This past weekend, Keene State’s Phi Sigma Sigma (Phi Sig) sorority hosted its annual philanthropic 5K run, drawing students, family members and supporters to the course despite the cold weather and overcast skies. While the sorority’s members did not respond to requests for comments, runners shared their experiences, motivations and impressions of the event.
Sophomore Charlie Webb, who finished third overall, said the race offered a chance to combine something he already enjoys with a good cause. “I just really like running, and I think this was a good opportunity to raise [money] as well as have fun doing something I love,” he said. Webb said he didn’t train in any special way beyond his usual personal running routines, but the energy along the course helped him to push through. “They definitely had a lot of motivation and made me feel good about my running,” he said. Crossing the finish line, Webb said he felt satisfied, saying, “It felt good knowing I pushed myself the best I could.”
First-place finisher Charles Sette, a senior, shared a similar motivation. “I like running as well, but also the opportunity to support others is nice,” he said. Sette only did light preparation, mostly cardio, saying, “I slacked on preparation, but I did a little bit of training before with cardio.” Even so, he said the constant support helped. “It was just great support at every turn,” he said, adding that “finishing was a big accomplishment.”
Junior Andre Nickerson, who placed second, said he joined the event both to support campus organizations and run alongside friends. “I’m in a fraternity on campus, and we like to support sororities on campus, so I thought I’d do the 5K,” he said, adding on that, “Some of my rugby teammates are running, so I figured I’d also run with them.” With regular cardio built into rugby practices, Nickerson said he already felt prepared, though he added a few extra runs leading up to the event. He said the crowd’s enthusiasm helped to counter the chilly weather. “It’s not exactly the nicest day out, so the support helps,” he said. After crossing the line at 22 minutes flat, he said his main thought was “to go somewhere warm.”
Junior Sophia Lloyd, a member of Kappa Beta Gamma sorority, ran alongside her mother, Stephanie Lloyd, who said she came for quality family time. Lloyd said she joined to help support Phi Sig, and that she enjoyed recognizing familiar faces throughout the course. “Everybody is rooting for each other,” Lloyd said. “I recognize people going by and they’re like, ‘Hey, I know you.’”
Both Lloyd and her mother said the cheering helped their momentum, especially in the cold. Stephanie Lloyd described the encouragement as “the extra push needed, especially on a cloudy day.” Approaching the finish line, her daughter said she focused on staying on her feet. “If I sit down now, I’m not going to get back up,” she said. Stephanie added that hearing the crowd at the end “was awesome.”
Senior Tony Lupo approached the race from a more humorous angle, returning after finishing last the previous year. “I came in dead last last year, and I came in dead last this year—I gotta finish the trend now,” he said. He admitted that he didn’t train, joking that he spent his preparation time “on the couch watching NFL.” Still, Lupo said the encouragement from spectators kept him going. “They make you feel special and make you want to finish it and not just go home,” he said. Crossing the line, he said he was mainly glad the event raised money for charity, calling it “the biggest message you can send at the end of the day.”
Dakota Sweet can be reached at
dsweet@kscequinox.com
