Join the Red Dragon Run

05/11/2020 

Kerri Culhane ’16 and Ameena Dye ’15 have spent a lot of time running during the COVID-19 pandemic.

They’ve also been keeping in touch with their former SUNY Cortland cross country and track and field teammates.

So they had a big idea: what if they got the entire Cortland community running or walking and used that momentum to help a good cause?

Enter a virtual 5K: the Red Dragon Run.

A virtual race is one that can be run (or walked) from any location you choose.

Current students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends of SUNY Cortland are all welcome to participate at any time from Sunday, May 17 through Saturday, May 30. A virtual 5K involves running or walking 

Registration is free, but participants are encouraged, if possible, to make a $20 donation to the Student Emergency Fund in honor of the Class of 2020.

The Student Emergency Fund was set up to support SUNY Cortland students facing unexpected hardship. Grants of up to $500 are being distributed to help students afford things including food, medical or dental care, rent, technology and utilities.

“Kerri and Ameena embody Red Dragon spirit,” said Rich Coyne ’07, interim vice president of Institutional Advancement. “We appreciate that their desire to help our students by rallying the SUNY Cortland community around an event during these times is both creative and selfless. This will serve as a great boost to our fundraising activities around the Student Emergency Fund. Combining a healthy activity and instilling pride, all in support of their alma mater, I can’t think of anything more Cortland than that.”

All participants will receive a car/refrigerator magnet and they will be eligible to earn prizes for photos and fastest times.

“Kerri and I have been running ourselves and just seeing how many other people in our personal networks, whether it’s other alumni or friends or family, are running right now, we figured it’s something you can do right now during social distancing,” Dye said. “We wanted to take advantage of that and have people train for something. Whether they’re running or walking, it’s all for a good cause.”

Those interested in participating are asked to register through RedDragonNetwork.org.

Participants can run or walk their 5K any time from Sunday, May 17, to Saturday, May 30. They can report their results by completing an online form.

“I was just looking for a way that I could help somehow,” Culhane said. “This has really put in perspective how lucky I am. I realized that I have this amazing network at Cortland that I could tap into from being an athlete and a student.”

Steve Patrick ’97, head coach of SUNY Cortland’s cross country and track and field teams, is grateful for support across campus to make this event possible.

“During my individual ‘distance meetings’ with the current members of my team, one thing that keeps coming up is the level of obvious effort and support from the faculty and staff during this second half of our spring semester,” Patrick said. “And so many folks on campus have helped with this event — Alumni Engagement, Athletics, the Cortland College Foundation and Recreational Sports — as a sign of support for our students.”

Patrick urges all members of the SUNY Cortland community to participate, whether they are regular runners or occasional walkers.

“The runners are going to have it figured out,” he said. “For the people who are going to walk and do this and add their name to the list of people donating, that’s great. If they don’t get an exact 5K in, that’s OK. I’m going to end up running it and I’m not going to have a GPS, so I’m just going to guess.

“Most people walk at about three miles an hour, so if you went out and walked for an hour, you probably got pretty close.”

Participants are encouraged to wear their favorite SUNY Cortland gear during the 5K and share their photos with Alumni Engagement on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook and by using the hashtags #RedDragonRun and #CortlandPride.

Prizes will be awarded in the following categories:

• Top three (male)
• Top three (female)
• Top master’s female (over 45 years old)
• Top master’s male (over 45 years old)
• Top female current SUNY Cortland student
• Top male current SUNY Cortland student
• Top three for Cortland spirit (as decided by photos submitted via social media)
• Top three for running with a face mask (as decided by photos submitted via social media)

Visit RedDragonNetwork.org for more information.