Battle Creek, Michigan –
Runners from the Hart-Dole-Inouye Federal Center and Battle Creek’s Michigan Air National Guard Base tracked the numbers in their time March 14 as they honored one of the world’s most famous numbers -- 3.14.
A 2018 Time magazine article notes that people have found many ways to have fun while celebrating National Pi Day since the House of Representatives chose to create it in 2009. Some have dressed like Albert Einstein, who shares his birthday with the event, while others enjoy circular treats like pie. After all, pi is the number used to figure the area of circle.
While it was the third Pi Day run for the Federal Center, Sports and Fitness Facility Manager Martha Kerns said it was the first time pie was offered to those who ran and the first time to try a group run instead of just having virtual runs. The virtual runs allow participants to complete the 3.14 on their own and submit the time, but this year was also the time attempt to include an event at the base where people could run a course together in the afternoon.
“We wanted to do something different,” Kerns said, “but the weather made that difficult.”
Severe weather warnings for the afternoon caused the group run to be cancelled. The 27 runners were left with the option to run on their own, indoors or outside, and send in their time as usual. Employees with mobility issues were able to participate riding stationary bikes or using an elliptical machine.
“Virtual runs help the telework employees to participate as well,” Kerns said.
The top male finisher was Tech. Sgt. James Vandenberg with a time of 21.40 while the Federal Center’s Amber Smoker had the fastest time at 29.53 for female participants.
“They got to share bragging rights and pie after the run,” Kerns said.
A new sponsorship from a local vendor allowed the Federal Center’s Morale, Welfare and Recreation program to offer slices of cherry and apple pie. For more information on the event, see the post on the MWR Facebook page.