Josh Whitman hosts 11th annual game-day run at Illinois

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Sep 3, 2026, 2:51 PM

Last updated Sep 3, 2026

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Summary

University of Illinois athletic director Josh Whitman hosted the annual Game Day Run Club on campus Wednesday. The event, now in its 11th year, began at 6:30 a.m. and drew a crowd of participants for a jog that included the grounds of Gies Memorial Stadium. Columnist Heckel, who has participated in the tradition since its inception, joined the group for the workout. Following the run, participants gathered at Whitman's office for doughnuts. The activity serves as a recurring pregame fixture for the athletic department. Heckel discussed the history and details of the tradition during an appearance on News-Gazette Radio earlier in the day.

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Key Details

•Josh Whitman has hosted the game-day run for 11 years.
•The morning run began at 6:30 a.m. on campus.
•The route included a stop at Gies Memorial Stadium.
•Participants received doughnuts at the athletic director's office.
•Heckel has participated in the club since its launch.

Latest Updates

2:51 PMYahoo Sports — Off and running: Illini game-day tradition continues

What they're saying

"
Sep. 3—Now in Year 11, Illini athletic director Josh Whitman's game-day run drew an early-morning crowd today. Contributing News-Gazette columnist Heckel, a runner and triathlete who writes for the University of Illinois News Bureau, has been part of the Game Day Run Club tradition since Day 1. Today's jog around campus started at 6:30 a.m. and included Gies Memorial Stadium. The reward: ...
— Yahoo Sports

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