Walk to Phoenix Challenge

Sep 19, 2016

SPRINGFIELD, Mo.― In the song “By the Time I Get to Phoenix,” Glen Frey wanted to get to Phoenix by the time the girl of his dreams woke up in the morning. By the time the Springfield Repair Shop Team gets to Phoenix, they just hope it’s still 2016.

In February, the team started a “Walk to Phoenix” challenge as a way for their 17 team members to test their physical fitness by collectively walking 1,270 milesthe distance between the repair shop and U-Haul headquarters in Phoenix.

Shop Manager Kelly McNeil says the idea came about after having a conversation with Neil Pille, the repair dispatch manager for U-Haul Company of Missouri.

Neil and I were knocking around ideas, and he said that he’d been thinking about something like this,” McNeil recalled. “I thought that was a great idea. We chose Phoenix because, well, it’s our headquarters!”

75 miles each

Divvying up the 1,270 total miles evenly, that comes to just under 75 miles per person. McNeil says the shop team’s reception to the idea has been great, with about two-thirds of them choosing to participate.

It was just something to try to do as a team. We love challenging each other, and teasing each other over the goals,” McNeil related. “This is something that everyone can do, regardless of their health, and it’s a fun challenge that promotes teamwork and camaraderie. Of course there are a few watching from the sidelines, but they are still valued members of our team. I would never try to force them to participate.”

Those who are tracking their steps will be motivated to finish their share because there are prizes involved. Once team members do their 75 miles, they will receive a personal tracking device that measures nutritional and exercise habits. This will be especially useful since most of the team is relying on smartphones and watches to track their progress.

If that wasn’t enough, McNeil says an added bonus was recently thrown into the mix that involves the ultimate motivator: food.

We were challenged by our shop in Columbia, Mo., to see who could register the highest average miles, with the end prize being a steak barbecue to the winner,” McNeil explained. “The shop that loses will have to buy the other shop the barbecue.”

The losing team won’t feel too left out, because at the end of this challenge is a big year-end feast … as long as they reach their goal.

There will be a family cookout for Christmas and New Year’s and we will recognize all participating team members at that time,” McNeil stated. “Or,” he mentioned optimistically, “we will do it sooner if the goal is met before then.”

More articles like this one…

What’s New

U-Haul Offers 30 Days Free Storage to West Virginia Flood Victims

U-Haul Offers 30 Days Free Storage to West Virginia Flood Victims

U-Haul® is extending 30 days of free U-Box® container storage at two nearby centers to support residents impacted by severe flash flooding that happened over the weekend in West Virginia. Several inches of rainfall in a very short period of time overwhelmed...

Ringing Endorsement: U-Haul Marks 80 Years of Serving DIY Movers

Ringing Endorsement: U-Haul Marks 80 Years of Serving DIY Movers

Tribute Journey Fleet Week Afternoon Tea honoring Gold Star Families preceded the closing bell ceremony In a historic moment, U-Haul commemorated its 80th anniversary of moving people to a better life by ringing the New York Stock Exchange closing bell on May 23 to...

U-Haul to Ring in 80th Anniversary as Moving Season Gets Started

U-Haul to Ring in 80th Anniversary as Moving Season Gets Started

U-Haul® will symbolically kick off “moving season” on Friday with the ringing of the closing bell at the New York Stock Exchange. The ceremony will also mark the start of a special summer for the do-it-yourself moving and self-storage leader, which is celebrating 80...

U-Haul Food Drive Benefits Arizona Nonprofit St. Vincent de Paul

U-Haul Food Drive Benefits Arizona Nonprofit St. Vincent de Paul

Team Members donated more than 2,500 pounds of food and water during a recent food drive at U-Haul® headquarters in Phoenix to support local charity partner St. Vincent de Paul. SVdP, with the help of partners like U-Haul and caring volunteers, makes a tremendous...