15th Annual Hap Hudson 5K Sets Tone for Mississippi College’s Homecoming Saturday
Members of the Clinton community know Joel “Hap” Hudson as a legendary athletic trainer and coach at Mississippi College, a longtime Department of Kinesiology adjunct faculty member, and a treasured friend.
Hudson’s popularity is never more apparent than during the early morning hours of Homecoming Saturday, when about 200 runners and walkers gather to participate in a popular 5K race named in honor of the MC Sports Hall of Famer.
The 15th annual Hap Hudson 5K, sponsored by the Department of Kinesiology, is scheduled to begin at 8 a.m. Oct. 29 in front of Cockroft Hall. As has been his custom for years, Hudson will be on hand to greet his admirers and fire the starter’s pistol to send participants off on the meandering course through the MC campus and the Brick Streets of Olde Towne Clinton.
The race will culminate at Robinson-Hale Stadium with a final lap around Parkman Track before participants cross the finish line. It’s a beloved tradition that has grown with time, according to Dr. Suzanne McDonough, Professor of Kinesiology, who started the event and has served as race director ever since.
“When I came to MC, Hap and I got to be really good friends,” McDonough said. “At the time, Dr. Chris Washam (professor and chair of kinesiology) was looking for some way to incorporate alumni into our Department of Kinesiology and develop a fundraising strategy. I’d had experience directing races, so he suggested I start one here at MC.
“Hap loves students, he loves competing, and he loves athletics. I asked if he would let us name the race for him, but he was hesitant. I talked to his wife, Johnnie Ruth, and eventually, he agreed.”
The race is fully certified by the United States Track Association, meaning the measured course is exactly 5 kilometers, or 3.1 miles, long. The USTA certification attracts participants from across the Southeast.
The race boasts plenty of familiar faces at Mississippi College: Before the race begins, MC President Dr. Blake Thompson leads participants in a prayer; Cindy Melton, dean of the School of Education, always claims the No. 1 bib; and Michael Wright, dean of enrollment management, and Tracey Harrison, associate vice president for marketing and communication, are frequent participants.
The race isn’t Hudson’s only legacy at MC. Thanks to a vested endowment partially funded by the event, hopefully a portion of MC’s athletic training room might have some additions in honor of the 1959 graduate.
Some of Hudson’s dearest friends enjoy helping out during the race. Through the years, Woody Barnett, the Department of Kinesiology’s 2012 Alumnus of the Year, has provided the official timing, and has advised on health protocols. Pete Porter, another of Hudson’s closest allies, contributes photography services.
Members of the senior-level exercise physiology class help with race management, and other kinesiology faculty, staff, and students spend their Homecoming mornings making sure the race takes place without a hitch.
Kinesiology faculty member provide key aspects of the race, too. Dr. Zack Vosen serves as the co-race director, Dr. Carol Barnes is the finish line specialist, Dr. Scot Long oversees traffic control, Dr. Keith Randazzo oversees race day set up, and Penny McNair manages the food. Kinesiology students even participate in the selection of a procured list of songs that appear on the race’s official Spotify account.
Several local businesses have signed on to provide refreshments, door prizes, and sponsorships. Mother Nature has even pitched in – despite unseasonable temperatures some years; the race has never been postponed.
McDonough said the race is an ideal activity for families.
“We’ve had participants pushing strollers along the course, runners have brought their dogs – anyone who can make it 3.1 miles can participate,” she said. “Kids love it because they can compete for medals, which are awarded to the top three finishers in each age group.”
Hudson’s grandson, Grant, participated in the first race when he was only five years old.
“His father said he could do it, so we let him run,” McDonough said. “And he did finish.”
Grant Hudson is now a defender on MC’s men’s soccer team.
The race has proven to be a literal lifesaver. A local resident once approached McDonough about starting a fitness regimen to help improve his health. She designed a running program for him and suggested he participate in the Hap Hudson 5K.
“He didn’t start running until he was about 45,” she said. “The first year he participated in the race, he did pretty well – about a 12-minute pace. The following year, he went to 6.06 minutes and ended up beating much younger men.
“Whenever I would see him in town, he would say, ‘That’s the lady who saved my life.’ This race helped him flourish.”
In keeping with MC’s academic mission, McDonough said the Hap Hudson 5K presents a learning opportunity for kinesiology students.
“They learn how to put on an event and raise money,” she said. “They learn about the importance of relationships. If you have a relationship with people that you nurture, whether professionally or individually, it will pay off. That’s what drives Hap.”
Pre-registration for the Hap Hudson 5K costs $25 each or $30 on the day of the race. Proceeds from the race help MC kinesiology students pay to attend regional conferences and compete in college bowls. The race also funds a $250 cash award for the recipient of the Kinesiology Student of the Year Award. Other donations are used to purchase lab equipment and facilitate research.
All participants will receive a race T-shirt. Plenty of door prizes will be available, so no one should leave the race empty-handed.
For more information about the Hap Hudson 5K or to register for the race, click here.
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