At Cedarville University, the bonds formed among students and faculty extend far beyond the classroom walls. Andrew McKay, resident director in Lawlor Hall, understands the value of relationships and is combining it with his passion for running—in the 57thannual Xenia Marathon on April 7.The run is sponsored by the Ohio River Road Runners Club.

Running has been a new interest of McKay, so when he decided to run in the local marathon, he chose to use the event to strengthen existing relationships with Cedarville students, staff, faculty, and alumni while running for a greater cause.

In the Xenia Marathon, McKay and a field of 27 students and Cedarville colleagues will lace up their shoes to compete in the Xenia Marathon, which also includes a half-marathon and a 10K run. The group has been in training for months, and on race day, they willdemonstratethe unity, camaraderie and perseverance that defines the Cedarville University experience.

McKay’s interest in running stems from his courtship with his wife, Katie McKay, who previously competed in the marathon and has a passion for running.After cheering for one of his friends in the 2023 Columbus Marathon, McKay was inspired to train and compete in a marathon.

Little did he know that his newfound hobby would inspire others tojoin him.

“One way that I enjoy mentoring the team of RAs is sharing my life with them,” said McKay.“Recently, running has been taking up a lot of time and has become a big part of my life.After sharing my passion for running, several of the Cedarville resident assistants were inspired to try running themselves.It has been incredible to see how the RA team has grown through the marathon training experience and how we have bonded even tighter—and it has been a lot of fun.”

Whether it be enduring19-mile runs together or sharing their daily runs with one another on Strava, a running app, the Cedarville runners have encouraged one another to run the race God set before them.

Nonetheless, running a marathon comes with itsfair share of challenges. Before McKay and his wife signed up for the Xenia Marathon, she was diagnosed with Lyme Disease, which caused her to battle serious fatigueand joint and stomach pain. Despite these challenges, she clingsto her faith and pursues her training despite the pain.

“A lot of people know that Katieis good at running and that she has been training hard for the Xenia Marathon,” added McKay. “However, few people know that she has been dealing withdifficult health issues behind the scenes. She is a fighter and doesn’t let Lyme Disease serve as an excuse for not accomplishing her goals.”

Despite the obstacles McKay and his wife have faced, they have found joy in the journey and the friendships they have made along the way.

“I am most looking forward to running the race and seeingall the hours of hard work pay off for Katie andfor allthe people who are running with us,” McKay said.

Located in southwest Ohio, Cedarville Universityis a Baptist university with undergraduateprograms in arts, sciences, and professional programs, and graduateprograms. With an enrollment of 5,456 students in 175 areas of study, Cedarville is one of the largest private universities in Ohio and is recognized nationally for its authentic Christian community, rigorous academic programs, and high graduation and retention rates. For more information about the University, visit cedarville.edu.