First Night Run marks the start of a new tradition at Utrecht Science Park

An almost full moon shines over Utrecht Science Park, which is bathed in light. In the distance, a DJ warms up the crowd. Tonight, Utrecht Science Park has been transformed into a magical running track for the very first edition of the Utrecht Science Park Night Run.

The Accelerator business complex on Uppsalalaan is bustling with activity. Runners come and go, some dressed in Christmas lights, others in modest fluorescent shirts.

The 1,800 participants are picking up their race numbers here, eating a plate of pasta or making a quick pit stop at the busy toilets before starting their five-kilometre run.

Along the way, light installations, live bands and even a fire artist create a special atmosphere. Those who opt for the ten or fifteen kilometres run the course several times. In addition to individual distances, there are also relay options for teams and a special 1.5-kilometre Kids Night Run.

First time back
Friends Marieke and Mendel warm up in one of the corridors. Both studied at Utrecht University, but no longer live in Utrecht. For Mendel, the run has a special meaning. "Our friend Sterre died in an accident here at the USP a year and a half ago," she says. "This is the first time I've been back. For me, participating in this run is a way to process that event and remember her."

Former student Keije, who has just finished at Uppsalalaan, is also back at USP for the first time. "I'm not an experienced runner," he pants, "but I thought it would be fun to take part. I still live in Utrecht and used to come to USP a lot during my studies. The passage through the Botanical Gardens with the lights and music made for a magical atmosphere."

Renewal at the Science Park
The Night Run is organised by Central Events, a Utrecht-based sports event organiser, which was also responsible for the former Campus Run, a “building run” through the Science Park.

“The Night Run is replacing the Campus Run,” says Martin de Ruiter, project manager for the event. “The campus run concept came to a standstill because fewer and fewer institutions were willing to open up their buildings. We have decided to do this in consultation with UU, HU and UMC Utrecht. Running is hot, and Utrecht didn't have a Night Run yet.”

Although everyone is welcome, the Night Run is mainly aimed at students and employees of the Science Park. "It's a real competition with time registration and prizes, but it's not about breaking records," says De Ruiter. "It's about kicking off the weekend in a festive way with friends, students or colleagues. We also hope to bring more liveliness to USP."

For this reason, the run is deliberately held on Friday evening. Afterwards, there is an after-party with a DJ until 11 p.m.

Sold-out success
The interest exceeded all expectations. "We were aiming for 750 participants," says De Ruiter, "but the registrations poured in. In the end, we had to close registration at 1,800."

About 500 participants in the run are students, several hundred work at Utrecht Science Park, and the rest come from outside Utrecht. Half of the runners are between 20 and 30 years old.

"The remarkable thing is that we did hardly any marketing," says De Ruiter. "All tickets were sold out within a month, purely through word of mouth and social media."

In addition to sport and fun, there was also room for a good cause. Participants could get sponsored for the Dutch ALS Foundation via their personal campaign page on Supporta.

One of them is Tjerk, a lecturer at the Utrecht University of Applied Sciences. He ran ten kilometres and raised 205 euros. "Friends came up with the idea to participate, and because I know someone with ALS, I immediately signed up for sponsorship," he says. "The preparation was short, three times five kilometres in two weeks, but I did it," he laughs.

De Ruiter considers the event a success. "We wanted to get people moving in a unique way," he says. "Thanks to the enthusiasm of the participants and the perfect weather, we have certainly succeeded. This is, without a doubt, the start of an annual event."