Exercise and mental health are essential for a flourishing life, and Taylor’s Wolf PAX club seeks to unite them in a unique way.
Wolf PAX is a low-stakes run club that meets twice a month. Participants gather in the Bond Plaza for fellowship and warm-ups before their run. However, the club is about so much more than just running.
Wolf PAX was initially founded by Wade Frances and Nate Miller as a mental health initiative. They sought to provide a welcoming environment where people could exercise together to unwind from the stress of school.
This year, Wolf PAX is led by Carter Steele, who seeks to continue the founders’ mission.
“This isn’t a serious run club; we aren’t training for anything,” Steele said. “It’s sort of a relaxation time to reset your mind.”
The club is closely related to PAX, a student organization that advocates for mental health.
PAX strives to advertise, finance and promote Wolf PAX. The leaders of both organizations work together to ensure their goals are being met.
“PAX can help facilitate having conversations about mental health and being honest and vulnerable with each other in a healthy way,” Heather Morrow, president of PAX, said.
While the organizations are related, Wolf PAX focuses on the close relation between mental health and physical fitness.
Participants of the club can shift their focus from their anxiety to a productive task that promotes fitness. Additionally, running alongside a supportive community can work wonders to relieve students’ stress.
“I think exercise is so good for mental health,” Morrow said. “It’s a channel for people to be in community together and move their bodies.”
The community of Wolf PAX is one of its distinguishing factors. People from all grade levels and residence halls on campus join together to work toward a common goal.
The club does several things to promote fellowship amongst its members.
Runners gather in pacing groups, allowing for people of numerous skill levels to attend and run comfortably. There is also a walking group for those who do not wish to run but still want to enjoy good company.
“A lot of people want to stay in shape, but they don’t want to do it by themselves,” Hunter Tabor, a regular club attendee, said. “It provides a place for you to start where you are and be encouraged to do it with people that you know are going to be around your pace.”
Tabor and other club members look forward to free donuts and coffee provided by PAX at the end of each run. The refreshments provide time for people to catch their breath and chat with others who may have been in different pacing groups.
Steele is pleased with how Wolf PAX has been running so far. He thoroughly enjoys the fellowship and would love to see more people join the club, but he is still content with how this year has been going so far.
“I’d do it if there were just 10 people every week or if there were 100,” Steele said.
The leaders of PAX and Wolf PAX do not want the act of running to be a barrier for people to attend club meetings. This is why they created the walking group, which they encourage those who are hesitant about running to join.
The club meets at the Bond Plaza outside the Stu. Steele encourages anyone who is interested to contact him so they can join the Wolf PAX GroupMe.
