On the evening of May 14, 2025, the Garching campus became a resonance chamber of footsteps, voices, and heartbeats. The 11th TUM Campus Run, organized by the TUMJA office in cooperation with TUM4Health, the student health initiative, continues to inspire more participants each year: students, staff, and alumni. This year, a record-breaking 2,400 people took part.
As always, runners could choose between two distances: 5.5 and 11 kilometers. About one-third opted for the shorter route, while most went the full 11 km. But numbers and performance are not the main focus. It’s the shared experience that counts: More than 320 teams of five to nine people – from student groups, university departments, student clubs, and administrative offices – painted a colorful picture of the TUM community.
“You know the people – that’s a huge motivator,” said one participant at the finish line. A student added: “Crossing the finish line together is an amazing feeling – total goosebumps!” As organizers, we couldn’t hope for better feedback.
The route leads runners out of the daily campus routine into the fields, through floodplain forests, and along the Isar River – now, for the first time, also on the eastern bank, thanks to a new pedestrian bridge. It’s a course that puts things into perspective: the stress of the semester, physical exhaustion, the drive to outperform others. What truly matters is the feeling of being carried by the collective.
Some departments now even ask about running motivation during job interviews. A few participate with up to three teams of nine members each. Around 10% of TUM professors take part – many in the popular Professors’ Challenge over 11 km. Professor Filip Mess defended his title for the eighth time with a consistent performance. Professor Laura Fabriatti improved her time from last year and is now listed on the Professors' Trophy for the second time.
The event is part of a broader health initiative. TUM4Health supports participants with training plans, recovery tips, and mental coaching. This holistic approach makes the Campus Run more than just a sports event – it’s a social and emotional highlight.
Everyone who takes part experiences what a university can truly be at its best: a place where people move – physically, mentally, and as a community. In a time increasingly shaped by digital acceleration and individualism, the Campus Run reminds us that we are human because we move forward together.
The 11th TUM Campus Run fits perfectly with the call of #class24 and reflects what makes us human: the desire for connection, the sharing of experiences, and the collective celebration of reaching the finish line.
“What makes us human?” – Maybe exactly that.
Our sincere thanks go to everyone who helped make the event a success:
- our cooperation partner TUM4Health,
- the volunteers on race day, especially from the Student Council for Sport and the TUMJA scholarship holders,
- the Student Representation for technical support,
- Facility Management, the University Executive Board, and the TUM Shop,
- the Campus Fire Department,
- for music and atmosphere: the associations MIA SAN TUM & PRAIAS DO ISAR,
- for the trophies: the AuTUM vocational training workshop,
- for permits: the Garching Public Order Office, the Municipality of Eching, the Munich District Administration, and the Water Authority,
- our dedicated neighbors in Dietersheim,
- ProLehre Media Production for the beautiful video,
- Sebastian from RaceSolution,
- the Getränke Altinger team,
- and Uli from 4mediafactory for his creative poster series and signage design.
Special thanks to: Babsi, Dennis, Désirée, Klaus, Niels & Peter.