At 9:30 a.m. every other Saturday, people gather at Bond Plaza in athletic gear and running shoes.
They stretch out their legs and warm up their ankles, chatting with each other before they hit the roads around Upland. On October 19, they started their run west along Reade Avenue.
Wolf PAX, the new Taylor run club, has been meeting since September on every other Saturday. PAX and the Taylor Student Organization (TSO) host the event. Senior Wade Frances, student body president, and junior Nathan Miller, PAX president, had the idea to start a run club at Taylor.
Frances likes to run, but is even more excited to do it as a community.
“It’s a really good release,” Frances said. “You just get to be with friends; you meet new people. I've been here for four years, and I've met new people that are around my same year just through this run club that we've done two or three times so far.
All people are welcomed at the club, and dogs as well. On October 19, Mick Bates, director of innovation and entrepreneurship, brought his goldendoodle Luna with him.
Luna ran around greeting people and playing with them. Frances welcomed the runners to the club through a megaphone. Everyone stood in a big circle, shoulder to shoulder, and Frances prayed over the attendees. Then, they split into their separate groups.
The club provides several different groups. One group walks the route, another runs two miles and the rest of the options are for three miles. Frances sets up different pacers for seven, eight, nine, ten and eleven minute miles.
Miller said there is no pressure to perform at the club. It is a light and inviting environment, and people can feel comfortable running or walking at a good pace for them.
“With PAX, a lot of our events are more serious events,” Miller said. “And something that I want to do – and I hope that Wolf PAX will help this – is create also events that are just kind of light and fun as well, because that's also important for mental health as well.”
One by one, the runners started their watches and hit the road. Gravel crunched under people’s sneakers, and the two mile group could hear “Shut Up and Drive” by Rihanna playing.
As people ran, they started up conversations. Bates enjoys the walking group because he can talk and get to know people for the entire time.
“If we're at Taylor, we're all about intentional community,” Bates said. “Wolf PAX draws people from all over the campus together, so you're going to run or walk (together). Now walking – I like walking because we actually do talk the whole way. It's a very social activity that goes on there. And like I said, I met three new students today that I didn't know. So you're combining the fellowship (and) the community with getting some exercise. And, come on, 9:30 is not that early in the morning.”
The club first met on September 7, and October 19 was Bates’ second time attending. Miller said 50 people showed up for their first run, and Frances said 70 people attended on October 5. Some cross country runners got involved as well.
People not only attend for the community; they also get free donuts and coffee, compliments of the TSO office.
Frances said they received funding for the coffee and donuts. Miller hopes to use some of the funds for Wolf PAX merch in the future. If people want to donate to the Wolf PAX, they can contact Frances.
Miller also hopes to get more of the Upland community involved. Miller said Steve Austen even brought his kids one Saturday.
Frances encourages people to run with someone new, but he also said that it is cool to bring a friend.
To get involved with Wolf PAX, all you have to do is show up.
“Show up and show out,” Miller said.
People can also be involved by volunteering to be pace setters. Frances said he tries to get different pacers for each meeting. If people are interested in being pace setters, they can contact Frances at wade_frances@taylor.edu.
Whether walking or running, Wolf PAX welcomes people to join their pack.
