Students run for charity
A Massachusetts-based organization, Partners in Health, benefited Saturday from a USU student-organized 5k Fun Run.
“I think it was a success,” said Tracy Upton, junior studying biology and international business. “It was the first annual year and so some things could have gone better, but overall it went well, I think.”
The chosen charity, Partners in Health, is a non-profit organization based in Boston. Upton said Partners in Health is an organization that helps provide preferential health care options to the poor worldwide. Upton said he chose Partners in Health for his charity because after doing a lot of research, he was impressed that their services were worldwide and that they helped prevent disease and save lives through their services.
The Fun Run was open to everyone in the community and there were 30 runners in the race. The first place winner was Jason Howell, junior from Manti, Utah, who ran the race in 14 minutes and 10 seconds. Howell said, “I did this race today because I like to run. It’s always nice to run when it’s for a charitable organization as well.”
Second place winner was Marc Ortega from Ogden, Utah with a time of 15 minutes and 32 seconds and third place winner was Mathias Fuelling from Burley, Idaho with a time of 16 minutes and 30 seconds.
First, second, and third place winners received a ribbon and a free game of bowling at Logan Lanes.
Several participants said the course seemed a little shorter than 5K.
“I thought it felt more like two and a quarter miles instead of the 5K,” Howell said, “but it was a good run and a good course.”
Upton said the campus recreation team volunteered to map out the course for the event. The course started and ended at the south east door of the HPER. Registration started at 7:30 a.m. and the race began at 8:30 a.m. The morning started off chilly with strong winds from the canyon. Several participants were wrapped up in blankets and others stood with sweatshirts on, moving around as much as possible to keep warm. Howell said, “The wind affected me on the last stretch. It slows you down a lot.”
There were several people and organizations that helped with the race, Upton said. He said the Latino Student Union helped with advertising and business donations and the Sigma Chi fraternity helped with traffic regulations and advertising as well. He also had 10 volunteers at the event helping him set up and stand at certain markers in the race to tell the participants where to run, he said.
“I was hoping more people would come, around 50 or so, but the turnout was pretty good for the first year,” he said.
Upton said he wants to make this charity event annual. He said he wants to get the community more involved next year and thinks he will do this by doing more advertising and by getting the word out. He said he wants everyone to know about it and he wants everyone to know they can participate in it, even kids.
Ryan Wallentine, freshman at USU, finished in fourth place.
“I would definitely do it again,” he said.
Several other participants in the race also said they will participate when it is held next year.
Several participants were also asked how they prepared for a race like this.
“I run about four to five miles everyday,” Howell said.
Wallentine, fourth place, said running often was also important when training.
“I run about six days a week ranging from 25 to 40 minutes each day,” he said. “I think the race was a blast. It feels like I’m going to cough up a lung or two though.”
Upton said overall he thought it was a great experience.
“It was a lot of work and a lot of commitment and responsibility. It was a great learning experience of how hard people work when trying to help others,” he said. “It opened my eyes to see the options of how to stay involved with the community. I think it is very important to try to keep the community together and I think this charity event definitely could help do that.”
Upton said he is excited for next year. He said he hopes the community will get more involved and that he will see many more people there next year. Howell said next year for this fun run he hopes, “more of the student body gets involved.”
-s.k.b@aggiemail.usu.edu