By Elnaz Akbari, Spoke News
The University of Waterloo held its 33rd annual Fun Run last Saturday on campus at the arts quad for the public and members of its illustrious alumni.
The three-decade-old event is one of the longest running annual events in the region and is the longest-standing reunion tradition at the University of Waterloo. It celebrates healthy active living dating all the way back to 1985.
The Fun Run is different from other runs or races one might attend in that it is purely designed for fun. Participants are encouraged to run or walk at their own pace and even invited to wear a costume to the event, rather than the typical active wear one might regularly have on at another run.
Awards are given out at the end of the race, not only for the top-finishing participants but also for the best costumes in youth, adult and group categories.
Although the Fun Run was just that, it didn’t mean that competitive runners weren’t able to get their fill of competition from the event. The run was once again equipped with Bibtag technology, which tracks a runner’s time and speed, with the results released online in the following days, with comparisons to fellow runners.
Apart from the run itself, the event was chuck full of fun for participants and spectators alike. After the run was complete, all were invited to enjoy refreshments and music provided by the athletic health science (AHS) department.
“I’ve been looking to get more active, so I decided a fun run seemed like a good first step,” said Tomas Larraguibel, an architectural construction engineering technology graduate of Conestoga College. “I just read about it in The Record and figured I’d check it out.”
The U of W AHS Fun Run runs annually during Reunion Week (formerly Homecoming).
