The fifth annual Chancellor’s Challenge 5k run will commence this Friday at 12:15 p.m. Over 1,000 participants are expected.
In the past, the Challenge has been run exclusively on the cross country course, but this year things are going to change.
The new route begins by RIMAC and takes runners down through Marshall college, along Library Walk, then back up to the start/finish line with only part of the race going through the eucalyptus grove, the traditional cross country haunt.
The Chancellor’s Challenge is much more than just a 5k run however, and last year it raised over $158,000.
“”Right now, it looks like we are definitely going to beat last year’s total of $158,000 and much of that is due to Charlie Robbins,”” said Brian Daly, who is in charge of donations and scholarships for this year’s race.
Robbins, a former UCSD trustee, will match up to $15,000 in donations and has done the leg work behind many of the corporate sponsorships at this year’s Challenge, including sponsorships such as a $15,000 donation from Fisher Scientific and $10,000 apiece from Audrey Geisel and the Doctor Seuss Foundation, and John Moores and the San Diego Padres.
“”Charlie has just been terrific and we really owe him a big thank you,”” Daly said.
All the money that Robbins and others have raised goes to two scholarships.
The first is a research scholarship and the second is a community service scholarship.
The research scholarship is for students who mentor with a teacher and is competitive, meaning it is applied for individually.
The community service scholarship is for incoming freshmen. The freshmen are nominated by their high schools for what the schools perceive to be outstanding service to the community. The winners are then picked by UCSD.
Dynes is providing another $40,000 dollars in matching funds, which comes from unrestricted funds that, as chancellor, Dynes has control over and can spend toward the university as he sees fit.
This makes a total of $55,000 in matching funds to be provided by Dynes and Robbins, and assures that this year’s Challenge will bring in at least $110,000 in added need.
Beyond matching up to $40,000 dollars, Dynes will provide $25 out of his own pocket for every person that beats him. However, this is not as easy as it may sound, for the Chancellor is one tough competitor
Last year the Chancellor finished 170th with a time of 23:42, a donation of $4,250, but that still leaves over 800 people who did not have enough in them to beat him.
Ken Grosse, assistant athletic director at UCSD, and coordinator of the athletic side of the race, says even some of the athletes who are competing in the event should be worried about Dynes beating them.
“”Chancellor Dynes is out there every day running the course and getting ready for the event,”” Grosse said. “”He is serious about this. I know that the coaches and athletes that are competing are always saying, ‘we’ve got to beat the chancellor,’ but they need to be careful.””
Dynes also has a standing bet running with the A.S. president such that if the chancellor beats him, Doc Khaleghi must wash Dynes’ car.
On the other hand, if Khaleghi happens to pull out the victory over Dynes, the chancellor has to donate funds for an A.S. barbecue.
In addition to the Chancellor’s Challenge of $25 for every person that beats him, professor Frances Dynes Hellman is donating $25 for every woman who beats her, and Vice Chancellor of Health Sciences Ed Holmes will pay $25 to every person from Health Sciences who beats him in the race.
For those who want to participate in the race, there are many ways to apply. The application is available with Adobe Acrobat Reader directly off the Chancellor’s Challenge Web site, http://www.ucsd.edu/5k, and there are application forms handy at RIMAC, Geisel, Scripps Institution of Oceanography and the Faculty Club.
All mailed applications are due by Oct. 25 and walk-in applications are being accepted at RIMAC on the 26 from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.
“”This is really a great deal for students,”” Grosse said. “”You get a free t-shirt and food, plus you get to be a part of something that has really turned into a campus signature event.””
Registration is $5 for students and $10 for anyone else. “”Day-of”” registration is available and will be $10 for students and $15 for others.
“”Every year the event gets bigger and better, and this year is going to be no exception,”” Daly said.
For more information about the Chancellor’s Challenge or to sign up and see how you rate aginst the chancellorand others, go to the Web site or contact Brian Daly at (858) 822-8236 or Kyra Randle, who is charge of entrants and volunteers, at (858) 822-1537.
