Pit Run Race Committee, Oneonta, NY

In 1994, Ricky J. "Pit" Parisian, a 34-year-old New York State Trooper, was killed stopping an armed robbery while off duty and grocery shopping with his wife. In his honor, Ricky’s wife and siblings created the Ricky J. Parisian Scholarship Fund. The Pit Run is a major community event and draws 1000s of people to participate in 10K/5K runs, kids’ fun run, 2 mile walk/stroll, or simply to cheer everyone on. The original race committee announced their intentions of retiring after the upcoming 20th Pit Run, in 2014. Pit Run continued on with a new committee formed almost entirely of new members.

Click for more information about the Ricky J. Parisian Foundation

Click for more information on the Pit Run

Sole Director; 22nd Annual Pit Run (2015 to 2016)

Lead, oversaw, and motivated committee members to host the most profitable race to that date, with 75% increase from the year before.
Spearheaded the creation of marketing and organizational systems that effectively defined and delegated committee roles increasing productivity, accountability, and communications between committee members and to the public.
Obtained all local and NYState DOT permits as well as maintaining USA Track and Field certification, which sanctions the 10K route and makes it a nationally approved/qualifying road race for competitive and professional runners.
Collaborated with the directors of 2 other nonprofit races to create the OTown Triple Crown; a 3 part race series allowing races to share resources and marketing costs and resulted in increased participation in all 3 events.

Co-director; 21st Annual Pit Run (2014-2015)

Collaborated with fellow co-director in organizing and communicating with the foundation’s board of directors, fellow Pit Run committee members, NY State Police, City of Oneonta & Oneonta State College emergency and transportation officials, USA Track and Field requirements, timing company, sponsors, volunteers, participants, supporters, vendors and food catering.

Assistant Race Director; 20th Annual Pit Run (2013 to 2014)

Recruited to shadow and assist the retiring director of 20 years with the understanding of becoming co-director of the new committee set to take over in 2014-2015.
Took immediate responsibility of Pit Run Facebook Page

Ricky J. Parisian

Similar to the Challenger Space Shuttle Disaster, or September 11th, people in our area vividly remember where they were when hearing of Ricky Parisian's Death.

I was home, in Lake George, wrapping up my senior year of high school and psyched to be heading to Oneonta State in the Fall.

Fast Forward 20 Years...

It's the end of the summer of 2013, and I was flabbergasted when Ricky's widow and brother called to tell me they knew of my Power of the Pack Program, and hoped I would become the new assistant race director. The incoming director and I were to shadow the outgoing committee during their last race. Then, we would recruit people to form a new committee and carry on the Pit Run Tradition. The foundation board hoped for a seamless transition - leaving the participants none the wiser.

A Few Days Later...

My First Pit Run Committee Meeting

My thoughts were WHIRLING!

- I had just shown my photo ID and was granted access through a buzzing door.

- I was currently sitting in a conference room with the Parisians (who are kinda Oneonta famous) and multiple NY State Troopers! I didn’t know anything about ranks, but they all had tons of stripes, guns and badges. Yet I found it odd that they were holding pens and writing notes on yellow notepads like Normal People???!??!?

- Do I call someone by their first name? Officer? Trooper? Sarg? "O Captain! My Captain!"?

- I never met Ricky Parisian, but was fully aware of his continued impact and ability to take care of his community --even 20 years after his death!

I know nothing about law enforcement.

I know nothing about the real running world (I had only run in a hand full of races).

I DO know how to network, teach, empower and motivate people.

OK! I'M IN!

The Pit Crew

With each year, I was promoted up through the committee ranks until becoming the sole director in 2016. I worked with THE BEST committee to organize:

Press Releases
Sponsors
Pre-registered and day of registration
T-shirt sizes and goody bags
1000s of participants, their families, cheering community members.
KIDS FUN RUN!
100s of volunteers including college and high school students along with community members to work water stations, set up, clean up, face painting, pictures...
Results/working with a timing company that does major events - including Olympic Trials (I knew a little more about the real running world, but still not as nearly as much as the directors of his other events)
DOT, Emergency and Law Enforcement personnel on the college, town, city, and state levels (both uniformed and undercover [now how do I count their stripes?!?!?])
Enough Brooks BBQ Chicken. to feed all of the above!
PORTA POTTIES! ("Nate - the Porta Potty Guy" is an actual contact in my phone :)

AND THAT'S JUST RACE WEEKEND!! Imagine everything leading up to this event!

I am empathetically analytical... I am analytically empathetic... I AM EMPATHETICAL!

"What an amazing day at the Pit Run!...

Click here to read the daily star article

"Thank you to Erin Moussa for helping us with all of the arrangements at the park!

"You made it a truly enjoyable low stress day!!! It's an amazing event that gives so much back to our community & we are so grateful to be a part of it!

"You inspire me to keep going & for that I am so grateful!

"If it wasn't for you just a little over 2 years ago I wouldn't have made it back to running and even been able to consider running with Nick. Thank you for your friendship and your support and enthusiasm through all of this! We were so happy to have the Pit Run be our first Oneonta run together in Nick's amazing new wheels from Adaptive Star. Nick couldn't be happier about the experience & the kindness & support we received!"

~Barb Mykytyn - mother and wife of these 2 handsome men and a member of the Power of the Pack

Other Highlights!

Meet Paris!

NYCM - a long time friend and title sponsor of the Pit Run

NYS K9 Troopers are always named after fallen troopers. Trooper Paris was named after Ricky Parisian and had just graduated from the academy. Her Partner, Trooper Velletta, reached out to me for the family's contact information. I told him NO WAY. You guys need to get HERE to meet them in person!

Daily Star Article

NYCM - a long time friend and title sponsor of the Pit Run

Needless to say...we didn't go through the drive-thru to deposit it!

Brooks BBQ Chicken - The Perfect Recovery!!

NYCM - a long time friend and title sponsor of the Pit Run

Brooks BBQ Chicken - The Perfect Recovery!!

You can smell the chicken from the top of the SUCO Hill!

Winna Winna, Chicken Dinna!

Brooks BBQ Chicken - The Perfect Recovery!!

The Pit Run 10K draws professionals because it's sanctioned through the USATrack and Field and the prize money is mucho $.

They often want hotel rooms and registration fees to be comped, to which I would say "Sorry, but you do get chicken!"

We became familiar with each other over the years. Typically, they showed up, ran, accepted their prize money, grabbed their chicken, and took off.

In 2016, I convinced them to actually sit and eat. Next, thing you know, their faces were painted and they were taking selfies in front of the Pit Run Trailer!

Like Mother, Like Son

Winna Winna, Chicken Dinna!

Like Mother, Like Son

My son JJ had run the 5K twice, and decided that the Pit Crew was more appealing...even if we did show up at the park @ 6 am for 3 straight days!

(sorry, I had to mention my kid:)

Pit Run Race Committee, Oneonta, NY

Sole Director; 22nd Annual Pit Run (2015 to 2016)

Co-director; 21st Annual Pit Run (2014-2015)

Assistant Race Director; 20th Annual Pit Run (2013 to 2014)

Ricky J. Parisian