Beginning as two separate small clubs last year, the ISU Running Club has combined to accommodate the average runner, as well as those interested in stiff competition.

Members are working to build a solid foundation for the club in the student community. They are beginning to enter competitions and put together regular practices to attract new members.

“We’ve come a long way in only a year,” said former president Kevin Egan, graduate student in economics.

The club separates itself into two sections, competitive and recreational running. Although any member can participate in either side, they run separate workouts. There have been anywhere from 20 to 45 students that have participated and not all are interested in competitive running.

“I think we need to do a better job appealing to recreational runners,” Egan said.

One of the most recent events the club participated in was the Annual Living History Farms Off-Road Race. The race is considered by Runner’s World magazine to be one of the largest cross-country events held in the United States.

The race, which takes place at Living History Farms, is a 5.35-mile run through cow pastures and small rivers. From year to year a different course is chosen, and teams come from all over the Midwest and the nation.

“I wasn’t able to run this year because I had sprained my ankle, but it’s a pretty rough course,” said club president Sarah Gabel, non-degree graduate student.

There were 2,923 registered participants in the race, with 2,575 officially completing the race.

Approximately 18 ISU club members competed. All 18 finished, including five who placed in the top 100.

Participants had to brave bitter cold temperatures to weather the race.

“If anything, you got tired earlier than a normal race,” said vice president John Hensley, junior in industrial engineering. Hensley placed 51, and Egan placed 58 as an individual.

The club hopes to add more meets and competitions in the future and have an active club similar to that of the University of Northern Iowa, University of Iowa and Minnesota. Egan hopes to hold a home competition on the cross country field as well.

Club meetings are held every other week, the next one Thursday. The guest speaker for this week is Paddy Ekkekakis, health and human performance professor. He will be talking about exercise sports and the psychological effects. It will be held at 5:30 p.m. at Forker 279.