Feature photo by Khalia Lewter
By William Woodson
It’s time to lace up your running shoes and get ready to participate in the second annual Pacer 5K. The event will be held on Saturday, March 28, and will begin and end on the Peace University lawn.
Students who do not want to run can still participate by walking, volunteering, or enjoying the festivities before and after the race. The event is a fundraiser for students in need, and organizers say it is expected to be a fun day for participates.
Kristin Koch, Peace director of student involvement, said organizers are trying to get the word out to students, faculty, staff, alumni, and the Raleigh community. They are seeking runners for the race and volunteers to help set things up.
This is the second annual Pacer 5K, and planners are looking forward to the event being bigger and better than the first one according to Koch. Last year, the race was organized by a registered student organization (ESS Club). This year, the Office of Student Involvement is hosting the event, along with Marketing & Communications and the Office of Advancement. More than 100 runners are expected this year, twice as many as last year.
To register or for more information about the race, visit the Peace Pacer 5K website. Registration closes at 8 a.m, on Saturday March 28. You can also donate to the Pacers Care Fund, if you are unable to participate on the day of the event.
The race course will wind through Seaboard Station, around the neighborhood behind the Peace campus, and then right back to the main lawn for two full laps. Water stations will be set up throughout the course so runners can take hydration breaks.
Registration fees are $40 for the general public, $10 for kids under 18 years of age, $10 for Peace students, and $25 for Peace alumni, faculty, and staff.
All participants will receive a T-shirt while supplies last, and medals will be awarded to those who finish at the top of their categories. The award categories are the top three overall male and female finishers; top under 18 male and female; top “master’s” male and female, (40 years and older); top male and female current students; top male and female in the alumni/faculty and staff category; and “middle of the herd award” to the race’s median finisher.
The event will be timed by Run the East, a professional race timing and results management service that has timed similar events across North Carolina.
All proceeds from this event will go to the Peace Cares Fund, which supports students facing financial hardship. At Peace, some students may be facing challenges or other issues that are impacting their college experience.
This race is an opportunity for the Peace community to come together and support these students who need an extra boost. Through race registrations and donations, the Peace Cares Fund can grow and support more students in need.
Peace student Ruben Garcia plans to run the 5K this year and participated last year. While Garcia knows that this event isn’t purely athletic, he still would like to give some advice to those who plan on running the course.
“Start running the 5K in increasing segments, i.e., 2.5K running > 2.5K walking, then increase the amount of running slowly as you can hold it until you manage to reach the entire 5K running,” Garcia said. “After that would be increasing the tempo of the run to improve time.”
Meanwhile, Landon Tilley, another Peace student runner who took part in the previous 5K, prefers the “community” part of the event.
“Even if it’s a walk or volunteering, being a part of the day is special, no matter your role,” he said.
Both runners said that they will be giving their all during the race, and they also show an immense amount of care and understanding for the charitable parts of this event.
Koch said that organizers need “a total of over 50 volunteers to make this event possible.”
“We need ALL Route Directional volunteer roles filled to host the race, so we really need folks,” Koch said.
Organizers are currently looking for 11 more volunteers, and anyone over the age of 18 can volunteer to help through the Peace Pacer 5k Volunteers ’26 – Google Sheets
Events like the Pacer 5K depend on the funds and support from other businesses. Peace would like to thank Bojangles and Alphagraphics for helping make this event possible.