The department of Recreational Sports and Wellness (RSW) hosted its first ever Ghost Walk/Run on Tuesday, Oct. 25 to promote and create fitness opportunities for students and the Hammond community.
The Ghost Walk/Run is a 5k race through North Oak Park and parts of North Campus that started at 6 p.m. Runners were encouraged to dress up in Halloween costumes, but few did. However, the RSW student workers that manned the water stations along the course were all in costume to entertain the runners. Participants could register at the gate for $20, which provided entry into the race and a T-shirt. After the race, jambalaya was served to both spectators and participants.
“All the proceeds will go to North Oak Park,” said Amy Obershmidt, assistant director of guest services. “More specifically they will help with the creation and implementation of new student activities and intramural sports. Also, this helps train runners for some of the larger races in and around Hammond. We have several runners here from both New Orleans and Baton Rouge as well.”
North Oak Part was able to raise $485. T-shirts will be sold for $10 please contact Megan Mast at megan.mast@selu.edu to purchase one.
The first two to cross the finish line were a mere tenth of a second apart: Luke Mackey, a freshman kinesiology major, ran 21.26 and nine-year-old Drew Thompson of Albany ran 21.25.
“He was awesome,” said Mackey. “He didn’t slow down once and towards the end we were stride for stride.”
Thompson, who runs track at Albany Elementary, was very happy with his time, albeit a little surprised.
“I’m stunned,” said Thompson. “It was fun though, I didn’t think it was too hard, I’ve run a 5k before.”
The event was the brainchild of Megan Mast, assistant director of recreation sports and wellness and an avid runner.
“Being that this was the first one, I was very satisfied with how everything went,” said Mast. “We had a great turnout, and we will have another Ghost Run next year. We are also planning another event tentatively scheduled in April, but that isn’t set yet.”