U public relations students are trading their campaign plans for running shoes for the upcoming Salt Lake City Marathon.
Besides running in the races, which include a marathon, half marathon, bike tour and 5k on April 18, members of the U chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America will help set up and participate in different events.
“We’ve been on campus promoting the race for the last 45 days,” said Marshall Hartley, president of the U’s PRSSA chapter.
Students set up a booth at the Rock the U dance marathon for 20 hours to encourage students to run Salt Lake City’s annual marathon or another event.
The U student chapter is offering a $6 discount to all students who register through the chapter, and a portion of proceeds from marathon registering costs go to the Huntsman Cancer Institute.
“They told me two weeks ago that the marathon is reaching the $1 million mark in donations this year,” said Jeff Wall, a member of PRSSA and a senior in communication.
Danielle Lail, a PRSSA member and senior in communication, said students have been putting up fliers on campus to let others know about the event. She said they want about 500 students to sign up for the races. Students who sign up through the student chapter receive a red U bib. Students from Brigham Young University are also participating.
“Walking the 5k is a good option for students who don’t have the time to train for the full marathon,” Lail said.
Wall said he ran the marathon once but doesn’t have the time to train for 26.2 miles.
“I’m running the half marathon this year,” Wall said. “I’d love to do the whole marathon but you have to commit 10 to 20 hours a week to get ready for it.”