When 13-year-old Michael Boylan crossed the finish line of 5k Chase Charlie race, he turned around and was surprised to see his grandfather running behind him.
Oliver Furniss, 72, said he enjoys running with his family, although his grandson left him behind.
“Every time we run, I typically beat him,” Boylan said.
This year was the second time Furniss competed in the event, which is organized by Ball State students.
He said this year there were a lot more people. About 229 racers participated in the 13th Annual 5k that benefited the Sports Administration Immersive Learning program, about 100 more than last year.
This year, he won third place in the 60 plus age division.
Abby Rieff, a freshman psychology major, said some of the older racers were inspiring.
“When I’m their age I want to do that,” she said. “It makes me not stop ... I better keep going if they’re still going.”
Furniss said he enjoys running because it clears his mind. As a street sweeper for the city of Muncie, he said he enjoys relaxing off the job and not worrying about pedestrians or driving.
“Nobody runs into you [when you’re running],” he said.
To prepare, Furniss said he jogs three to four times a week. Boylan said he runs cross-country at Burris Laboratory School.
Jared Frick, a senior administration major and race co-director, said promoting healthy lifestyles is why the 30 person immersive learning class puts on the race each year.
He said this year there was a larger turnout because the class increased their marketing.
“[It went] great, no cars on the race course for the first time and everyone seemed pretty happy," Frick said.
The titles for overall winner and women’s overall winner went to a couple, Matt Melvin, a guest student at Ball State, and Amanda Weaver, a master’s student of clinical exercise physiology.
This was their first race in Muncie.
“[I was] surprised by the turnout,” Melvin said. “I saw a lot of students running.”
He said he prepares for races by logging 40 miles a week.
Weaver also ran cross-country in college and said she loves the “feeling of accomplishment and the hard work paying off” when she is running.
“The weather was perfect,” she said. “I would have made [the track] more interesting, like more turns and roads."
UPDATE: After an hour of running, participants of Chase Charlie are finishing and refueling with water, bananas and bagels.
Oliver Furniss, 72, finished the 5k in about 26 minutes in his second year running.
“My granddaughter and grandson talked me into it,” Firth said.
Three Ball State freshmen ran the race with their parents.
Natalie Boyles, a nursing major, said she does the race to stay in shape.
“I like the after the race feeling and the endorphins,” Boyles said.
Mallory Baker, an exercise science major, and Abby Reiff, a psychology major, said they loved running through campus and seeing more than just their classes.
EARLIER: About 400 runners showed up to Chase Charlie at 8:30 am, said Jared Frick, a senior sports administration major and race co-director.
The event, which is put on by an immersive learning class, had 100 more people pre-registered to run than last year.
“It’s a great way to build up a healthy lifestyle,” Frick said. “It’s a fun race ... and it helps out student organizations.”
He attributes the increase in turnout to better marketing including a new website, Twitter and Facebook updates, and radio ads.
Funding for the event goes to the sports administration program to help bring speakers to campus and pay for trips.
