With flowers blooming and spring setting in, the Manhattan community came together on April 25 for the 5th annual Run for the Roses.
An appearance from the Pride of Wildcat Land marching band, themed activities like face painting for kids and, of course, the flowers, transformed the K-State Gardens into a lively space. Raising $25-30,000 per year, the event funds horticulture interns at the Gardens.
Fundraising for Run for the Roses started with directors and committee chairs like Terry Olson.
“Before the race, what goes on is an entire year of planning and preparation by volunteers on our K-State Gardens Board of Directors,” Olson said. “You wouldn’t believe how much time we spend on getting the t-shirts and participant medals just right.”
Olson said Run for the Roses offers a unique experience, making the race popular.
“In year four, we added a military discount to match the student discount of $25 entry in the 5K, and we saw a dramatic increase in registration to 700,” she said. “Serious runners appreciate the fact that our 5K course is USATF Certified, so if they run a really fast time, they are eligible to be listed on the Kansas State Running Records Honor Roll.”
Olson said the increase in participation speaks to the credibility of the race and growth of the Gardens.
“It exposes many people to the Gardens who have never visited before,” Olson said. “It’s a really fun, family-friendly event. Some people come just to watch even when they don’t have a runner friend or family member involved in the race.”
While Olson focused on bringing the event to life, participant Mattie Thornton, sophomore in kinesiology, showed up for reasons of her own.
“I was looking for something to motivate me to better myself,” Thornton said. “For a while, I had been saying that I wanted to get back into running, but I couldn’t find the motivation. Signing up for the Run for the Roses 5K gave me something to work towards. The last thing I wanted to do in the race was walk, and so I had a month to prove to myself that I could still run for three consecutive miles.”
Thornton said participating in cross-country during her high school years motivated her to complete the race.
“The vibes for this race were so high, and I got to run it with one of my best friends at K-State,” she said. “It was a fun course considering it was on campus, and I thought having a lap on the track was very special.”
Building off her positive experience, Thornton encourages those on the verge of signing up to do it.
“The environment is so fun, and there is no stress at all,” she said. “It’s always fun to push yourself and see what you’re capable of. You may surprise yourself, and hey, everyone loves getting a medal.”
If Run for the Roses wasn’t on your radar this year, the 6th annual event is tentatively planned for April 24, 2027, giving runners, walkers and first-time participants another chance to enjoy the liveliness of this blooming tradition.
