CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WAND) — "When we can come together and fight off any demons with a morning run, then that's where the community lies" said Luna Bitar, one of the hundreds of students who come out to Illini Run Club.
For the past few weeks, Sundays started with community, something co-founders Connor Brown and Ryan Miller dreamed of.Â
The two sophomores shared that they wanted to bring people from all campus majors together.
"I think just like one of the best places to be on campus on a Sunday morning," said Brown.
While Sundays may mean throwing in a load of laundry or going to the grocery store, for students at the University of Illinois it means lacing up and getting a run in.Â
"I think it's really important to get yourself up and do something you don't want to do" said, Mira Alifantis, one of the runners in the run club.Â
Alifnatis explains, by starting your day by accomplishing one hard task, you are setting yourself up for a productive day and week ahead.Â
Miller agreed, sharing "Running is more mental than it is physical."
The students get to the main quad early every Sunday morning, complete a group stretch, and then it's time to do a few miles around campus.
Luna said the consistency and perseverance it takes, is why she started and why she keeps coming back to Run Club.Â
"As a 21 year old, the things that I've been most proud of in my life were just the results of showing up every day. And this is one of those things."
And she isn't the only one. Many students share that they weren't runners before Run Club. It was the encouraging community aspect that brought them in to try it.
"I started Run Club and I couldn't even run around the block. So I knew that was a really big goal of mine to be able to at least run a consecutive like two miles. And I'm here! I'm doing it!" says Alifnatis.Â
Sunday marks the last run for the semester, but the club is already looking forward to starting back up as soon as the weather gets warmer.
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