Spartans Run For Boston is the MSU branch of the movement. The event was organized to show support for the victims and their families, Girbach said.

“The original goal was (to raise) awareness to show them we’re thinking about them,” he said.
While the club was in charge of the event, Girbach said anyone who thinks of themselves as a “serious runner” was welcome to participate.

Club webmaster Adam Terwillegar, who had the idea to do a run at MSU after his mother showed him another group on Facebook hosting a similar event, said the original thought had been for members of the club to run, but they decided to open it up to the public, allowing participants to choose how far they would run. Maps were handed out showing routes of 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 miles.

The club was accepting donations, but there was no financial requirement, Terwillegar said.

Packaging sophomore Brandyn Hoag, who said he runs all the time despite not being in the club, said he found out about the event around 3:30 p.m. but still wanted in.

“(I wanted to) show support for the families of the people who were injured,” he said.

Eventually, shrugging off the rain and following a moment of silence, the groups that had gathered took off on their chosen routes.

Girbach, who ran 5 miles, made it back around 5:50 p.m.

Girbach said seeing the Boston Marathon attacked was upsetting because that event in particular is important to runners. It’s one of the most accessible marathons and thus easier for runners to participate in, he said.

Terwillegar said the bombing was a bit personal as a runner. He is preparing for his first marathon, the Great Lakes Bay Marathon on May 19, and it bothered him that runners didn’t get to finish the race because of the bombings. He added he was upset because running is inherently non-violent, and it made no sense to attack runners.

“It hit a little closer,” he said. “They were just out for a run. Who does this to a runner?”