Now that spring is officially upon us, Middlebury students took advantage of yesterday’s beautiful weather to support Globe Med’s 5K run to combat malnutrition. Founded in 2008, GlobeMed at Middlebury is one of 50 GlobeMed national chapters working to improve the lives of people living in poverty across the world. Proceeds from the race will help Gardens for Health International in Rwanda combat childhood malnutrition through health initiatives.

Running for a good cause only bolstered the general atmosphere of excitement. With the sun shining brightly overhead, more than one hundred Middkids lined up in front of Proctor Dining Hall for a race that would take runners down past the Ralph Myhre Golf Course, through the cross country trail, which winds up and down breathtaking views and rolling hills, and back up through main campus. Hopefully exhausted runners, looked to the quote “The Strength of the Hills is His Also” – inscribed into the top of Meade Chapel at the hills’ peak – as motivation for one last sprint as they made their way up the final leg of the race

Participating in today’s event was a great way to engage the beautiful weather and share in a collective effort to support communities around the world. I want to thank my friends with whom I ran today for supporting me through the trail and making sure that I crossed the finish line. Perhaps today’s showing will inspire me to consider taking up more short-term races before I graduate next month.