Each year, the Billings Catholic School System hosts the community gathering and race, Running on Faith. This is a time for students, parents, and friends to challenge themselves, grow closer to each other, and strengthen their faith. Students and parents of all different ages gathered at Saint Francis this year to participate, with over 180 people competing in the race. On top of that, dozens of parents came to cheer on their kids and give thanks to the community.
The race was a 3km loop around Saint Francis and through Rose Park, with a water station halfway along the loop. Competitors of all ages raced, some as young as 3 years old and some as old as 80. The overall winner of this year’s race was Easton Mossman, with a blistering time of 10 minutes and 22 seconds. When asked how this race helped him pursue his faith, he said, “I just feel like Jesus is behind me no matter what I’m doing, in athletics and everything else I do in my life.” Just a second behind him was Bo Stapler, with a time of 10 minutes and 23 seconds. The first-place winner for the girls was 13-year-old, Hannah Trickey, who ran with a pace of six minutes and eleven seconds per mile. Upon being questioned about the race she replied, “I don’t know, I like winning.”
After the race, all the competitors and parents made their way over to the basketball courts, where a barbecue with hotdogs, hamburgers, chips, and drinks awaited them. Kids smiling and no longer hungry, they could now set their focus on the most anticipated part of Running on Faith, the booths. Billings Central and St. Francis sports and clubs represented with their own unique stands.
There was a wide range of activities between the stands: Cross-Country stand held an obstacle course where you had to run over obstacles and land a shot into a bucket for a reward, and there was also an instrument petting zoo, organized by the Central Music Department, where anyone could try out an instrument of their liking. All the proceeds from the stands went straight to the corresponding club. Bella, from the Saint Francis Student Council stand, said, “I’m running for officer in student council, and they asked me to work [the stand] so I worked it!” There was a stand for anyone whether you wanted a smoothie, to run through an obstacle course, or enjoy watery fun in a bouncy house.
From the race to the activities afterwards, aspects highlighted throughout Running on Faith were family and faith. People came together to compete and laugh all while supporting the school and each other. After the race, sophomore, Quinn Clark, a volunteer from Central said “It’s just a good way for everybody to come together as a community, so we can all just share the joy and love that the Ram family has.” The sense of community was strong between the students and teachers running the stands, the families chatting with each other, and all the kids playing and exploring together. This year’s Running on Faith has set a high bar for future events.
