CSU’s annual Homecoming 5K truly is coming home – which should be welcome news for all runners and walkers.
The 39th annual race – an iconic event for the campus and running communities – is set for 7:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 5; registration is open. The race will begin and end on the historic CSU Oval, with the updated course winding throughout campus.
“The fact that the race starts and ends on the Oval is what really matters with most of our participants – that and the fact that it is on Saturday and not Sunday,” said Barry Braun, race director and chair of the Department of Health and Exercise Science. “We’re really back to our roots with the race, and people are excited.”
Familiar course, familiar day
Prior to 2017, the Homecoming 5K had always been held on the Saturday of Homecoming and Family Weekend, and always started and ended on the Oval. Things changed when Canvas Stadium opened two years ago and campus streets and parking lots were closed to accommodate game-day parking.
The race moved to the old Hughes Stadium parking lot two years ago. Last year, the race returned to campus but was held on Sunday – and participation dropped.
This year, with CSU playing San Diego State at 8 p.m. Oct. 5 at Canvas Stadium, arrangements were made to accommodate the race on Saturday and on campus. The only change from past races is a slightly earlier start time.
“This is such a great race because you kind of feel like you own the campus for a short time,” Braun said. “There are no cars or bikes or skateboards on the streets, and it really is all about the runners. For students and community members, they get to see the campus in way they’ve never experienced.”
Race benefits Fit Cancer program
In addition to the race being a Homecoming tradition, it is an important fundraiser for CSU’s Fit Cancer program, which provides supervised exercise aimed at enhancing quality of life for cancer survivors at any stage of their cancer journey.
Cost is $20 for kids ages 1-12 and CSU students (until 10/4) and $25 for everyone else (until 9/27, then $30), and includes a long-sleeve T-shirt honoring CSU’s 150th birthday. Race-day registration is $30.
