English Department Run Club

Photos by Billie Throm

Article by Madeline Teeter

NEWBERG, Ore. – This spring, a new Run Club was started by the Department of English and Languages and meets two Saturdays a month. The ultimate goal is to run the Vernonia Half Marathon and Marathon Relay.

It may seem odd that the English Department would start such a club, but there are several reasons behind it. Professor of English Melanie Mock listed some of the goals of the club: “To train together several Saturdays a month until April, building up to the race; To build camaraderie and teamwork among students and faculty in our major; To find support and encouragement to do hard things with each other; To prove to the world that book nerds can be athletes too.”

The idea for the club came about through casual conversation between Mock and junior English major, Bethany Cook. “I had mentioned to Melanie at the English Department retreat that it would be fun to run as a department,” said Cook. “That was the initial thought, a communal thing among English majors.”

Having the Run Club allows those in the English Department to bond in a different environment than usual. “We’re people who read all the time and also enjoy being active,” Cook said. While running is not the only way to be active, there were enough people in the department who share a love of running to make a club out of it.”

“I’m looking forward to getting to know my colleagues and my students in a different way, outside of the classroom,” Mock said. “Especially encouraging folks who are new to running and helping them see how amazing running can be beyond the physical benefits.”

Although the Run Club is intended for those within the English Department, there is room for others as well. “There are a few students who are English major adjacent and have asked to be included, and we said ‘Yes!’ Running is such an inclusive sport, and the more the merrier, as far as I'm concerned,” said Mock.

While the club has only had a few meetings, those who attended said it is off to a strong start. “It felt very welcoming and was a friendly environment,” Cook said. She also said the dynamic of the club is fun and unique, as it has an even student-to-professor ratio.

Brooks Lampe, associate professor of language and literature, said that the club is social, where people run casually and chat. “It’s fun to do something active and physical with my friends and students,” Lampe said. “We just went and ran and Melanie said to go at your own pace. It’s not a race. It was relaxed and affirming.”

“There's a group of younger, experienced runners who went out ahead on our first run, which was great! They had a good time together,” Mock said. “Some of us older folks ran together and could encourage the newer runners as well. This is as it should be: all about encouragement and fun!”

People from any running background are welcome to the club, whether it is their first time or they have been running for years. Cook said she had played tennis in the past but decided not continue into college and took up running instead. Lampe and his wife have been running together for years and were glad to share that activity with the English community.

“I started running when I was thirteen and haven't stopped,” Mock said “I ran in high school and college and continued…as a way to stay in shape and connect with others, as well as fighting stress and getting time outside.”

For those at the Run Club, running is not just about exercise but sharing the experience with one another. “What has been most important to me about running is the friendships I've made with folks through running,” Mock said. “There's something about being out on a long run together and having good conversation that ties people together.”

“I love the English Department at Fox and doing a hobby we all enjoy together is fun,” Cook said. “It’s exciting to work towards the half marathon goal together.”

“In my life, running has been such an important way to make community and connection with others, to create life-long friendships and to find courage to do hard things,” Mock said. “That's really what I want for students and I'm hopeful that the run club can make that possible.”

While the club is still in its first steps, those involved have high hopes for what they will achieve while running together.