Glow run to push fitness

Themed runs such as paint runs are a growing trend. On Halloween night, the Baylor community will have the opportunity to participate in a glow-in-the-dark paint run sponsored by the Fitness and Wellness departments.
“We wanted to come up with a fun way to promote fun and fitness to our students with various activities,” said Van Davis, assistant director of fitness.

Late Night had a neon theme and this idea merged off of that, said Megan Patterson, director of wellness.
“We saw similar runs — like the color run — being advertised and that sparked the idea,” she said.

The event is not a race, but it is a possibility for next year, Davis said. The actual race starts at 7 p.m. on the Bear Trail on Oct. 31, but there are pre-events that begin at 6:30 p.m. on the fields behind the Baylor Sciences Building.

The events before the run include Zumba and various other glow-in-the-dark activities, such as games with glow-in-the-dark beach balls and glow-in-the-dark horseshoes, Davis said. Door prizes will also be at the event. “At check-in they fill out a door prize coupon, and if they don’t win, they still leave with a goodie bag,” Davis said. The first 100 participants to register get a free T-shirt.

To register, there will be a table at the Baylor Sciences Building fields. This is where participants will also get glow accessories, Davis said.

There will also be a blacklight insta-tent. This is a tent that is designed with black lights to make the glow-in-the-dark paint and glow-in-the-dark accessories people wear appear bolder. The tent will function as a photobooth for participants to take pictures to post on Instagram.

“We will start with a glow Zumba and finish with yoga or pilates for a cool down,” Davis said. Both of these will be led by instructors from the BearX program. While it is a running event, participants can also walk. This is geared more towards being a social event this year, Davis said. “Bring friends, bring roommates. It’s early enough in the evening that there’s still time for other Halloween activities.”

There will be glow-in-the-dark hairspray, paint and accessories available for participants, Davis said.
Participants can run or walk on their choice of The Cub Trail or The Bear Trail. The cub trail, which is the 0.6 mile trail around the Baylor Sciences Building that veers off the Bear Trail is now completely lit, and participants will be able to use that, Davis said.

Fitness staff will also be along the side of the trails with glow sticks waving participants on.
Another purpose for this event was for people to become familiar with the cub trail.

“The Cub Trail has existed since the science building has been around, but most don’t know it’s there,” Patterson said. “It’s now completely lit and it gives runners a safer loop.”

While this is the first glow run, the possibility of similar activities in the future is present. “We would love for the glow run to be annual. A 5K run would be the next step,” Davis said.

Pets and costumes are allowed.