Scot Trot Virtual 5k To Help Support PC Student Athletes

PC will told their first Scot Trot 5k November 9-16.

PC will told their first Scot Trot 5k November 9-16.

Mitchell Mercer, Staff Writer

Do you like running a lot in your spare time when you have nothing else to do? Are you a person who loves to give back to the community through special events? Have you ever participated in a race where not only do you get to run a certain mileage, but have your proceeds go to a specific organization?

Then the Scotsman Club’s Inaugural Scot Trot Virtual 5k is the perfect event for you!

Presbyterian College’s Scotsman Club recently announced that they will be hosting the Inaugural Scot Trot Virtual 5k from November 9th to the 15th. Not only are PC students, alumni, and faculty encouraged to sign up to show their school spirit, but anyone is welcome to sign up and participate. 

From November 9th to the 15th, you can run a 5k wherever you would like and once complete, you can record your results on the Scotsman Club website. All proceeds from the race will help support student athletes here at Presbyterian College. 

Katharine Anne Ashmore ’14 of the Scotsman Club said that the main idea of creating a virtual 5k was to allow the PC family to support student athletes that attend Presbyterian College.

“We wanted to create an event inclusive to all PC alumni, students and friends, despite location to support our Blue Hose student-athletes. This semester, with athletics being postponed, has been particularly difficult for our student-athletes and their coaches. We wanted to remind them that their PC family is still here and supportive despite not being able to cheer them on this fall. The goal of the event is to boost morale, spark engagement, and create a space for the PC community to feel connected despite being socially distanced” Ashmore said.

The biggest challenge for Ashmore and the Scotsman Club was creating the 5k from scratch and organizing it from there.

“The biggest challenge was creating the event from scratch since we have never hosted anything like this before. We also wanted to make sure we were maximizing our resources in order to ensure the greatest level of support for our student-athletes” Ashmore said.

However, when asked about how exciting it was coming up with a new way to support student athletes, Ashmore said it was very energizing to come up with a new event to participate in at PC.

“Absolutely! It is invigorating to develop new traditions to add to the rich PC culture” she said.

The most important thing for Ashmore when creating the virtual 5k was uniting the community to help support a common cause.

“Tuition costs alone do not fully fund our Blue Hose athletic programs. Community support is essential to ensuring our student-athlete success. By hosting an event like the Scot Trot 5k we not only support student-athletes philanthropically but we are also able to support them through community engagement efforts,” she said.

“During such unusual times, hosting an event like the virtual 5k reminds us that we are part of a bigger community, the PC family. I believe we could all use a little morale booster right now and that is what we wish to accomplish with the Inaugural Scot Trot 5k.”

The good news for Ashmore and the Scotsman Club is that the feedback for the 5k has been received well and that many are signing up to join the 5k.

“The reaction of alumni, family, and friends of the college has been great! People are excited to participate in something new that also directly benefits our Blue Hose student-athletes. Our registration number grows each day, but as of now, we are at 178 participants! We are so excited by this response especially since it’s the first year we’ve hosted the 5k” Ashmore said.

Right now, the cost to sign up for the race is $45 and you have until November 1st to do so. Not only will everyone receive a t-shirt (size preference not guaranteed), but participants will receive other surprises as well.

“The first 200 participants will receive a race bag with an Inaugural Scot Trot t-shirt, a race bib, koozie, and a couple of other surprises. Participants can complete their 5k and record their time on the Scotsman Club website anytime between Nov. 9-15” Ashmore said.

Not only does Ashmore want to make this a huge event for the college, but she wants to develop it into a major event that the college holds every year. Her future plans are to have it on homecoming weekend and keep a virtual option for those who are unable to attend.

“Our goal is to host this event each year in person during Homecoming weekend as well as having a virtual option for those who would like to participate but can’t physically participate that weekend” Ashmore said.

PC alumni are also chiming in to help.

Justine Schindel, a PC alumni, decided to give back to her college and sign up to do the race to help student athletes here at PC. Schindel is on the Scotsman’s Club Executive Board and is the Digital Committee Chairman. When asked about giving back to PC students, Schindel replied with an answer that she uses every time she gives back to the PC community. “I always come back to a similar answer when asked these questions — I continue to give back because of all that PC gave me!”