"The question that a lot of people who run most offen get from non-runners is : “WHY DO YOU RUN?”
90% of the people who run (or walk) will answer: “FOR MY HEALTH”. And that is true because only 10% of the runners do it to perform. Nothing wrong with that – far from it. Health is therefore the main trigger that causes us to tie up our running shoes en masse lately.
But unfortunately there are also many people who are unable to run, due to illness, for example. That's why you can interpret walking or running for health differently : and that's running for the health OF OTHERS. Running for a GOOD CAUSE.
And let this be the main objective of the campaign "VUB LOOPT!" (“loopt” means “run” in Dutch) of VUB Foundation in collaboration with VUB Sport.
With VUB Loopt, the Vrije Universiteit Brussel wants to get as many employees, alumni, students and sympathizers as possible running throughout the year as well as raise awareness about sports with the aim of raising money for the VUB-UZB Paul De Knop Fund for immunotherapy. To bring this challenge to a successful conclusion, we need your support. On this platform you can be inspired how you too can walk or run and at the same time support the fight against cancer. Curious about what we have on the agenda this year? See below which different running activities you can participate in.
Run initiatives
Start to run
Get ready for Brussels 20KM
Cross track
For a number of years now, an official "Cyclocross" has been taking place on our campus in Etterbeek. The "Soudal Brussels Universities Cyclocross" as part of the X2O bathroom Trophy”. For this cross, a challenging course was drawn crisscross through our campus. Wouldn't it be a shame that this is only used for one day a year? So we thought, let's permanently signpost that route, in memoriam of our honorary rector Paul De Knop, so that it can be walked or ran on for the rest of the year. Start and finish of the approximately 2500m long course is situated to the left of the entrance to the athletics track on campus. And then it's a matter of looking straight ahead for the arrows in eyeshot to successfully complete the route. Tip: look at the arrows in front of you. Since the trail makes a loop, you sometimes also see (the back of) arrows from another part of the route. And in the entrance hall of the sportscomplex on campus, building L, you can find a routemap of the track. Put on your running shoes and go explore!" NEW TRACK AVAILABLE AS FROM THE WEEK OF THE 4th OF MARCH.
Start to run
"Start to Run" with running buddy Aurelie from 12 February to 24 May 2024. 2 guided training sessions per week starting 10 weeks before the 20KM of Brussels. Monday from 5-6 p.m and Wednesday 5-6p.m. Meet in the entrance hall of the VUB Sports Complex on campus. This series of lessons is meant for runners with little running experience who want to get ready to participate in the 20KM of Brussels in a coming year. Register here your participation via the VUB Sport app - all you need is a sportscard with punch for the Sportmix 2023-2024 and you're welcome to join all the trainingsessions.
Send an e-mail to sport@vub.be and let us know your interested in this initiative and we'll contact you with more details on how to join. And book your sessions via the VUB Sport app under campus "Elsene/Etterbeek", "Sportmix", "Start to Run".
Get ready for Brussels 20KM
On to the 20KM” with running buddy Aurelie from February 12 to May 24, 2024. 2 training sessions per week starting 15-10 weeks before the 20KM of Brussels. Tuesdays an Thursdays from 5-6 p.m.. Meet in the entrance hall of the VUB Sports Complex on campus. For runners with enough running experience but who have never done the 20KM before and wants to get ready to participate in the 20KM of Brussels this year. Register via the VUB Sport app and all you need is a sportscard with punch for the sportmix 2023-2024 to be able to joint these trainings and become part of our VUB running community!
Send an e-mail to sport@vub.be and let us know your interested in this initiative and we'll contact you with more details on how to join. And book your sessions via the VUB Sport app under campus "Elsene/Etterbeek", "Sportmix", "Get Ready for the 20Km".
VUB Runs the 20KM of Brussels
Participate in the 20KM of Brussels costs 30€ for VUB and EHB students, staff and alumni. Students of the VUB and EHB will receive a 15€ refund afterwards, provided that they have actually ran (or walked) the 20KM. Or 40€ including a “VUB Loopt UV SPF+50 t-shirt”. €2 per participant goes to Paul De Knop Fund. €10 per t-shirt. Registrations open on March 14th via Registration VUB Runs the 20KM of Brussels | Vrije Universiteit Brussel.
SORRY, THE 20KM ORGANIZATION HAS INFORMED US LAST WEEK FRIDAY THAT THE EVENT IS FULL BOOKED, SO NO MORE REGISTRATIONS TO JOIN THIS EDITION POSSIBLE. PLEASE DO JOIN US NEXT YEAR.
Exclusive “VUB Loopt” running shirt UV SPF+50
The late honorary rector Paul De Knop was a sports fanatic who loved sports in the open air. Because 30 to 50 years ago we were not yet well aware of how harmful sunlight can be for our skin, we did not always provide the necessary protection from the sun during exercise. In 2020, we know better. Exposing your skin to sunlight too regularly can lead to skin cancer. Sunscreen with a factor of 50+ is no longer a luxury. But during endurance sports, regular lubrication can sometimes be forgotten. Hence our tip: protect your skin with a sports shirt adapted for this purpose. For €10 you buy an exclusive sun protect UV+50 t-shirt from VUB Loopt. Send an e-mail to sport@vub.be and let us know your size, gender and name. You can pick it up later at the VUB Sport reception in the entrance hall of the VUB Sports Complex on the campus in Etterbeek (building L).
VUB corporate identity running shirt and / or short
A "real" runner? Then you can also contact VUB Sport for the purchase of a running shirt and / or short. €25 each. €5 each goes to the Paul De Knop Fund. Available in sizes S, M and L. You can do this at the VUB Sport reception in the entrance hall of building L on the Etterbeek campus from Monday to Friday between 9 am and 9 pm (best to send an email to sport@vub.be in advance stating the desired clothing size ... then we'll get it ready for you).
Athletics Track on campus
Running on the athletics track of the VUB in Etterbeek? That's possible, with your VUB Sports Card (buy your card online here). At the VUB Sport reception you can then have 10 or 20 accesses to the track charged onto the card. For every 10 accesses, VUB Sport pays one euro to the PDK fund.