Faculty First Year Seminars 191ENGL11 - Couch to 5K (UMass Edition)

This First Year Seminar offers students a chance to exercise both body and mind as we work together to master the basics of a 5K race, and, at the same time, the UMass campus. Running will start after our first class, with students divided into training groups. (These will change halfway through the term.) Over the subsequent 13 weeks, students will run with their classmates with the overall goal of improving their fitness. Homework will consist of regular runs each week with classmates. Class meetings will alternate between group runs around campus to significant spots and in-class discussions that will give us a chance to review our readings and take stock of our progress But running is not our only goal! Weekly workouts may improve athletic ability, but through shared runs and in-class time, students will also: learn about campus and its resources; strengthen time management skills; start to master a work(out)/life balance; reflect on the paths other runners have taken; and finally, build community with classmates. At our final class meeting, we will run our same 5K to see if we?ve improved our running strength and our understanding of UMass.

First-year (R1ST)