Runners arrived at 8 a.m. for an 8 mile or 10 mile race held at Furman University today. 30 students from Bob Jones University (BJU) volunteered their Saturday mornings to hand out hospital-gown-thin jackets, cotton gloves, Panera bagels, Grapes, and Yogurt to the racers.
These students were also dropped off at specific points in the course to direct runners the right way. Director of the race, a tall man wearing a frightening black ski-mask, said that it was important runners knew which way to go so that the race would run efficiently.
One student of BJU, Andrea Stanford, said of the race, “People were beyond enthusiastic about the race – even the two women from Furman University that helped us direct AK (8 mile) and 10K (10 mile) racers could not stop encouraging and praising the runners to keep doing a great job!” Their enthusiasm, she went on to say, was contagious.
The two Furman women volunteers were vocal in encouraging the runners because they were runners themselves. One of the women, Carrie, said, “I know what it’s like to be running ragged and someone comes along side you and says you’re doing great, keep going! That extra push means the world!”
Winner of the race, Orinthal Striggles, was an African American wonder of muscles and easy sprinting. He told reporters that this was his second race of the year. Beyond being sponsored to run races, Striggles coaches runners for a living. “You gotta pace yourself,” was the common advice for the day.
Awards, uniform clear glasses with blue writing, were handed out in each racer category up to the 5th place. A small ceremony of recognition stilled the energetic running-disco music as names of the winners were called out over the speaker system.
One volunteer commented that runners feel very good about themselves after running a race. She added, “It gives them a sense of accomplishment and starts their day off in an awesome way.”
Furman University volunteers wanted to thank BJU volunteers for “coming out.” Students were encouraged to participate in more community races, which one woman gushed were always in need of young people’s help.
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