Running leaves a deep footprint across Westlake University. Its Runners Club boasts a following of over 290 members, including Westlake President Yigong Shi, who kicked off the academic year last fall with an early morning jog with students. And both Westlake campuses prominently feature running tracks -- one encircling the buildings of Yunqi, and another set in a corner of Yungu among the verdant grass and trees.

To find out what motivates Westlakers to move their feet and stay on pace with this popular form of exercise, we asked them to tell us why they run. Here are their answers:

President Yigong Shi is seen running on the track at Yungu Campus.

"I run because running is a healing lifestyle."

- Yigong Shi, chair professor and president of Westlake

Westlake Runners Club members do warmup exercises.

"I run because I want to keep feeling the aging process stops."

- Mohamad Sawan, chair professor of Westlake's School of Engineering

Prof. Hongtao Yu is seen running on the track at Yungu Campus.

"I run because it makes me happy."

- Hongtao Yu, chair professor and dean of Westlake's School of Life Sciences

Westlake Runners Club members are seen running in the morning at Yungu Campus.

"I need no reason to run."

- Yitian Zhu, Westlake Runners Club member

Xinqing Xu (front right) is seen running on the track at Yungu Campus.

"I run for health and happiness."

- Xinqing Xu, executive deputy director for Westlake's Office of General Service

Westlake Runners Club members are seen running in the morning at Yungu Campus.

"I run because running reassures me."

- Xinwen Fan, Westlake research assistant

Prof. Jian Li is seen running on the track at Yungu Campus.

"I run because we run."

- Jian Li, principal investigator of Westlake's School of Science