkey Trot, said the event drew over 60 federal employees from four federal
agencies, including Department of Education (ED), National Aeronautics and Space
Administration (NASA), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and FOH. This
marked the first time FedStrive SWC invited employees from agencies outside HHS to join—
and Schulman hopes this practice continues.
Priya Saha, Program Administrator for FedStrive SWC, also credits this year’s success to
targeted recruiting efforts by HPCs during a Zumba event at the Department of Education.
This outreach yielded roughly 30 additional Turkey Trot participants.
“Our direct and personal approach to reaching our audience is proving to have a positive
impact. In fact, having onsite HPCs at customer agency worksites offers a significant boost for
internal health and wellness programs offered to employees,” Saha said. “ED loved the event
so much that many of their attendees asked if similar events could take place each month.”
Schulman was delighted by this year’s success and hopes to harness this recent spike in
employee engagement for upcoming programming. “This was the largest fun run we’ve had,”

2. 9/22/2016 https://staff.foh.hhs.gov/Lists/newsfeed/display.aspx?ID=517
https://staff.foh.hhs.gov/Lists/newsfeed/display.aspx?ID=517 2/2
Print
she said. “If we can bring on more agencies for this event or all of our fun runs, that would be
a great thing.”
Pre­planning and leadership support
The reality is that higher engagement does not just happen. In this case, it took extra effort,
enthusiasm, planning, and a refined program structure from Schulman and the rest of the
SWC team. November’s pre­holiday run included welcome speeches, an overview of the 5K
course, preparatory stretches led by the fitness team, water, bananas, and health promotion
items such as stress balls and handouts with healthy eating tips.
As we have seen with our most successful and engaging programs over the years, having
leadership support can make all the difference. In this case, FOH Acting Director Dr. Michelle
Smith­Jefferies, kicked off this year’s Turkey Trot with encouraging words about the value of
getting regular physical activity. Saha echoed Dr. Smith­Jefferies by highlighting the
importance of making healthy choices leading up to Thanksgiving and the holiday season.
“Seeing so many of our federal colleagues invested in health and wellness at this year’s event
was truly gratifying,” Dr. Smith­Jefferies said. “I was proud to be part of such an event.”
FedStrive’s fitness department led participants through a 10­minute warmup and stretching
session before it was off to the races. Michael Donovan, Wellness and Health Promotion
Services (WHPS) Deputy Director of Account Management, blazed through the nearly three­
mile course in just over 20 minutes to show everyone the way. Schulman and other FedStrive
volunteers stayed toward the middle and end of the pack to direct participants and ensure
everyone was getting through the course problem free.
Runners and walkers caught their breath and replenished themselves with water and snacks
following their trek.
“It was a great experience!” said Collin Jackson, an IT specialist within the HHS Office of the
Chief Information Officer (OCIO). “It was well run and executed. Not to mention, the weather
was perfect.”
Help from mother nature
Turkey Trot participants were rewarded with amazing weather, which Schulman said played a
big part in the increased attendance and the event’s overall success. In contrast, participants
in last year’s event stayed in their coats and scarves leading up to the 5K due to the frigid
temperature.
“It was absolutely gorgeous out—Mother Nature decided to give us a beautiful day,” she said
of November’s Turkey Trot. “[Fun runs are] something that people seem to want here.”
This fun run was such a big hit that it’s sure to become a FedStrive tradition.