Club Running participating in cross-state charity event

It is 181 miles in less than 24 hours.

That is how far members of Club Running at Central Michigan University plan to run this weekend for a cross-state charity event.

“Almost every time you finish running, you feel better than you did before you ran,” said West Olive junior Ian Blanding, president of Club Running at CMU.

The group will start at 7:15 a.m. Saturday at the Hart Plaza in Detroit and aims to finish within 24 hours — at Lake Michigan in South Haven.

The University of Michigan Running Club and the Michigan State Running Club also are participating and the runners will take turns during the race.

The point is to raise money for Girls on the Run of Isabella and Gratiot counties.

Girls on the Run is a nonprofit program which aims to build self confidence in girls in grades three to five.

This is one of the core values inherent to running, said Troy junior Lauren Johnson, the vice president of Club Running.

“I’m excited for the race, but I’m also excited for being able to help out Girls on the Run,” Johnson said.

She said running has spiritual, emotional, mental and environmental aspects.

Three Oaks sophomore Olivia Rauen said the group hopes to raise $500.

“It’s a way for younger girls to break out of their shell and find people they have something in common with,” Rauen said.

Running is such a huge part of the participants’ lives, most would feel empty without it.

Johnson is a coach for the GOTR program at Vowles Elementary School, 1560 Watson Road, and said the experience is continually rewarding.

Rauen joined Club Running as a way to meet new friends her freshman year at CMU. She said the strong friendships she has gained are the best parts of the experience.

Blanding plans to run a 17-mile section of the race and another three to six-mile section a bit later.

“It drives you to do more and more,” Blanding said.