Students, Lawrence residents run a buck in 5K, half marathon
The event raised money for the Health Care Access Clinic
The courses started at Haskell University and routed around Lawrence. Even former KU athletes participated in the run.
By Jason Baker (Contact)
Monday, April 21st, 2008
Photo by Rachel Seymour
KU students and lawrence community members run through campus during the Lawrence half marathon on Sunday morning, April 20, 2008.
About 2,000 students and Lawrence residents ran the Lawrence 5K and half marathon, formally called the “Raintree Run,” Sunday. The event raised money for Health Care Access Clinic, which is a non-profit organization that provides health care for those who don’t have or have limited access to it.
The half marathon started at 8 a.m. and the 5K at 8:05 a.m. The 5K course, which is approximately 3.1 miles, covered most of its ground on Haskell Indian Nation University’s campus. The half marathon went through the Haskell campus to Massachusetts Street and through campus via Jayhawk Boulevard. Participants also ran through parts of Lawrence, such as the grave of James Naismith and Hobbs Stadium, with both races ending at Haskell Stadium.
Ava Dinges, Denver junior, has run three 5K runs, but said this was her first time running in the Lawrence race and had been training for quite a while.
“It wasn’t bad, Dinges said. I wish I could have known the cour”se ahead of time because of the hills. I like how it ended with the track. It made it feel like a race. It feels good to sprint at the end.”
Thorton Thompson, who ran the race with Dinges, said that Sunday was his first 5K run.
“I’m fairly happy with my time,” he said. “It would’ve been nice to see the course ahead of time and get more sleep. But it’s a good feeling to hear people cheer at the end.”
Both he and Dinges had been training together and said they felt good to see their work pay off. They said they planned running in the half marathon next year.
Harry Swartz, Lawrence senior, ran the race last year and took fourth place Sunday.
“My time could have been better, but I’m happy with the place I got,” he said.
Swartz said he wanted to run in the half marathon, but hurt his knee and thought the 5K was more doable.
Stephanie Gomez, Newton senior, was very happy about her performance.
“I was able to pace myself, and I actually beat my time by 2 minutes,” she said about her performance compared to last year.
Photo by Rachel Seymour
KU students and lawrence community members run through campus during the Lawrence half marathon on Sunday morning, April 20, 2008.
Jimmy Balough, Overland Park senior, ran his first half marathon and said he thought he did great.
“I was shooting for 1:30, and I actually got 1:23.30,” he said.
Balough said a friend talked him into trying it and had been training since February.
“I thought it was well put together . A lot of my friends were in it. You couldn’t ask for a better day to run,” he said.
The half marathon had a bit of change, Doug Zimmerman, Kansas City, Kans. junior, said. He said the runners went down the hill by Fraser Hall instead of the hill by 12th and Indiana streets. Zimmerman said he liked it but wasn’t too happy with his time.
“I think I came out too strong,” Zimmerman said. “That’s what adrenaline does to you.”
Zimmerman said he definitely planned to run it again next year.
Some students had a bit of experience prior to running in the event. Emily Denny, Southlake, Texas, freshman, ran the race for the first time, but said she had run cross country in high school.
“Running is a familiar thing to me,” she said. “I did the best I could. I’m a little sore, but it was nice to see parts of Lawrence that I’ve never seen before.”
Current and former KU athletes also participated in the half marathon. Nicole Cauzillo, Northville, Mich., senior and former KU soccer player, ran in the race just days after coming back from her trip to Ethiopia.
“I feel pretty good. I’m not exhausted,” she said.
Cauzillo had been playing soccer with the Ethiopian National Soccer Team and running at 8,000 ft. altitude. Cauzillo heard about the race from one of her friends and gave it a try.
“There’s no half-time which is unfortunate,” she said, comparing the event to a soccer match. “And running while drinking water is hard, and you use a lot of your slower twitching muscles.”
After the race, the runners were treated to food and massages. Abbey Faris, Ft. Collins, Colo., senior, had been running in more than 10 5k’s and summed up the event.
“It was a nice day. Everybody was motivating, the volunteers were awesome and everybody is expecting the free food,” she said.
— Edited by Matt Hirschfeld
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