Running for a cause: ATSU students and employees participate in annual Phoenix 10K
Posted: April 14, 2026
Students, staff, and faculty from ATSU’s Mesa, Arizona, campus, woke up bright and early on Sunday, Nov. 9, 2025, to participate in the 50th annual Phoenix 10K and Marathon, one of Arizona’s original road races. Founded in 1976 by Art Mollen, DO, the event began as a small local race and has grown into a large-scale community event.
Each year, participants have the option to run or walk a 5K (3.1 miles), 10K (6.2 miles), or half marathon (13.1 miles), and in 2025, the event added a full marathon (26.2 miles). Additionally, children ages 3 through 12 have the opportunity to participate in the Mollen Mile. Proceeds from the event benefit the Mollen Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preventing childhood obesity and promoting healthy lifestyles in local schools.
Beginning with the first race at 6:30 a.m. and throughout the event, attendees and race participants strolled through the expo and visited vendor booths hosted by local and national sponsors, including ATSU.
In addition to volunteering, ATSU students, faculty, and staff represented the University on the course, including Tamara Valovich McLeod, PhD, ATC, FNATA, FNAK, FNAP, director, professor, and chair, athletic training, ATSU-Arizona School of Health Sciences (ATSU-ASHS), who ran the 10K.
“It’s been a while since I’ve done some races, and this was a great opportunity to come back out, support ATSU, and support this race,” Dr. McLeod said.
Ann Lee Burch, PT, EdD, MPH, FNAP, ATSU-ASHS’ dean, also ran the 10K alongside Ami Mikhail, MS, PA-C, ’03, assistant professor, physician assistant studies, ATSU-ASHS. Like Dr. McLeod, Dr. Burch had participated in a handful of previous races and decided to support ATSU at this milestone event.
Some students on the course included Shannon Madden, a first-year student in ATSU’s School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona, and Eddie White, a second-year student in ATSU-ASHS’ Physical Therapy program, both of whom ran the half marathon. Madden used the November race as a tool to prepare for a full marathon. Meanwhile, Akosua Afriyie, a third-year dental student in ATSU’s Arizona School of Dentistry & Oral Health, ran her first 10K.
“I ran today just to push myself,” Afriyie said. “I used to be an athlete, and I saw this as an opportunity to get back into my training and be healthy.”
ATSU runners highlighted the sense of accomplishment that comes with completing a race, as well as the enjoyment of participating in an event that brings the community together. Student racers noted how running helps them stay focused in school and serves as an outlet during particularly demanding times. With community spirit and stamina on full display, the race offered a meaningful opportunity to step outside the classroom, prioritize wellness, and represent ATSU.
To view the race start, visit atsu.edu/2025-race-start