UNC Asheville freshman Ginny Watts creates Run Club, fostering community and promoting health and wellness.
“My favorite part of the club so far is the reflection, hearing at the end of the day that people are enjoying it, people are having fun. It’s nice to see people bonding and talking on the runs,” said the health science major from Carrboro, NC..
Starting her first semester at UNC Asheville, Watts said she tried to find a running club at the university but realized there were none. She said her dad inspired her to start the club after he volunteered to coach her team in high school.
“He’s a great leader. I think that leadership just falls naturally and that you shouldn’t be forced into a leadership position,” said Watts.
Run Club is open to runners of any skill level and meets at the Karl Straus Track on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 6:30 p.m. The club’s first meeting had an attendance of 15 runners and the club’s GroupMe group chat has over 40 members. Kayden Madden and Nick Anders also serve as captains, helping to run the club.
“The first meeting went great. It was a little intimidating, I’m not going to lie, but it was good. Everyone seemed like they had a great time,” said Watts.
After being a part of the cross-country and track teams in high school, Watts said she was encouraged to join a team at UNC Asheville but did not try out due to the potential workload. She said she wanted to start the club for runners who didn’t want to fully commit to being a part of a team.
“Run club is a place where you can feel welcomed, meet new people and have a good run,” said Watts.
Watts said she hopes to figure out competitions in the second semester and getting into some local 5Ks would be fun.
“A running club at UNCA is incredibly valuable, not only for aligning with Campus Recreation’s mission to promote wellness but also for its ability to serve a diverse range of students,” said Nick Braylan, assistant director of campus recreation esports & sports. “This flexibility ensures every student can find a place to stay active, build confidence and connect with others.”
Watts said Braylan helped her start the club. He said Division I track and field may have high training demands or selective rosters but Run Club offers an inclusive space with no membership limits. He said the club welcomes both competitive runners seeking to challenge themselves and non-competitive students focused on personal growth or social bonds.
“My hope is that the running club grows into a community that encourages students to explore new running routes across UNCA’s campus and the outer Asheville’s trails, creating a strong bond and a deeper connection to our city and beyond,” said Braylan. “Ultimately, I envision the club inspiring students to sustain healthy habits, form lasting friendships and strengthen UNCA’s campus spirit through shared adventures and achievements.
Braylan also said he would love to see the club compete against other college club teams while remaining a part of the recreational community.
“People don’t like running alone. It’s not fun. It’s not enjoyable,” said freshman Graham Hodge, reflecting on one of the group’s Friday fun runs. “I just think that it’s a really cool thing to have a reason to run.”
Hodge said although he played soccer in high school, he is new to running and has a goal of being able to run a couple miles at a 9-minute-per-mile pace. He said he aims to use running to stay healthy and avoid being a part of the “freshman 15.”
“Allegedly, your freshman year, you’re supposed to gain 15 pounds from stress eating or not staying active, focusing on schoolwork, and I was just not trying to have that happen,” Hodge said. “I really just want to stay active, want to stay moving, because the worst thing you could do is just sit in your dorm all day.”
Hodge said his favorite part about running is the endorphins he feels afterwards.
“It makes me feel refreshed. It makes me feel like I’ve been able to think about my thoughts while I’m actually doing something productive,” Hodge said.
During Hodge’s first time coming to the club run, Watts broke the group up into teams and assigned them to find and take selfies with either the color red or purple.
(Adam Hetland)
“We had two different groups. Ginny gave us each a color to go run around and take pictures with. I thought it was really fun. It gave a purpose to running and makes you like to look for different colors and look around while you’re running instead of just thinking and looking at the ground. I thought it was really enjoyable and it was good bonding,” said Hodge.
Graham said he enjoys the community since everyone is there to do the same thing: run and stay active.
“For some students, running is a continuation of a healthy habit they practiced in high school sports,” said Director of Campus Recreation Leah Belt. “Continuing this familiar activity as new students enter the unfamiliar space of college can help ground them, center them and build their confidence and self-efficacy. Practicing a hobby that challenges you can help build the mental stamina needed to overcome stressors you may face in your semester. For other students who may be new to running, it’s great to try new things and build a community you can rely on.”
Belt said we all need healthy coping mechanisms to allow our minds and bodies to pursue the variety of challenges they need. Running can also have multiple health benefits.
“You exercise your mind in class, so why not exercise your body out of class?” Belt said. “Movement can lower blood pressure, release happy hormones linked to stress reduction like endorphins, dopamine and serotonin. Further, exercise can improve cognitive function and reduce anxiety,” said Belt.
While running can be beneficial for students, it can also lead to injury or fatigue if runners don’t look after themselves. Belt said hydration, nutrition and stopping the activity if it causes pain are important. She said group members are often willing to share their knowledge and experience to support new runners.
“There is also the benefit of accountability in groups, with members able to maintain the healthy habit longer without slacking off,” said Belt. I think anytime we come together over similar interests and set our electronics aside for conversation and community, we are recharging our wellness battery in so many necessary and powerful ways. I think running solo is always an option and beneficial, but human nature is based on connections, so why not try it?”
