Auburn, Alabama, is typically known for college football, but on this cool and sunny Saturday, runners made the campus their home arena. Maybe it's the college town energy. Maybe it's the fact that everyone you pass says "War Eagle" like it's a greeting, a battle cry, and a life philosophy all at once. Or maybe it's just that the entire campus shuts down to support runners, and that kind of community investment makes you want to run faster. You could tell this wasn't just another race—this was an event the whole city cared about.
This is the first year the War Eagle Run Fest has been a 2-day event, with 6,400 runners signed up for the 5K, kids' fun run, half-marathon, and marathon. The 5th anniversary of this event was presented by Publix, Glenda Mitchell Law Firm, Auburn Opelika Tourism, Michelob Ultra, Conecuh Sausage, and more. The start of the race was just outside Jordan-Hare Stadium, and to cross the finish line, runners had to go through the tunnel and onto the field for an epic finish.
🏟️ Only Fans
Not everyone had someone running in the 5K with them. Not everyone had someone cheering them on from the sidelines. But everyone had someone in their corner, from the DJs to Aubie the Tiger, who were encouraging runners from start to finish.
The Last Word 🥂
While I’m not a runner (cyclist, sorry), I love seeing everyday people lace up their shoes and get active together. Running community events like this are a perfect reason to get up early on a weekend (maybe one of the few reasons I’d ever get up early). Melanin MVP is part of the Everyday Athlete Podcast Network, and if you want to hang out with the crew at future running events, check out the Run Club tour dates down below!
Oakland Marathon - March 22nd
Pittsburgh Marathon - May 3rd
Salt Lake City Foothills Race - May 31st
San Francisco Marathon - July 26th
Beat The Blerch - September 6th
Hustle In The Heartland - October 10th
I couldn’t resist a photo of Frozone.
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