After spending an entire high school career running laps on the track, many face the predicament of finding a way to continue running and staying in shape after high school.
Some students love running, but unfortunately are not at able to make the varsity team in college.
However, anyone who pays the $50 dues can be a part of the MSU Running Club, no matter their experience, distance or speed.
The running club meets 5 p.m. Monday through Friday at IM Sports-West and a chance for avid runners to meet others with a similar passion.
“(Running club) is for everybody, it’s at your level,” kinesiology sophomore Laura Carlson said. “I have a strong belief that everybody starts somewhere. Everybody is worried about being the slowest person but that’s the last thing you should worry about. You can always work your way up.”
The members of the Running Club encourage everyone to do their best and welcomes all members.
“This is a judge-free zone,” club president and chemical engineering senior Adam Terwillegar said. “We have people from different backgrounds speeds, distances so we are really just an encouraging group.”
There are social members and members who are interested in competing. Those who want to compete travel across the country for meets and competitions with other colleges. The Running Club has competed with Stanford University, Penn State University and several other institutions.
“Freshman year we traveled to Hershey, Pennsylvania,” social relations and policy junior Jonathan Sollish. “The course was incredibly hilly and it was next to both a chocolate plant and a sewage plant so we got some interesting smells through the race.”
Members of the team work hard during practice so they can do well during competition.
“As a team the girls were really impressive last year,” Terwillegar said. “They were ranked No. 10 going into the national championship meet and they pretty much stunned everyone and took third, surpassing all expectations.”
Terwillegar said multiple teams were expected to beat the women’s team of the MSU Running Club last year, but they did not.
“That was really impressive that last year we could just take that leap to the next level, especially for the girls taking a huge leap forward,” Terwillegar said.
The Running Club promotes a healthy lifestyle. Being a part of this club will allow members to focus more in school, stay motivated, build strong mental awareness and give members will power to get tasks done.
“I think that is what sets runners apart from other people,” Terwillegar said. “Some sports it’s purely skill and a lot of running is mental and perseverance. Being a member of this club and just being able to persevere through all of the workouts and meets and just having that background in your college experience helps you develop more as a person.”
