This Summer 2026 for Skyline College Promise Scholars was one for the books!
On Saturday, July 25, 2026, students from the Skyline Promise Movement Club (SPMC) headed to the Embarcadero to take on the San Francisco Marathon 5K!
In the Spring 2026 semester, Promise Scholars met for bimonthly group runs at the Skyline track and also trained on their own between sessions with solo runs. For most of them, the 5K was their first organized race and one of their first experiences with running! Despite balancing school, work, parenting, and plenty of other responsibilities, they stayed committed and kept showing up.
On race day, all three students completed the 5K, putting months of training into action. Promise Counselors and SPMC advisors, Kim Davalos and Matthew Embry, were there to support the group and celebrate the accomplishment with them.
Promise Scholar, Victoria Tsygankova, shared after the 5k race:
“I hate running. It is actually HARD… But I did it.”
Victoria reflected that while a 5K might seem small to experienced runners, signing up can feel like the hardest part for beginners who wonder if they will finish or even belong.
“But the truth is — it feels completely different when you run in such a great and supportive community.”
The opportunity to participate in the San Francisco Marathon 5K was made possible through the Counseling Innovation Fund (CIF), supporting SPMC’s goal of creating accessible spaces for movement, wellness, and community. And although running may not always be students’ favorite activity just yet, the SPMC mission of movement continues to be an opportunity for all Skyline College Promise Scholars into this new academic year!
Article and Photos by Matthew Embry
