PHC running club holds first-ever Glow Run 5K!

Few activities bring the entire PHC community together quite like a community run. On November 10, the Patrick Henry College running club hosted its first-ever Glow Run 5K! The run took place on campus at 7 p.m. and was open to students, faculty, staff, and anyone in the Purcellville area.

Co-captains sophomore Mark Epstein, president of the school's running club, and senior Marcia Washburn, the club’s treasurer, have planned 5Ks for the school before, but never a Glow Run.

Washburn was inspired by the runs she participated in through the Fellowship of Christian Athletes in high school. During these runs, the organizers would give students glow sticks to run with, but Washburn thought, “Well, we could also set up string lights."

Overall, 150 people registered to run; only 85 were students. PHC professors and administrative leaders came to support the event and brought their families.

The club offered a one-mile walk option as well as a 5K running option. With both options, runners received a glow stick. Those daring 5Kers who registered to run were also timed and ranked; they received a running bib and a chance to rank 1^st, 2^nd, or 3^rd in the race.

“We had a bigger showing than we had in the spring, in arguably a busier time in the semester,” Epstein said. “It was just really cool seeing all of the faculty and students who came out.”

What makes PHC special is its community. Sophomore Kennedy King’s favorite part of the run was the people. King ran the 5K, glow stick on her wrist. “It’s always fun to run with a good community,” she said.

After the run, the club offered hot chocolate and food in the BHC lobby, where they held a brief awards ceremony. Local businesses donated gift cards, so along with giving out medals for 1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd in both the men’s and women’s categories, the club also gave out almost $600 worth of raffle prizes. 

“If you go to a 5K elsewhere it will be between $35-40 to register. We were able to provide this to students for $10 because it is subsidized by the Student Senate,” Washburn said.

The running club, along with a host of volunteers, are proud of the hours spent setting up and tearing down the event. The run went smoothly, brought students together, and gave everyone a chance to unwind as they near finals week.

“I think running is important for our school because it builds community and it’s a really great break from studying. I think that other sports do that well too, but I think that running is a great option because it’s low commitment and naturally a very social activity,” Epstein said. “I think that’s why it’s a great thing for our school.”

Epstein and Washburn hope, with the help of their club and volunteers, to hold another 5K in the spring.

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 Patrick Henry College exists to glorify God by challenging the status quo in higher education, lifting high both faith and reason within a rigorous academic environment; thereby preserving for posterity the ideals behind the "noble experiment in ordered liberty" that is the foundation of America.