University of Maryland Air Force Reserve Officer’s Training Corps members partnered with College Park Parkrun and ran their weekly 5K run Saturday morning in honor of Veterans Day.

This was more than an everyday 5K to some students, as the run held emotional weight because it took place on Veterans Day.

“I personally have had a few troops not come home,” junior information science major Donavan Fitzpatrick said. 

Fitzpatrick also mentioned that he ran for veterans who do not have a community like College Park.

Parkruns is a global organization that started in England but came to College Park in 2016, according to College Park Parkrun’s founder, event director and volunteer director Andrea Zukowski.

Members who registered for the 5K also had the opportunity to donate to the Air Force ROTC Development Club, which helps students at this university train for special operations forces. Half of the donations went to the Wounded Warrior Project.

“Not everybody makes it back,” junior Homeland Security major Dean Taylor said. We’re just raising awareness for Veterans Day and just trying to bring the team together and have a good time.”

Sophomore environmental science major Andrew Byrne is a cadet at the Air Force ROTC at the University of Maryland and organized the event.

“Parkrun was an event that … one of my friends had seen some fliers [for] on campus,” Byrne said. “After I heard, I went to one of their races and had an amazing time.”

Byrne partnered with College Park Parkruns because they hold a weekly 5K every Saturday morning.

“We chose to run because we found it was the best way to maintain some of that physicality while also honoring veterans today,” Byrne said.

Featured Image: A large crowd of UMD students and citizens of College Park gather at the starting line in anticipation of College Park Parkrun’s weekly 5K on Nov. 11, 2023. Photo by Franklin Zessis.