Missouri Club Running is a student-run organization consisting of co-ed members who compete in high-intensity cross country races during the fall and track and field races in the spring. 

The club participated in the NIRCA Regionals in Iowa City, Iowa, on Oct. 19 with multiple highlights. The two biggest standouts from the men’s 8-kilometer race were senior Matthew Griffith, who placed second and Noah McMullen, who placed ninth. In the women’s 6-kilometer race, the standout was Club President Ashton Turner, who placed 10th. Club running is a student-led organization managed and organized by students to provide opportunities for recreational and competitive running within the school community.

“[The race] was at the University of Iowa’s cross country course and we didn’t have as many people as we usually do, because it was Homecoming weekend and we kind of lost some of our team,” club member Kelsey Wojtalewicz said. “However, we still had around six, seven girls, I’d say, and then we had some guys too and it honestly was really fun.” 

The team practices Monday through Friday at 4 p.m. at Stankowski Field, and holds additional workouts at 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays. This semester, every member can run two to eight miles in groups or alone, depending on the runner’s preference.

“I’ve learned a little bit about how to pace myself and how to run longer distances because I wasn’t a long-distance runner before I came to college,” club member Maggie Weaver said. “So now, running longer distances every day is different.” 

This year the team has participated in different cross country races, traveling throughout the Midwest. Every spring semester, they compete in various track meets. They also participate in various collegiate competitions, including trail races and the Betsy Farris Memorial 5-kilometer, 10-kilometer and half marathon run in Columbia, Mo, on Oct. 5. 

“We have a tradition annually to go to the University of Illinois for a track meet and it’s a bunch of other clubs from all over the Midwest that go to this meet, and we compete against each other, and the energy and the vibe is just so cool,” Wojtalewicz said. 

Club members are only required to pay dues if they intend to race and travel with the team. Otherwise, they must fill out a hold-harmless legal form at the MizzouRec. Dues are $55 for the academic year, and specific meets cost $5-10. Typically, the team rate is around $500, while road races are usually without a team rate and range from $15-40.

“These prices are offered at a discounted rate to club members as a benefit for paying dues,”  Turner said. “In addition to reduced race entry costs, each member paying dues also gets the club running shirt with the current year on it.”

Each semester, the club hosts several team-building activities, including a formal dance in the fall, team dinners and outings to a pumpkin patch. Before competitions, the club also organizes pre-meet trips, sleepovers and pasta parties, creating opportunities for members to connect, collaborate and strengthen the team dynamic.

“We do a lot, like I said, a lot of people meet a lot of their friends through running club, so a lot of just informal hanging out,” Club Treasurer Rachel Hamaker said. “We always go for dinner together and sleep over, and it’s super fun.”

Club Running actively promotes itself through its social media presence and website. The club regularly updates its Instagram posts and responds to messages from potential new members and others with possible questions.

“I think for a lot of us, it’s a lot of word of mouth,” Hamaker said. We just love club. We just tell all our friends, if you run, come join.”

Running not only trains muscles and improves stamina, but also engages mental skills, according to. Runners often rely on self-affirmations to stay focused and block out distractions. Common challenges, such as boredom, fatigue and nerves about reaching the finish line are an inevitable part of the experience. Additionally, developing strategies to push through discomfort from running can enhance overall mental endurance, the study said.

“If you go to a workout, track meet or a cross country race and you don’t feel like you’re able to do something, you’re probably not going to because your brain’s gonna tell you that you can’t do something, but if you tell yourself that I’m trained and you can do something, then you’ll probably be able to do it,” Wojtalewicz said. 

The club running team ran their final race of the fall semester in Hershey, Pa. for the NIRCA Cross Country Open 6K on Saturday, Nov. 9. 

“[Running] is a good outlet for me to deal with things that life throws at me. I run so I can work through stuff,” club member Carson Turner said. “ I talk a lot about how when I run, I just shut my brain off and I think about things I need to think about and it makes me feel good afterwards.” 

Edited by Michael Stamps | mstamps@themaneater.com

Copyedited by Jayden Bates-Bland and Natalie Kientzy | nkientzy@themaneater.com

Edited by Annie Goodykoontz | agoodykoontz@themaneater.com