Georgetown University’s Newspaper of Record since 1920

The Hoya

Georgetown University’s Newspaper of Record since 1920

The Hoya

Georgetown University’s Newspaper of Record since 1920

The Hoya

The NSO Letters: Chris Rom

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JINWOO CHONG/THE HOYA

Dear Georgetown Class of 2018,

In a few weeks, flyers will plaster campus. They’ll be promoting interest meetings for the 300-plus campus organizations. One in particular demands your attention: the Georgetown Running Club flyer. I highly recommend heeding the message on this flyer and joining the non-varsity running group on campus. Here’s why.

The People

Obviously, college is a time to meet a ton of new people and form strong friendships. Many of my closest friends are my fellow runners. Why? Aside from the shared interest, we really got to know each other by taking the time to talk. While running, there isn’t much else to do but talk. So invite an acquaintance out for a run, keep the pace relaxed and just chat.

The Location

Of course, it helps to have cool topics of conversation, provided by the scenery of Washington, D.C. The District is a running Mecca. From campus, the White House is only 1.9 miles. (Learn the route for election night 2016 when all of campus runs there to celebrate the president-to-be.) It’s two miles to the Lincoln via the waterfront, another mile to the Washington Monument, and just one more to the Capitol. Almost every museum and landmark is within a quick run. Alternatively, there are beautiful routes up and down the Potomac, as well as the Rock Creek Park trails, which offer an escape from the pressures of the city.

Stress Relief

Speaking of pressure, college is hard. I’ll admit, I’ve been over-caffeinated and underprepared for a few exams. Running helps me deal with that. Post-exam, I love burning that remaining caffeine buzz on a hard run. I just run and run and run until the worries of the exam evaporate from the heat of physical exhaustion. All that’s left is the contentment of being done (with the exam and the run).

Running does allow a more reliable and healthy stress relief. Just getting outside is enough to put things in perspective when life seems like it’s getting out of hand.

College was the first time in my life where I was in complete control of my schedule. This responsibility meant I had to answer questions. When can I run? Eat? Sleep? Study? Hang out with friends? These questions involve tradeoffs, which can be tough. Sometimes, I’ll go to bed early on a Friday night, because I wantto wake up Saturday ready to run. I know, crazy. Georgetown is full of incredible opportunities, but it’s impossible to do everything. Making choices on how you’ll allocate your time and choosing what you really want to do requires serious introspection. For me, I choose, among many things, to run. I hope you will too.

Yours,
Chris Rom (COL ’16)
Orientation advisor, former Georgetown Running Club captain

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