Pointlife
UWSP Marathon Club is going the distance
The Pointer
hshee298@uwsp.edu
In 2006, Cristin Kowalski founded a group to support and motivate one another in long distance running, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point’s Marathon Club.
This campus wide organization allows students the chance to get outside and challenge themselves to reach goals they may have once considered impossible.
“A lot of people think it’s unattainable, but we help them set aside the time to commit to training in order to make it attainable, and that’s part of the motivation,” said Jamie Solberg, president of the club.
Even more than just helping to plan out the time commitment for marathon training, the club also supplies its members with valuable resources. Their Web site features links to advice, route making tools, stretching technique, fundraising for causes and other running oriented information. Being informed is a key way members of the club stay mentally prepared for their workouts and races. Ashley Van Etten, treasurer of the Marathon Club, said the most challenging part about long distance running is not a physical factor, but rather building up mental toughness.
“Just mentally getting over the fact that you’re going to be running for an hour plus is a hard thing to do. Getting yourself up and motivated to run for such a long time can be very challenging,” said Van Etten.
But despite the challenges the athletes of the Marathon Club face, the group still has 20-25 participating members, and through getting the word out, is looking at about a 30 member roster this year. To get the word out the club has been advertising tirelessly with posters around campus, notes in UWSP’s Message of the Day emails, the club’s Web site and of course, the good old fashion way: word of mouth.Members coordinate group run times a couple times each week.
“Normal runs usually last anywhere from 3 to 6 miles, and for long runs some members go up to twelve. These runs are usually done at a 9 to ten minute mile pace and the group usually splits into about two speed groups,” said Solberg.
Other than support and motivation to get through these long runs, perks of the Marathon Club also include 20 percent off of purchases at Shippy Shoes, buy one get one half off at Rogan’s Shoes, reimbursement for race participation costs and occasional spaghetti dinners. To join the fun, attain the “unattainable,” and reap the benefits, dues cost only $20. Interested students should send Solberg an email at jsolb388@uwsp or check out www.uwsp.edu/stuorg/marathon.
