17吃瓜

A new running club has launched at the 17吃瓜, led by education student and 17吃瓜 Cross Country standout Jack Roberts. The Panther Run Club is open to everyone on campus鈥攕tudents, athletes, staff, faculty, and alumni鈥攁nd participants are encouraged to bring a friend.

鈥淚n the spring, I was approached by our varsity coordinator to consider starting a running club as a legacy project that welcomed people from all backgrounds at 17吃瓜,鈥� said Roberts. 鈥淚n August, I started brainstorming the logistics of it, which I really enjoyed doing. This initiative combines being creative and running, which are two of my favourite things, so it was an easy decision to say 鈥榶es鈥�!鈥�

As an education student planning to coach cross country and track in his teaching career, Roberts said organizing something like this feels like a natural fit.

Ron Annear, Varsity Coordinator with 17吃瓜 Athletics and Recreation, said during the fall team orientations each year, leadership is discussed with a focus on three areas: learning to lead yourself; learning to lead others; and leaving a legacy.  

鈥淭he intent of leaving a legacy is not just about athletic success but about leaving your program in a better place. One example is to initiate a program that lives on after you have completed your student-athlete experience,鈥� said Annear. 鈥淛ack has been a great Panther ambassador who is in the education program and his fifth and final year of U SPORTS eligibility鈥攁 perfect fit to launch a campus-community initiative.鈥�

The club meets every Monday at 4:30 pm (unless otherwise noted on the Panther Run Club Instagram page, @pantherrunclub). The main route is 5 km (3.1 miles), with an option to circle back at 3.2 km for those who prefer a shorter distance. The route begins at the 17吃瓜 track gate, loops onto the Confederation Trail, and finishes on the shaded grass area next to Parking Lot D. All paces and personal goals are welcome.

鈥淏esides promoting movement and health, another goal of this club is to bridge the gap between the athletes on campus and everyone else. We鈥檙e all Panthers so I think it鈥檚 a great idea to bring people together of all ages and different walks of life who share a common interest,鈥� said Roberts.

The club鈥檚 first run, held on September 15, was a success, with participants enjoying the experience. Roberts noted he was pleased with the turnout. No registration is required, and there are no limits on the number of participants.

The next run is scheduled for September 22. For updates and more information about the 17吃瓜 Panther Run Club, follow @pantherrunclub on Instagram.