Usually, local Y branches work together as an association, sharing ideas, best practices and programs. But sometimes, they compete…and it can get pretty heated. Even when everyone wins.
That’s what’s going on now during the second throwdown of the Battle of Farmington Road. The Livonia Y and the Farmington Y are separated by a few miles along the road, and each branch’s members are currently engaged in a pitched battle over who can walk or run, bike or swim the most miles during the month of February. Members log their miles in each branch Wellness Center, and at the end of the month the winner takes home the Battle of Farmington Road Trophy. This prized trinket is like the Paul Bunyan Trophy that Michigan and current champ Michigan State battle for every year in college football — hotly contested between people who typically are friends, colleagues, even spouses.
The Battle had its first incarnation in December, when Scott Harris from Farmington and Mike King from Livonia got to talking during a Y staff meeting and Mike half-jokingly suggested the branches should go head to head on member participation during the usually slow month of December. Scott went for it, and they started getting the word out to members and logging their miles.
The members really took the competition to heart, Scott says. “People love to compete. It went really well.” So well that Farmington’s members logged enough miles to run to Colorado from the Y — and bring Farmington to a decisive victory over their rivals to the South.
Both branches are still counting up miles this month, but nobody should count out Livonia’s taking back the trophy. And with all the increased physical activity members are getting in order to give their branch the edge, everyone is a winner.