By: David Tsai
While on the surface, a few hundred people were able to run a 5K, and some left with awards, the event was successful in another way. This year’s 5K raised over $15,500 for student veterans. Because of the efforts of the many staff members and volunteers, Bergen Community College was able to give back to those who spent their time and put their lives on the line protecting our country.
On November 3, 2024, Bergen Community College held its 9th Annual Hero 5K run which consisted of three races. Two of them, the in-person 5K (the main race) and the Robert Dyer Kids 1K Fun Run, were held at the Paramus campus while the third race, the virtual 5K, was run at the runner’s choice of location. Three hundred sixty-six people registered for the event, which was the second most in its history. This year, the top time for males was 17:22.81 and for females, it was 22:50.91. In addition, like at many 5K races, vendors set up tables with giveaways for passers-by and for runners when their race wasn’t going on.
The main purpose of the Hero 5K is to raise money to support Bergen Community College’s military veteran students, and thus the race is typically scheduled just before Veteran’s Day. Veterans are often older and have other responsibilities outside of school. Their experiences are also unique and it can be hard for them to mix with the general population. For example, mental health issues such as combat Post Traumatic Stress Disorder can affect veterans. Another type of problem is that studying can be a challenge for people with combat-related trauma. The money raised from the 5K goes to an emergency fund and a scholarship fund for veterans, the veteran’s lounge at BCC, and for some veterans to go to the Student Veterans of America Conference.
The event was founded and is directed by Professor Julie Seda of the Wellness and Exercise Science Department. She first got the idea for a race in 2014 when she volunteered for an NJ sharing walk at BCC. Then in 2016, the first 5K came to fruition when the college foundation agreed to help. However, ever since then, the Veterans Committee has been helping Professor Seda with the race. Her best memory of the 5K was in 2019 when a lot of veterans volunteered and ran at the event and they saw how much Bergen Community College appreciated them. Professor Seda is a capable person for organizing the 5K because she has a natural interest in endurance races and she has seen how they work. She has run two marathons and done a Half Ironman, one of the hardest endurance races that exists, consisting of swimming 1.2 miles, bicycling 56 miles, and then running a half marathon (13.1 miles). In addition, she runs a half marathon every year with a personal best of one hour and 51 minutes.
Organizing BCC’s 5K is a huge undertaking for Professor Seda and it takes a few months. She must make sure the shirts are ordered, the race is advertised, the course is marked, certifications for the race are obtained, the power works, a timing company is booked, and many other tasks are done. Then at the event, 50-70 volunteers are needed. Professor Seda arrives at the campus around 3:00 a.m. on race day to make sure everything runs smoothly and because there are always last-minute things to do. At 6:30 a.m., the volunteers start arriving and they help with setup. Later on, they are given jobs such as checking runners in, guiding runners along the 5K course, helping at the water stop, directing people from the parking lot to the race, and giving water to runners at the finish line. Then when the races are finished and the awards are given out, all the workers and volunteers clean up and break down the site.