JULIANNA FLORES / CONTRIBUTOR

USD celebrated Pi Day on March 14. This day marked the first annual “Pie Run” at the University of San Diego, hosted and sponsored by Honors Student Board (HSB) and the Associated Student Government (ASG).

Torero runners completed a 3.14 kilometer run in under 31 minutes and were met with a whipped cream pie to the face at the finish line.
Toreros arrived in running gear and completed the race for free pie. The course spanned over the back roads of USD, from the Camino Founder’s Courtyard, to the Law Circle and back.

Toward the end of the event, students pied their friends with whipped cream. Julianna Flores/The USD Vista

HSB and ASG sponsored the event. Members of the HSB executive board brought whipped cream and apple pies for runners to enjoy after their run.

USD junior and HSB President Hannah Hentz spoke about why the board decided to host the event.

“We were just wanting to do something for a month of wellness, physically and mentally,” Hentz said. “We were thinking of different things we could do to get people energized during midterms. So one of the things we came up with was a run, and Pi Day is in March, so let’s do a pi run.”

Kyleigh Mcaloon is a USD junior and serves as the HSB physical wellness chair. Mcaloon commented on students getting more involved with wellness programs on campus.

“USD has amazing wellness resources that I wish students would utilize,” Mcaloon said.

Mcaloon spoke on the benefit of having a student-led event to get other students involved.

“It’s students, like us, are the ones who are putting it on, who are doing it, which is even more encouraging.” Mcaloon said. “And so we believe that students would engage better if they witnessed other students also engaging in wellness resources.”

The race began and only 13 minutes and 20 seconds later, USD first-year Tommy Miller finished in first. After his run, Miller spoke about his performance.

“It felt pretty good,” Miller shared. “I was pretty happy with how I ran. It was 13:20 so it was a 6:30 split.”

Once all of the runners finished the event, they all declined a pie to the face but enjoyed a slice. Instead, the HSB members present pied one another.

For Miller, running in general is easier at USD with the San Diego weather.

“I try to run a decent amount to stay healthy,” Miller said. “It’s nice out all the time, so I can run … Where I come from, Maryland, you had 80 degree weather two days ago, and then yesterday it was snowing. But here, every day you can do something outside.”

One runner in particular, USD sophomore Janine Katefell, explained why she chose to participate.

“I usually don’t do Pi Day things but so I saw it on my email and I love to run,” Katefell said. “So I was like, maybe I should try it. I just like meeting more people. It’s always nice to socialize.”

Katefell hit a new PR and finished the race in 20 minutes. Katefell continued on about her running experience.

“Running challenges me in ways that I feel like are a bit harder than other things,” Katefell said. “I always love the endorphins that I get from it after.”

However, not all honors students attended the event. Busy schedules make it difficult for all students to be able to participate. USD junior Miya Wagner shared her appreciation for the event.

“Sometimes with students’ busy schedules it is hard to find time to participate,” Wagner explained. “The event looked so fun though and I would have totally participated if I was available that day.”

Mcaloon said the Pi Day Run is an example of how wellness events can be both beneficial and fun.

“The Pie Run is a really fun example of a wellness resource, because you’re running, which is obviously great for the body, great for a brain functioning,” Mcaloon explained. “But then also, you get to eat pie after. So there’s kind of, like, intentional, like, playfulness so that students engage a lot better.”

USD junior HSB member Hailey Power said the organization hopes to continue the event in the future.

“If people have a good time, we want to hopefully bring it back next year,” Power said.

With runners finishing the race and enjoying pie at the finish line, organizers hope the “Pie Run” becomes a new campus tradition with more runners.

HSB and ASG hosted the ‘Pie Run’ on March 14, giving a new spin on Pi Day. Julianna Flores/The USD Vista