The American Heart Association designates April “Move More Month,” encouraging Americans to engage in regular physical activity to enjoy better health for longer. It is the same goal that drives the work of UTMB’s Preventive Medicine Initiative, the student group that organized last month’s PMI Heart and Sole 5k.
Energized by the success of the race, their first in-person endeavor after launching with a virtual run in 2023, the group is motivated to advance its mission of promoting health and fitness in the community.
“We are going to grow the race, but we are also going back to our original philosophy of getting people to exercise,” says Ethan Ha, MS3 in the John Sealy School of Medicine. “We are going to focus on targeting people who have never run a 5k before and getting them into a training program.”
It was Ha’s experience recovering from surgery that inspired the original 5k and training program. Through his experience, he recognized that more knowledge about training programs, like Couch to 5k, could be beneficial to physicians helping their patients strive for better health. Although Ha had always been athletic, he would have appreciated more guidance as he eased back into physical activity.
Last year’s virtual run showed the PMI members that there was enough interest at UTMB to continue the event and even grow it. The students took a big step in deciding to host an in-person race this year – and it turned out to be the right move. Keeping registration costs low thanks to generous sponsors, the event sold out all 250 slots, with both in-person and virtual registrants.
It attracted a wide variety of participants – mostly students, along with several UTMB faculty and staff members, and even some community members unaffiliated with the university.
Runners came to the start line with different levels of running experience and different goals, but the opportunity to run with others was a motivating factor for many. Anaelle Lahitte-Crohare, MS3, said the team component of the race brought groups of friends together, allowing for encouragement and accountability.
“Highlighting the team awards, like Best Dressed and Best Team Name, brings a lot more fun to a physical activity,” she says.
The group gives the example of one team, running under the name “Andrew’s Arrhythmias,” that won Best Dressed for their matching shirts.
“They were more motivated to run regularly after the 5k, because for some of them, it was their first time running a 5k. All the hype around getting the team award and getting their team shirts together for the 5k – it was really encouraging to see how much of an effect the 5k had,” Stephanie Kim, MS3, says.
Jessica Ngo, MS3, also observed families running together, including young children. She said it was rewarding to see, since getting kids interested in exercise from a young age is an important part of building healthy communities.
After the race, participants enjoyed a finisher festival that featured booths from community sponsors and UTMB organizations, many of which showcased healthy living themes. For example, one group had a “vitamin toss,” teaching participants about what different vitamins can do for the body.
In addition to the 5k, PMI has been hard at work on other programs that advance its mission. One of them centers on nutrition, introducing healthy, tasty, affordable foods, to help combat conditions like diabetes. At the finisher festival, they shared samples of overnight oats.
The 5k also succeeded from a philanthropic standpoint, raising about $600 and 21 pairs of shoes to benefit the Mobility Clinic at Grace Central Church, a student organization dedicated to helping the underserved have access to proper footwear and foot care.
Although the 2024 race was just last month, the group already has big plans in the works for 2025. Ha is excited to continue serving as director for the 5k, and he hopes to register 500 runners next year. PMI will also be seeking out funding opportunities that can help grow the race and advance PMI’s overall mission.
Learn more about the Preventive Medicine Initiative and its current projects.