Running on campus is a great way to stay in shape and meet others who share the same interests, according to students like Marcel Slowikowski, a freshman in computer science and president of the Iowa State University Running Club.
Whether they are part of the university’s Running Club, looking to get some exercise or just passing time, each student has their own individual experience and background.
“I’ve been running since sixth or seventh grade,” Slowikowski said.
Eliana Compton, a sophomore studying journalism and mass communication, has been actively running for over eight years.
But what makes students like these so committed to running?
“There’s that family feel of people around you all trying to do the same thing,” Slowikowski said.
After running, the body releases endocannabinoids, which offer temporary sensations of reduced stress and relaxation, according to WebMD. This may potentially enhance your physical and mental resilience in the face of challenging situations.
Jack Huang, a sophomore in computer science, said he enjoys the competitive aspect.
“It’s a sport where the amount of work you put in correlates pretty closely to the work that you get out,” Huang said.
Compton said she sees the form of exercise as a way to relieve stress.
“It’s a good pastime. It’s the form of exercise I like the most, and it’s a good stress reliever,” Compton said.
Huang said taking precautions to prevent heat exhaustion is necessary and elaborated on the importance of wearing clothing to make oneself visible to vehicles on the road.
“Investing in a reflective vest definitely helps cars to be able to see you. I carry my phone just in case there is an emergency,” Huang said.
Huang also touched on the importance of planning out the time and route for a run.
“Always carry your keys, and don’t run at night. Find a route that’s in public areas,” Compton said.
It is also important to take precautions while running in extreme temperatures. Iowa winters can be challenging for outdoor runners, with temperatures reaching below zero. Some students run indoors in the winter, like Compton, although she prefers to run outside when possible.
“Definitely [I get] less mileage indoors,” Compton said.
Other students choose to run regardless of the weather, like Huang, who said he runs a mile outside every day to keep up a streak that he has had since Christmas. He described it as a time to be free and escape.
“It just gives you a lot of time to think and reflect on your day,” Huang said.
Most students said they preferred to run with someone else if possible.
“It makes it way easier, and time goes by way faster,” Huang said.
Running Club is a solution available for Iowa State students looking to get their exercise in. The club meets every day at 4:15 p.m. in front of State Gym. Running Club is free to join and open to all, and it provides opportunities to run in competitions for a fee.
“We have a casual and competitive side. You’ll have different groups that will go fast or slow, people that are there for the workout [and] people that are more just there to run and just have some fun,” Slowikowski said.
For the more competitive people, Running Club offers morning workouts as well as the opportunity to compete.
“We’ve competed at border battles where we got first place for individual placement,” Slowikowski said. After a recent victory at regionals, Running Club is hoping to go to nationals in two weeks.
Slowikowski said that in the spring, Running Club does track and will compete at other universities, including Illinois and Purdue.
Altogether, some students on campus enjoy running for various reasons, including the freedom and community of individuals.
“Everyone doesn’t really care what background you have or who you are,” Slowikowski said.
