Club hopes to initiate intercollegiate cross country, track team
Kirk Marvin
Issue date: 1/28/08 Section: Sports
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According to Josh Miller, one of the club's founders, the club will be there to accommodate all who want to join. Whether they are trying to keep a New Year's resolution to lose weight, ROTC cadets trying to improve their run times , runners who want to compete, or people who just enjoy running, the running club will strive to find a running regime that fits each person.
The Running Club's end goal, however, is to eventually create NAIA cross country and track teams. The club's mission statement is "To be a foundation for a men's and women's fall Cross Country Team and Spring Track Team to represent Embry-Riddle in Intercollegiate Competition."
Miller said that it is a shame that there is not a cross country team when there are so many runners in the ROTC programs and at the school in general. And, he said, there are such nice running trails in and around the school.
At the moment Miller and co-founder Andrew Cataldo run semi-cross country, competing is some nearby events. Miller, Cataldo and a few others from the new club have tentatively set up dates to run in cross country events in Flagstaff and Tucson.
The club also plans to get a track team started. This team would not only have long distance runners, but would include sprinters and field events. The field events include throwing and jumping events.
"While sprinters aren't distance runners, all distance runners are taught to be sprinters, so we see no problem in teaching people how to sprint properly," Miller said when questioned about the idea of runners trying to teach people how to sprint. Miller also said that they had found a fellow student who would be willing to teach people how to throw for the field events.
In order to help raise awareness and interest in the club, Miller and Cataldo have set up two different events. The first will be a Track Medley Relays on Feb. 16. According to Miller, a medley relay is a relay event where each leg of the race will run a different distance. So instead of four people running 100 meters, the first person will run 100 meters, the second 200 meters, the third 400 meters and the fourth 1,600 meters. However, Miller said that the exact distances for each leg are still under consideration.
The second event the club is hosting are a 10K and a 5K (K being kilometer here). Both of these races would be run on the trails around campus. The evemt would also help to raise money through the entry fees for the local Make A Wish Foundation charity organization. That same day there will also be a two-mile walk.
The Running Club is currently running every day except Sunday. Monday, Wednesday, and Friday are distance runs to help build up endurance and Tuesday and Thursday are interval training to help build speed. Every Saturday the club has an off campus run.
For information about the Running Club contact Josh Miller at [millerj5@erau.edu] or 503-407-2637.
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