Miles for Smiles: Penn State Club Cross Country Ready for 46-Hour Treadmill Marathon Fundraiser for THON

Penn State Club Cross Country will put its love of logging miles to good use this weekend as it hosts the fourth annual “Miles For Smiles” THON fundraiser. The event starts at 6 p.m. on Friday and goes until until 4 p.m. on Sunday.

The 46-hour treadmill marathon consists of runners switching on and off a treadmill in half hour or hour-long shifts. The club’s THON chairs created the event as a way to combine their love of running and raising money for THON. The event was featured in Runner’s World magazine after it raised $4,000 in its first year. Last year, the club members ran 386.65 miles and raised $15,692.75. 

Participation in the event is limited to members of the club cross country team, but the public will be allowed to watch and participate in other activities from 1 to 6 p.m. on Saturday and 1 to 4 p.m. on Sunday. Each hour will have a different theme.

This year, the event is moving out of a small campus apartment where it was held for the past three years and into the West Commons study lounge on campus. The club will move two treadmills in for the weekend.

The event will be live streamed during certain hours on the club’s Facebook page.