Highlander spirits run high at second annual Tartan 5K: A Twilight Run

The warm September sun smoldered like the fire of friendly competition at the second annual Tartan 5K: A Twilight Run, held Friday, Sept. 19, at Rivers Edge Sports Complex in Roanoke, Virginia.

Professor Matthew Close, the faculty senate president, advertised his bona fides with “RU BIOLOGY” in neon green on his arms. Not to be outdone, President Bret Danilowicz scrawled “CATCH ME!!!” in pink on the back of his leg.

“My husband is extremely competitive,” laughed First Lady Kay Danilowicz, who walked the race. “So everybody needs to watch out for the red and silver streak on the course. He did very well last year, and he actually trained this year. He’s being very cocky.”

“I have fun,” the president said with a grin.

So did pretty much everyone at the race, where good vibes and good wishes prevailed for the 150 registered participants – runners, walkers, canines, volunteers and bystanders alike.

The secret? Planning. “We learned a lot in our first year,” said race creator Nancy Loosle, associate vice president of campus life at Radford University Carilion (RUC). “As soon as last year’s race was done, we pretty much started planning again for this year.”

Perhaps the most significant change was in the venue. River’s Edge, the dream destination, wasn’t available in 2024. “It’s a great course,” Loosle said. “We’re hoping in the future, this is where we’ll be able to be.”

The location also serves a primary aim of the 5K: to boost awareness of Radford University’s presence in Roanoke while underscoring the university’s healthcare focus. “This is a way we could promote well-being and encourage folks to take care of themselves while also getting out and promoting Radford to the larger community,” Loosle said.

Asked if she often participated in 5Ks, Courtney Hood, an adjunct professor of early childhood special education, said, “The ones that are for good causes!” She was accompanied by her “god-dog” Loki, a sweet, handsome Doberman. “He really loves people, and he loves being out, and he has a lot of good energy,” said Hood, who’s also the mother of two sons who attended Radford.

Good energy was plentiful as the racers set off at 6:10 p.m., guided by enthusiastic volunteers along the course. More waited at the finish line, ringing bells and dispensing prizes along with cups of water and – especially popular – wet, chilled cloths, provided by the Department of Public Health and Healthcare Leadership.

They didn’t wait long. Freshman Martin Pizano-Franco, an aspiring history teacher from Elliston, Virginia, returned in a mere 18:38:8. “It was a fun race,” a beaming Pizano-Franco said. “It was a beautiful day, a beautiful course.”

He was followed by Mackenzie Gardner of Roanoke, Virginia, and Caleb McNabb of Williamsburg, Virginia. Gardner and McNabb run with a fast crowd: They were among a group of third-year Doctor of Physical Therapy students who teamed up for the race. “We were guilt-tripping people into signing up,” joked McNabb.

RUC students and faculty were well-represented among the racers and volunteers. “This is my escapism,” said Landon Crooks of Virginia Beach, who began the physician assistant program last month. “I love racing, I used to run track, so I thought, why not?” He also praised the course and race organization: “I’ve never had a race that handed out wet towels at the end.”

But even participants without a Radford connection enjoyed the event. Miranda Weems of Atlanta, Georgia, had a more difficult task than most: She ran while pushing her 13-year-old Labrador retriever, Hannah, in a stroller,

Though the course is pretty level by Roanoke standards, “I felt every hill,” Weems laughed later. “I had to walk every hill.” Hannah, meanwhile, looked perfectly delighted with her chauffeured ride.

Weems and her husband, Brandon, had driven to Roanoke from Atlanta earlier that afternoon, enjoying the early fall scenery along the way. The Weemses set a goal to run races in all 50 states, mostly with Hannah riding along. After Virginia, they have three to go, including Hawaii (Hannah will stay home for that one).

When participants crossed the line to cheering, applause and the aforementioned wet towels, Glen Mayhew was there with a medal for each finisher. The interim assistant provost for RUC had planned to join the race himself, but an ill-timed case of COVID-19 sidelined him. “I didn’t have my full breath back yet,” Mayhew said. “I was like, well, you know what? I’m going to be here to cheer everybody on.”

As the sun set, the last walkers filed past, and awards were presented to the top three men’s and women’s finishers. Elizabeth Costa, associate director of student engagement, had patrolled the course on bicycle during the race. She returned with the last of the crowd, still buoyed by the good vibes.

“I got paid to ride my bike today!” she said.

As for Radford’s running president? Danilowicz nailed his stated goal to beat his time from 2024, shaving off about 49 seconds.

Race rundown

• Isabella Walsh, a 2025 graduate now pursuing her Master of Fine Arts degree, won last spring’s competition to design race T-shirts and medals.
• The event was sponsored for a second year by RunAbout Sports, which also provided the race’s water stop, staffed by members of the Alpha Chi Rho fraternity.
•   Roanoke real estate agent Callie M. Dalton ’82, a Board of Visitors member, donated water for the event. Delicia’s Gourmet Ice provided the end-of-race tropical ice treats.
• Gifts for the racers included running belts donated by the Department of Physical Therapy.