On Valentine’s Day morning, runners gathered along the Rillito River path at Curtis Park to complete a 3.1-mile course as part of a race created and directed by a University of Arizona student.

For Paityn Thirsk, the Love to Play 5K is more than a themed community event. The race serves as her honors thesis project and a hands-on demonstration of her sports management education, designed to support youth access to sports in Tucson.

Rather than submitting a traditional research paper, Thirsk chose to build something tangible, an event that would extend beyond the classroom.

“My inspiration for creating and directing the Love to Play 5K came from a combination of my professional experiences, my academic goals and my passion for community impact,” Thirsk said. “I knew I wanted to create something that would actually live beyond the semester.”

The race will benefit the Sporting Chance Center, a Tucson nonprofit dedicated to increasing access to youth sports.

Tom Carle, general manager of the Sporting Chance Center, stated the partnership aligns closely with the organization’s mission.

“Any opportunity to bring members of our community together with healthy activities is a win,” Carle said. “We are a unique indoor sports facility in southern Arizona that serves a wide variety of athletes.”

Carle mentioned that Thirsk’s preparation and leadership were clear early in the planning process.

“From the first contact and discussion with Paityn, her energy and awareness made it clear she would work to make this an excellent event,” Carle said.

Thirsk developed the concept during early conversations about the thesis. Because the event needed to take place during the spring semester without interfering with finals, a Valentine’s Day theme became a natural fit.

“I’ve always loved themed races because they feel more fun, memorable and accessible,” Thirsk said.

Chris Moran, an honors faculty advisor at the UA, noted that the project demonstrates experiential learning in action.

“She’s learning how to run an event from start to finish. It brings the textbook alive,” Moran said.

According to Moran, classroom concepts such as marketing strategy and sponsorship negotiations take on new meaning when students apply them in real time.

“You can read about marketing campaigns in a textbook, but unless you’re actually trying to reach people in the community and adapting when things don’t go as planned, you don’t really know what it feels like,” Moran said.

As race director, Thirsk has handled nearly every aspect of the event — securing permits, designing the course, managing registration, writing sponsorship proposals and coordinating volunteers.

“Directing the Love to Play 5K often feels like a full-time job on its own,” Thirsk said.

Taylor Beeman, a UA student volunteering at the race, mentioned that Thirsk’s organization and commitment motivated her to get involved.

“I genuinely love races and the energy they bring, but I also wanted to support Paityn and the amount of hard work she has put into organizing this event,” Beeman said.

He assisted with event setup, participant check-in and staffing an aid station during the race. According to Thirsk, hosting the event along Tucson’s river path helps connect the university with the broader community.

“It creates a shared experience centered around running and community engagement,” she said.

Launching a first-year race without an established participant base has been one of Thirsk’s biggest challenges.

Originally aiming for 200 participants, she secured more than 60 runners ahead of race day while continuing to work toward a $5,000 fundraising goal. 

“The event was great,” Thirsk said. “We had 87 registered participants and raised about $4,300, all benefiting the Sporting Chance Center. Everyone seemed to have a fun time, and it was really special to see the community come together for a good cause after so much hard work. One participant even ran the race with friends the morning of their wedding.”

The Love to Play 5K emphasizes inclusivity over competition. Participants can run or walk at their own pace, and race-day festivities will include community tabling and Valentine’s-themed activities.

For Thirsk, success extends beyond registration numbers.

“Success looks like smiling faces, smooth logistics and a positive overall experience,” Thirsk said. “Enjoyment and community connection matter just as much as numbers.”

The W.A. Franke Honors College provided financial support for the event.

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