As the sun rose over Charlottesville Thursday morning, hundreds of students and community members gathered by the Rotunda steps ready to embark on a 2.1-mile Run with Jim. This was the first run since the Run for Jim which occurred days after former University President Jim Ryan’s forced resignation June 27. According to the organizers of the event, Thursday’s Run acted as an end of semester celebration.
Ryan started Run with Jim — a morning run around Grounds open to all University community members — during his presidency, from 2018 to 2025. During that timeframe, the event occurred multiple times per semester. Thursday’s Run started at 7:30am at the Rotunda and was organized by a group of five fourth-year students and Ragged Mountain Running and Walking Shop.
Students in attendance Thursday said Ryan’s legacy at the University was marked by his effort to prioritize and connect with students. According to Ryan, he started Run with Jim as an avenue for spending time with students outside of other official events like open houses at Carr’s Hill.
“I loved [the Runs] because you [got] to know students you might not otherwise meet,” Ryan said. “And [today’s] was special because it was organized by those incredible students, and it was fun to come back and see people.”
Mark Lorenzoni, Ryan’s running coach and Ragged Mountain Running co-founder, worked with the five fourth-year students to bring the Run to fruition. Lorenzoni said Thursday’s Run was important to reunite students and Ryan.
“[Ryan] didn’t get to say a proper goodbye and the students, more importantly, didn’t get a chance to say goodbye and thank him,” Lorenzoni said.
Ryan’s wife, Katie Ryan, was also present at Thursday’s Run and reflected on the role of Run with Jim over the years. She emphasized the event’s ability to demonstrate the power and importance of community building.
“The fact that so many students would show up, six months after Jim resigned at 7:30 on a really cold morning, just as finals are starting, demonstrates the power of building community and relationships,” Katie Ryan said. “That is a force that carries on in a place and is really important to leadership.”
Second-year Engineering student Sara Elster who was in attendance said she participated in Runs during the 2024-2025 school year, and that she was excited to see the event make a return.
“I saw so many of my friends and people that I knew, and got to run with them. So it was a really fun experience, especially since I haven't been able to do a Run with Jim in a year” Elster said.
One of the student organizers, fourth-year College student Amelia Badipour said she attended the runs throughout her four years at the University. She said the fourth-years were inspired to revive Run with Jim this semester to give University students of all years the opportunity to participate.
Lorenzoni highlighted his belief in the importance of Ragged Mountain Running Shop also helping to host the event for younger students as a reminder of the University’s identity with Ryan as president and what he said is his desire to help continue a beloved tradition for third- and fourth-year students.
“It’s a nice pause to remind ourselves what college life can be about, and what [Ryan] brought to college life for the students, especially the third and fourth years” Lorenzoni said. “[First years] never had the experience with them. Second years, they’re just starting their love affair with him, but the third and fourth years, they feel robbed... That’s what motivated me.”
With this newfound opportunity to connect with Ryan, first-year College student Anirudh Chinthakindi expressed his excitement over getting to participate in the Run after seeing people wear “Run with Jim” shirts from previous years.
“I'm grateful for it … I still think it's a good tradition to keep on going as long as he is willing,” Chinthakindi said.
Fourth-year College student Hallie Rackoff said she had been a frequent attendee of Run with Jim since her first year. According to Rackoff, she hoped the continuation of these Runs would display to first-year students that the spirit of the University is alive. She noted how an important element of the event is that Ryan makes an effort to meet students where they are, no matter their running speed.
“I'll always remember how much Jim cares about [the Runs], too, and that obviously makes the experience so much more special,” Rackoff said. “He's always stopping to talk to everyone at all different speeds … I think [that] really makes students feel seen.”
According to Lorenzoni, Ryan and Ragged Mountain Running Shop plan to host another community-wide Run with Jim in the spring semester with the Downtown Mall discussed as a potential location. He said that this will present the chance for the community to come together to thank Ryan for his work as former president.
Lorenzoni also emphasized words of advice to the next incoming president as the Board of Visitors continues its search for the tenth University president. He noted that it is important for the president to build a relationship with the student body, as that not only leaves a positive impact on the students, but also ensures a foundation of trust and good faith.
“I hope that whoever is coming in is observing this connectedness to students and that facing them day in day out in a positive way is going to help you, because there are going to be times of crisis,” Lorenzoni said.
According to Ryan, events like the Run’s are able to strengthen connections within the University community.
“What makes U.Va so special are the connections in the community, and I think events like these allow for students to make new connections,” Ryan said. “I think that the community is as strong as the connections that exist here. And I think Runs or events like these strengthen those connections.”
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