Lighting up the Campus: A Nighttime Road Run at Fu Jen Catholic University 

Author: Daisy Zhu

To promote a healthy lifestyle and enhance physical fitness among faculty, staff, and students, Fu Jen Catholic University will host the “Campus Road Run” on Friday, December 13, from 5:30 PM to 9:00 PM. This event not only invites Fu Jen’s faculty and students but also brings together participants from 13 universities within the Excellent Long-Established University Consortium of Taiwan(ELECT). Aligning with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) focused on health promotion, the event aims to foster interaction among campuses, building a culture of "Healthy Fu Jen." Through this nighttime run, participants will showcase the enthusiasm and vitality of their respective universities, embedding the values of health and sustainable development into the community.

This annual running event, organized by the Physical Education Office of Fu Jen Catholic University, has a total participant limit of 1,600. The race is divided into four categories: Faculty & Staff, ELECT, Student (from the Physical Education Department), and General Student (from the non-PE departments). The event will take place on the Fu Jen Catholic University campus. All participants are required to gather in front of Chung Mei Auditorium before 6:00 PM, bringing their student or staff ID for registration and to receive a timing chip.

The race distance is 5.1 kilometers, with each lap covering 1.7 kilometers; participants must complete three laps. The route starts at Chung Mei Auditorium Square and ends at the Fenghua Reappearance Square. The event has a 90-minute time limit, and participants who do not finish within this period will be disqualified.

Participation in this event will count toward this semester’s physical activity attendance record, and each finisher will receive a completion certificate. Additionally, the top 10 male and female finishers in each category will be awarded medals and souvenirs.

While the event has been warmly anticipated, it has also sparked some discussions among students regarding its promotion methods. Some students expressed concerns about the way participation was linked to certain course incentives, claiming it created pressure for them to attend.

Regarding this matter, Mr. Chu Sheng Lu, a representative from the Physical Education Office responded, “The purpose of this event is to encourage everyone to engage in physical activity and actively participate in school events. Additionally, the Christmas Campus Road Run has been considered part of the university’s anniversary celebration. The anniversary activities are a series of events held consecutively: First the Sports Day, followed by the Lighting Ceremony, then the Christmas Campus Road Run, and finally the main Anniversary Celebration.