Participants could dash, jog or walk the one-mile route which toured the Quad, South Quad and Bobcat Way before heading to the finish line at the RecWell Outdoor Amphitheatre. Participants picked up free Jingle Bell Fun Run T-shirts and were treated to hot cocoa, tea, holiday treats, seasonal music and the warmth of the amphitheater’s firepits at the end of the run.

Assistant Director of Campus Recreation Grace Little and Area Supervisor of Events Noelle Gadue,’25, DPT ’28, whipped up the idea for the new fun run.

“This is the first time we’ve done anything like this,” Little said. “We wanted to have a way to get people moving before finals and to build community before the fun holiday events that are happening all week on campus, and we thought what better way than to have a fun run around campus?”

Students could pre-register or walk up to sign up for the Jingle Bell Fun Run. Isabella Onimus, ‘27, said she was looking forward to making the run a bit of a personal challenge, with bells on.

“I just started getting into running and I wanted to prove to myself that I can run a full mile, and I thought this was also a fun way to take a break from studying,” said Onimus.

RecWell employee Mason Kleiner ’26, said he jumped in at the last minute to walk with friends on the Jingle Bell Fun Run.

“I think it’s going to be a good stress reliever for students, especially with finals coming up. It’s a great outlet for people like me who are in their room 24-7 to finally get outdoors and get in a quick mile. And it brings us all together, which is awesome,” said Kleiner.

Friends Kiera Semcer, ’26, Molly Hines, ’26 and Ellie Kerzner, ’26 revved up their sneakers with silver ribboned jingle bells and donned their light-blue Jingle Bell Fun Run shirts ahead of the starting bell. The buddies, who planned to mix up their walk with a bit of running, had Hines to thank for getting them out to enjoy the event.

“I saw it on the RecWell Instagram and then I texted my friends because I figured they’d want to do it, and I was very excited that they did. I felt like it was something fun to do and something to help make the most of senior year,” said Hines.

Kerzner said she thought the fun run was a great idea with some great benefits, including, “…a free T-shirt and hot chocolate and some memories with my friends.”

Three members of Quinnipiac men’s cross-country team who came out to enjoy the one mile run together were also the first to cross the finish line.

“I thought it was pretty cool,” said Mike Dorunda, ’28. “I like road races, and this was something to do with the school outside of athletics, so it was nice.”

“It was cool to run around campus and get involved with the community outside of our athletics. We just had fun doing it,” said Alex Saldana, ’28.

“It was lot of fun seeing the community get out here, and students getting outside,” said Kyle McCarron, ’28.

Gadue said the student turnout and the good cheer generated by the Jingle Bell Fun Run exceeded organizers’ expectations.

“We’re really excited. We wanted to help students to get some de-stressing in during the week before finals, and just to have a fun run around campus. Hopefully, it will keep evolving every year,” said Gadue.

In Focus