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OC hosts 6th annual Glow Run

TeamOC and the Student Government Association (SGA) are teaming up to host Oklahoma Christian University’s sixth annual Glow Run tonight. Glow sticks on runners will light the way around the 2.5-mile Eagle Trail, which will make up the race.

Darci Thompson, the director of wellness, organized the first run in 2013 to commemorate the opening of the trail and recognize the donors who helped fund the project. Since then, local businesses support the run by becoming sponsors.

“It’s not like some of our other events,” Thompson said. “You don’t have to register for this event—you just show up. It’s a little bit simpler to pull off, and it’s just fun.”

Junior Katie Baker, who is preparing to participate in the run for her third year in a row, said she enjoys the atmosphere of the run.

“It’s just a great time to relax and also be in community with people,” Baker said.

Open to the public, the Glow Run also differs from other TeamOC activities by being more of a community event than a competition. The focus of the Glow Run is getting people outside and active rather than beating a personal record.

“The first year, I was a lot more competitive with it,” Baker said. “I’m not a runner, but I had fun. But then last year, I was a lot more relaxed with the people I was with. Halfway through, we played ‘Hamilton’ and just jammed, so it was pretty great.”

Arianne Gillham, the director of the fitness center, assists Thompson in organizing the event and believes in the community spirit of the run.

“It’s just a free event to promote health, wellness and fitness on campus,” Gillham said. “Just something to do for students, employees and the community.”

The Glow Run provides a way for the SGA to get involved in campus events. They purchase the glow sticks every year and help work the night of the event along with other students and volunteers.

“It takes a lot of people,” Thompson said. “We have to have a lot of volunteers to work the different stations.”

Two water stations will also be placed along the trail for runners.

“[There are] 30-odd people on the night, making sure everything’s safe, handing out glow sticks and water, stopping cars,” Gillham said.

The race starts at 8:30 p.m. in the parking lot of Memorial Road Church of Christ, and the first 500 participants will receive a free T-shirt. Despite the weather and the cold, the race will still be held. More information on the run can be found online.

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