The “Spring Has Sprung Fun Run” was held on Saturday, April 5. The race was open to the public. The registration fee was $5 before race day and $10 the day of. Before the race, racers picked up their blue race shirts. The race started at 9 a.m. at Estes Stadium.
The 5K stretched across campus, with the start and and finish line at Estes Stadium. Before the race the participants stretched and warmed up.
At the end of the race, participants wrote their names on time cards.
Among males, Khadid Rayab took first place with 18:03 minutes, Jonathan Polk came in second place with 18:16 minutes, and Glenn Jellenik was third with 18:30 minutes.
Among females Emily Walter took first place with 21:27 minutes, April Martin was second place with 23:50 minutes and Mallory Muckensturm was 3rd with 23:50 minutes.
Emily Walter, who took 1st place among females, said she used to run cross country in high school, so this race was not her first experience.
“I feel really good. That’s way better than my times in high school,” Walter said.
Though she runs two to three times a week, it was still a challenge for her because “keeping up with it is not easy”.
Walter said she enjoyed the race, especially the warm-up.
“I really liked [the event], especially the warm-up they did at the beginning. It was very interactive.”
The winners were awarded golden eggs with a Subway card plus candy and medals inside.
All participants got HPER sunglasses and after the run snacks such as apples, oranges and granola bars were provided.
HPER Director Ary Servedio said they started planning Fun Run in fall 2013.
The race was organized five years ago and it ran for three years.
After that, Servedio got involved with Trick or Trot Fun Run activity and stopped the spring race.
However, she decided to reestablish spring activity and the race was again on track with Arian Story, HPER assistant director at the head.
Servedio explained the purpose of the Fun Run.
“Just to get students involved in activity that’s not competitive, that’s why we call it a fun walk and run. We give out prizes. We let them dress up in Halloween costumes and ask them to wear the most colorful spring colors and just try to get students to come out as a group and have fun without feeling that they are competing for time, so time is not really that important.”
Servedio also said they will keep doing the races every year with the Trick or Trot in the fall and Fun Run in the spring.
The Fun Run had about 120 participants.
But not only runners got involved in the race, the volunteers participated as well.
Throughout the entire course there were volunteers standing and guiding the runners so no one got lost. Sophomore Brandy Brayant, one of the Fun Run volunteers, said she wanted to help out during the event.
“I think it’s great that UCA gets involved and encourages health and fitness.”
