UCLA came together in pajamas and running shoes on Sunday, April 19.
The 26th annual Bruin Run/Walk 5K, hosted by the Student Wellness Commission, is one of the university’s biggest community events, bringing together students, alumni, families and friends to run or walk through campus in support of scholarships and student programs. This year’s theme, slumber party, gave the event a relaxed, almost surreal energy — people showed up in matching sets, sweats and everything in between, turning the course into something that felt more like a community celebration than a race.
Even with the early start, the turnout and energy made it clear why people keep coming back.
“I woke up for the 5k with five hours of sleep debating whether to go but am super glad I did,” said Charles Kim, a first-year physics student. “It was such a vibe to run into people I knew and connect with other UCLA runners. I especially loved the petting zoo and live band to come back to after the race.”
That mix of effort and reward is part of what makes the Bruin Run/Walk stand out. The course itself winds through familiar parts of campus, but the experience goes beyond just running. At the finish line, participants are met with music, activities and space to hang out — turning the event into something social rather than just physical.
“It was really fun, I did it with my roommates and it was cool seeing all the people support a good cause,” said Thomas Van Fleet, a fourth-year psychobiology student.
That sense of shared purpose is central to the event. While it’s open to all fitness levels — whether you’re running competitively or just walking with friends — it’s ultimately about showing up for the UCLA community as it raises funds for The Painted Turtle, a free-of-charge camp for children with serious medical conditions.
Even beyond the cause, it’s the atmosphere that sticks. Running through campus in pajamas, seeing familiar faces and ending the morning with music and activities — including performances from UCLA student band the 529s — creates a kind of energy that’s hard to replicate in day-to-day student life.
For a lot of people, it’s more than just the 5K.
And that’s exactly why it’s something worth doing each year.
