Running Through Life One Mile at a Time Running Through Life One Mile at a Time

MADDIE MUSTION: Earlier this week, we told you about the workforce run at Onondaga Lake Park. The race saw over 2000 different runners representing 110 different companies.

SYDNEY STAPLES: But one runner we did not tell you about is a part of our NCC News family and was responsible for representing us during the 5K run. Matt Kibby has more.

MATT KIBBY: Neal Coffey is our manager of operations and Engineering here at Newhouse, and he has logged nearly 90,000 miles since he started running five decades ago. After finishing 37th. Overall, we profile our very own distance runner.

NEAL COFFEY: I’ve always been a proponent of health and fitness, and for me, a big part of my life is running.

KIBBY: Just a casual club runner. At the start of his career, Neil Coffee found his passion when it came to distance.

COFFEY: Some people call it insane.

KIBBY: Others find it unique. But coffee never knew that he would love the sport as much as he does. That was until he realized what the community is really like.

COFFEY: Runners really support one another.

KIBBY: That support forced him to run outside of that comfort zone and really push himself.

COFFEY: I had some friends that really inspired me to run marathons now.

KIBBY: A runner of many marathons and championships and even some international races. Coffee passes down the community that gave him so much. All those years ago.

ROXANE NIEZABYTOWSKI: I started working with Professor Coffee and he said, Well, why don’t you come out with me? Go for a run with a group of people. At the time, we had this club called the Noontime Runners.

KIBBY: Serving in multiple leadership roles and on the board of the Syracuse Track Club, Coffee knew as he got older, running would take a step back as family became more important. But he still finds time to train every day during lunch.

COFFEY: When I run competitively, All right. It takes a serious commitment of training.

KIBBY: For a runner that has been all over the world and has logged thousands of miles. You would think there has to be a moment that always sticks out. A podium finish against a world record holder or a PR on the 15 K, but instead it’s his family that means so much.

COFFEY: For me, the most memorable race was a race I ran with my kids. All three of my kids.

KIBBY: And his most memorable moment may come from the track with his kids. But his proudest comes from the love he has for his kids.

COFFEY: The proudest moment, I’m going to tear up because it was when my daughter graduated.

KIBBY: Making the most of every lesson in life or on the courts. Neal Coffey isn’t slowing down any time soon.

COFFEY: I hope to be running into my seventies and eighties and yeah, even if it’s just, you know, if you have to drag me to the track and tell me to go straight and turn left.

KIBBY: Just after finishing the Syracuse workforce Run, Coffey is already training for his next event later this summer. And truly, we cannot thank him as well as the rest of our control room staff, enough for everything they do for us here at NCC News. Maddie City, back over to you.