The frigid temperatures chilled the lungs of the runners at the beginning of the Sunset 5k run at COD’s Food Truck Rally. Some bounced about in an attempt to regain the warmth lost in their cloudy breaths, while others more bold wore only their bare chest. Participants ranged from the experienced runners and athletes, to families looking for a mutual activity, to charismatic groups of people walking along. The 5k presented an opportunity for anyone to get outside and exercise while they could, according to the event’s advertising, “Support and provide a dedicated scholarship to each high school district served by College of DuPage for their graduates who attend COD.”
Amongst over 100 members of an all-encompassing crowd, there could only be one individual who could finish first. Clocking in at 16:07, #147 Michael Von Borstel trotted over the finish line into the stadium before anybody else.

Von Borstel is currently in graduate medical school at Midwestern University in Downer’s Grove but was a college runner two years ago. Although he does not train as frequently as he once did, he continues to run to stay healthy, defuse mental stress, and break up his studying. Von Borstel compared the Sunset 5k to other races he’s participated in.
“It was a fun race and a great day,” he said. “It’s a really nice, fast course out here that’s really well organized without any cars or anything in the way. It’s really good for fast racers as well as just a casual person because it’s such a big race here today. Even a casual runner could hop in and still have fun with the race.”

This seemed to be true with children finishing with some of the swiftest returning crowd. Women pushed strollers rolled in, and friends smiled as they picked up their race-concluding bananas from volunteers.