A student came to Kelsey Sasse, DDS, director of student success and wellness, at the UNMC College of Dentistry, and suggested a running club.
Great idea let’s do it, Dr. Sasse said. But that wasn’t all.
“Those of us that prefer to walk instead of run, we decided to make a club out of it, too,” she said.
“The whole goal was to engage in healthy movement in good community,” she said.
So, last summer, the college’s running and walking clubs were born.
Summer temperatures have kept the clubs small at first. Six to eight regulars running and about five die-hards on walks. But the enthusiasm is palpable. The runners, led by D4s Emily Brandt and Callie Zanderson, hope to codify an official UNMC College of Dentistry running club to enter real races as a team.
“Which I think is pretty incredible,” Dr. Sasse said. “I’m very proud of them.”
But the main thing is that these new clubs give dentistry faculty, students and staff the opportunity to get outside and engage in daily movement with their community. It’s a perfect representation of the college’s efforts to build wellness, Dr. Sasse said.
Contact Dr. Sasse to get connected, or for more information.
“We have group messages for those interested to give times and locations where we meet,” she said. “It is highly tailored to the individual.”
Some members run or walk only short distances. Others go much longer.
Walks are usually a 20–30-minute walk around East Campus on Tuesdays over lunch.
Short runs range from two to four miles – you can decide when you get there, is the club motto – Mondays at 5:45 a.m.
Long runs are … longer, as the name implies. They’re usually Saturdays at variable locations.
There are enough people in each respective club that no one need go by themselves, providing a sense of community, culture and accountability, Dr. Sasse said.
Runners can contact Brandt or Zanderson to join or find out more.