Emily Dean/ Winonan

Winona State University’s track and field team’s growing numbers were the motivation behind their latest fundraiser.

The women’s track and field team hosted their second annual Winter 5K Dash on Saturday, Jan. 17 to help raise money for traveling costs.

The day began with a 5K run around the lake starting at Jaycee Pavilion and ending at Lake Lodge, followed by a two-mile snowshoe race around the lake.

Mason Rebarchek, the track and field coach, said the cost of traveling has gone up due to the increase in the size of the team.

“We only have so much money allotted to us for travel, so this allows us to get everyone where we need to be,” Rebarchek said.

He said this 5K is unique because it is held in the middle of January.

“We picked January because there are a lot of people who like to run a 5k every month of the year and there aren’t a lot in January,” Rebarchek said.

Rebarchek said they wanted to give the community the opportunity to get out of the house and do something active.

“It’s a chance to get out, a chance to be healthy. People run on treadmills and ellipticals or go to the YMCA, and it’s nice to be able to get out of that dry air of the indoors, breathe some fresh air and run through the beautiful park,” he said.

Rebarchek said runners are interested in 5K for the friendly competiveness that people cannot get by running on a treadmill.

“For athletes, once you get out of college there isn’t a whole lot of opportunity for competitive athletics, so a lot of people like to run and do things like 5Ks for that comaraderie,” Rebarcheck said.

Although the organizers realize the downside of running in January is the possibility of bad weather.

Despite last year’s low temperatures and 6 inches of snow, Rebarchek said the 40 people turnout was more than what they had and they hoped to match the attendance of last year.

“People that run regularly are pretty dedicated,” he said. “People came out last year despite the snow. Some people run 365 days a year no matter what the weather is like.”

This year’s first place winner, Jesse Illian, said that he prefers to run in this time of the year.

“I love the snow and cold. I’d much rather run in this weather,” Illian said.

Illian, a junior in recreation tourism and business, said he had not competed in a race since last year when he participated in a snowshoe race.

Illian said that he’s not much of a competitor runner and enjoys running for fun in the bluffs.

“I love to run on the uneven terrain especially this time of year,” Illian said.

Illian said he enjoyed meeting community members with the same interests as him and will be returning next year to participate in the third annual Winter Dash 5K.