By Allison Pisching (’12)

To the students of the OU Sports Ad family, springtime in Athens is known for three things: ringing the bell at class meetings to signify jobs and internships, Happy Hour on the Broney’s patio, and the highly anticipated Symposium Weekend. On Saturday April 28, 2012, a new Sports Administration tradition emerged as the O’Bleness Health System Race for a Reason.

By combining the Athletes in Action Triathlon with the Sports Administration 5K and Mud Run (formerly known as Gridiron Gallop, Bobcat Blitz, and Run for a Reason), the O’Bleness Health System Race for a Reason registered over 700 participants throughout three unique events. Participants, who were all encouraged to race for their own reason, fundraised over $30,000 for different charities, non-profits and Ohio University student organizations.

It was an extremely chilly morning in Athens, but a few minutes of hail and a scatter of rain clouds could not keep hundreds of participants away from hitting the pool, the pavement, and the obstacles that made up this year’s races. As each separate leg of the race began through staggered starts, the Triathlon, 5K and Mud Run ended approximately around the same time in TailGreat Park for a celebration of the day’s accomplishments and a health & wellness expo, made possible through the event’s sponsors.

Triathletes were the first participants to begin crossing the shared finish line. Ross Hartley, with a time of 1:08:33, was the first overall male competitor to finish and Bethany Lavins was not far behind with a time of 1:23:55, making her the overall female winner.

While the triathlon participants were well into their race, the 5K runners took off from the 50-yard line of Peden Stadium. Alex Tiseo finished the race in a quick 16:55 to lead all males. Valerie Van Ravenswaay, the top 2011 female finisher, maintained her champion status as she clocked a time of 18:42 on this year’s course.

To follow up the pack, Mud Run participants snaked through a 4.2 mile run up to the Army ROTC Training Course at the Ridges. Over walls, under wires, and through mud pits, runners were put to the test by Army ROTC cadets leading the course. Jake Stephens (27:47) and Bethany Lavins (30:43) lead the pack of runners through the challenges and emerged as the respective male and female overall winners.

All race results can be found at: http://www.hfpracing.com/results

While each event had designated winners, the real winners through this event are the charities and organizations benefiting from donations and pledges. Over 10 new organizations joined in the fundraising force this year. Each of the following groups or individuals raised significant amounts of money for their designated “reason” and will continue to fundraise:

* The OUSAFM Class of 2013 supported the Sean’s Pals Chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation

* The MSA Exclusives of 2012 supported Crohn’s Disease, Juvenile Diabetes and the Children’s Leukemia Research Association, Inc.

* St. Paul’s Youth Group, Athens Catholic Teens, raised money for their programming activities

* The Ohio University Advertising Association worked towards the goal of getting to Nationals in June

* The Sports Business Association raised funds for their group and the Bradley Allen Moorhead Scholarship

* The Ohio University Women’s Club supported Big Brothers Big Sisters of Athens County

* The Exercise Physiology Club raised money to assist with the Chardon Healing Fund, created to aid the families of those affected by the school shootings earlier this year

* Mike Levine (’09), who ran in his first 5K race, secured donations for the Central Ohio Diabetes Association and the Nevada Diabetes Association

* One of the largest additions to the race was the Ohio University Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing program that raised money for Give Kids the World.

* And for the sixth consecutive year, the Schey Sales Centre partnered with Miracles for Life

While the effects of the race on campus and in the Athens community are great, the impact of the O’Bleness Health System Race for a Reason reach far beyond the county lines and will continue into the future. Dr. Heather Lawrence, director of the Professional Masters of Sports Administration program, ran the 5K as a representative of the PMSA Classes of 2012 and 2013, who are unable to make it back to campus because of full-time work responsibilities. By selecting the Special Operations Warrior Foundation in honor of current student Chay Derbigny (’12), Dr. Lawrence received donations and pledges from students across the country in support of her run in Athens.

Support of this race will continue to grow on and off campus, as the O’Bleness Health System Race for a Reason gains more participants and more awareness. At the center of such a successful event are the 45 on-campus students who took pride in giving back to the community that has been or will be their home for two years. Students served on committees, sold sponsorships, raised money for Cystic Fibrosis, recruited other runners, covered themselves in mud and will make a difference in Athens for years to come through this tradition. This is the family.