More than 500 people started off their mornings by running with Kent Syverud to kickoff a day of events celebrating his inauguration as Syracuse University’s 12th chancellor.

Syverud and members of the SU community began the Inauguration Fun Run in the Orange Grove on the Quad, wound around SU academic buildings then down the Connective Corridor route and finished in the grassy area between the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and the Schine Student Center. The run was 1.2 miles-long, signifying Syverud’s appointment as SU’s 12th chancellor.

Syverud came up with the idea to host the run, which was the first of its kind, said Joseph Lore, director of recreation services. Lore said Syverud approached the committee that organized the inauguration in February with the idea for the run, among other events.

“He wanted to start his Inauguration Day with the SU community in a fun, healthy way,” Lore said.

Before the pre-run registration time of 6:15 a.m., more than 400 people had already signed up to run with the chancellor. Another 100 runners signed up during the pre-run registration time, Lore said.

“Since we scheduled it for 7 a.m. on a Friday, we thought we might get 100 people,” he said. “But we ended up over 500, which is truly amazing.”

The run was divided into three groups: the fastest runners at the front, recreational runners in the middle and walkers in the back. There were no timers for the run.

When he crossed the finish line, Syverud immediately started cheering on those still running, greeting them underneath the tower of orange and blue balloons that marked the finish line.

Even though the run was early in the morning, Ben Evans said he was impressed with the turnout for 7 a.m. on a Friday.

“To be honest, the free t-shirt made me want to come out, but I was happy to help ring in the new Chancellor,” said Evans, a freshman in the L.C. Smith College of Engineering and Computer Science.

The first 200 registrants received a free commemorative t-shirt with the words, “I Ran with the Chancellor” inscribed on the back. Those who weren’t one of the first 200 participants were able to pick up a t-shirt from the registration tent following the run.

Other students, like Rachel Friend, a sophomore psychology major, just wanted to take advantage of running alongside Syverud on the day of his inauguration.

“I thought doing the run would be fun to do, especially with the chancellor getting inaugurated and all,” she said.

The official inauguration ceremony will take place at 4 p.m. in Hendricks Chapel with the academic procession into the chapel beginning at 3:30 p.m. Following the ceremony, an inaugural celebration will be held on the Quad with food, music and entertainment.

Published on April 11, 2014 at 12:32 pm

Contact Justin: jmatting@syr.edu | @jmattingly306