The first Run for the Son led participants through an 11-week training course to prepare them for a 5K run.

Participants started the race, most with the goal of finishing it.

Erica Roa, the assistant director of the Student Standards Office and one of the organizers, said the race was not a real competition with prices.

“It’s very much a fun run, walk— whatever people want to do,” Roa said.

The group met once a week for an hour.

Half of the time, they prepared for the race and the other half they had a Bible study.

Roa said she is excited for everyone who did the 5K.

“A lot of them come from not being runners at all, and now they are actually able to run a 5K, so that’s really exciting,” Roa said.

Eric Walton, a Charleston resident, said he participated in the program to get into running again after being injured from sports when he was younger.

“I wanted a controlled program to help me get back into it, plus the encouragement along the way,” Walton said.

Walton was the first person to complete the 5K, but he said he was only trying to beat his goal of 25 minutes.

He ran it in 23 minutes and 47 seconds.

Lindsay Wilson, a counselor at Eastern’s counseling center, said she loves exercising and runs about three miles multiple times a week.

“I wanted to get more involved in my church,” Wilson said.

Wilson said they would spend sessions training while also talking about scripture.

“I thought it would be a good resource for me and a way to connect (with my church),” Wilson said.

Wilson said both sides of the program helped with the race.

“I think a lot of the training here helped mentally prepare yourself,” Wilson said.

Walton said this is a good way for other people to get started running.

“You’ve got a group of people encouraging you,” Walton said. “You have a program where you get together every week—oh, I had trouble this week— but there is encouragement to keep going for the next week.”

Wilson said her goal was also 25 minutes because that is how long it usually takes her.

“It felt more difficult today,” Wilson said. “I don’t know if my breathing was off or what, but I finished.”

Wilson said toward the end of the race, her main goal was just to finish.

“I at least wanted to finish running; I didn’t want to walk it,” Wilson said. “I at least did that, so it was good.”

Jeanne Hamilton, a Charleston resident, said the race made her tired but felt great to be a part of the group.

“Sometimes when you’re trying to run or exercise, it is hard to keep yourself motivated unless you have the accountability of other people,” Hamilton said.

Hamilton said she has participated in a couple of 5K races, but has not done them in awhile.

“It’s a sense of accomplishment,” Hamilton said.

Roa said they opened the race to anyone who wanted to participate in it.

“The running group was excited to be finishing their train, but there were also other people who expressed interest in it as well,” Roa said.

Wilson said she hopes to find a similar group, or continue with this one.

“It feels good to be done, feels good to support those that I met through this group too,” Wilson said.

Samantha McDaniel can be reached at 581-2812 or slmcdaniel@eiu.edu.