As the time passed 9:30 a.m., much of UB was still sleeping Sunday, still in bed on a lazy morning before football games, late breakfasts, and cherished weekend vegging out.
But while much of UB slept in, over 900 people clad in 1,800 pairs of running shoes and jogging shorts hit the North Campus pavement early Sunday for the 16th annual Linda Yalem Safety Run.
The run promotes safety awareness and is held in honor of Linda Yalem, a UB student who was raped and murdered while running on the Ellicott Creek bike path in 1990. One of the 5k races in the Buffalo News Runner of the Year Series, it annually draws over 1,000 participants to run, jog, or walk the 3.1-mile race route.
"It advocates safety and not walking alone, but also community," said Andrea Costantino, director of Student Life. "It's a way for the university to interact with the community."
The event started when bagpipes played "Amazing Grace," followed by a moment of silence for victims of Hurricane Katrina. New Athletic Director Warde Manuel had the honor of firing the gun shot that started the runners on their course.
This year, volunteers were doubled along the route to encourage runners as an added measure.
"The last two-tenths of a mile is uphill, so it's nice if they're warned ahead of time," said Costantino.
The overall male champion, John Flor, finished with a running time of 15:32. Flor, a senior civil engineering student, also won first place in the student category.
"I was doing it to see where I was at, to gauge my fitness," he said.
The first place female finisher, Allison Carr, ran the Yalem race for the second time and came in 14th place overall.
"The course is a little challenging. There were a lot of turns and it's uphill right at the finish," she said. "You're feeling not so good and you start that hill and feel even worse."
The top overall male and female winners received cash prizes. Other second and third place winners of all age categories received a Linda Yalem Run cooler pack.
Students said despite the fun that was had, the race gave a sense that this run was for a worthy cause.
"It's a great cause supporting women's rights and women's advocacy," said Tricia Grannum, vice president of the Black Student Union, who had volunteered at the Yalem race for three years, but ran for the first time on Sunday.
"It feels so good to be running," said Rachael Brust, a junior biochemistry major. "It's for a really good cause. It's good to be aware. I know people who go out running and walking by themselves, but my parents taught me not to do that. Unfortunately, bad stuff happens even in the safest cities."
Most participants, like junior Kori Charles, had their own unique reasons for running.
"One of my teachers challenged me," said Charles, a physical therapy major. " I plan on beating my professor. I just found out about Linda Yalem. I think it's horrible what happened. I'm glad it's in memory of her."
Runners from outside UB were also very much a part of the race, which annually attracts participants from across New York and other nearby states.
Nancy Hejaily, 35, an Amherst resident and UB alumnus, runs together with her whole family. She pushed a jogger stroller with her 4-year-old daughter and eight-month-old baby snug inside, sheltered from the threatening rain.
"This race is a good idea. It's done a lot to raise everyone's awareness in Amherst," she said.
The event also featured a Kid's Dash where children ran a small area for prizes. Twenty-five children participated in the run. All children received free treat packs with toys. Jan Schaner's 8-year-old son, Joshua was one of the participants in the dash.
"It gets him used to being around athletics," she said. "It's good for the community. It's good for the college.
