Rat Week & the Running of the Rodents

Monday, April 10 — Thursday, April 13

Running of the Rodents: Rats through the Ages 50th anniversary

One of the Spalding’s proudest and most fun campus traditions, the annual Running of the Rodents, was created by Sister Julia Clare Fontaine after overhearing a student complain about the “rat race” of finals. Since the its inception in 1973, the Running of the Rodents has been a fun-filled, annual Louisville tradition that serves as both a stress reducer and a unique method of teaching students about animal care as well as behavior modification techniques.

Over the years, the Running of the Rodents has received much attention, with segments airing on national news syndicates as well as BBC London, BBC Mexico and BBC Canada. Trivial Pursuit® coined the race as “The Most Exciting Two Seconds in Sports” after 1987’s rat, Deep Throat, won the Rodent Derby in 1.8 seconds.

You can read more about the history of this unique event in our blog post celebrating the 50th Running of the Rodents.

Itinerary

Monday, April 10

Rat Week Kick-Off

Library Pavilion

11:30 AM — 1:00 PM

Tuesday, April 11

Spring Carnival

Mary Catherine Spalding Square

1:00 PM — 4:00 PM

Wednesday, April 12

Spring Blood Drive

College Street Ballroom

10:00 AM — 3:00 PM

Fruit-Flavored Rings Eating Contest

Cafe

12:00 PM

Thursday, April 13

Through the Ages Tailgate

College Street Parking Lot

9:30 AM

50th Annual Running of the Rodents

College Street Ballroom

11:00 AM

Other Event Details

Through the Ages Tailgate

In past years, Spalding has held a parade down Third Street, Fourth Street and Broadway ahead of the Running of the Rodents. This year, in lieu of a parade, we will hold tailgate in the College Street Parking Lot starting at 9:30 AM Thursday, April 13th. The tailgate will run until the start of the community lunch and the Running of the Rodents at 11:00 AM.

Scavenger Hunt and Decades Decorating Contest

During Rat Week, the week of the Running of the Rodents, Spalding will be holding a week-long scavenger hunt. Additionally, in the spirit of this year’s theme of Rats Through the Ages, there will be a Decades Decorating Contest. Stay tuned for more details!

Campus Mural Kick-Off

Spalding’s Campus Mural Committee will begin painting their murals during the Rat Week Kick-Off on Monday April, 10th.

Past Races

Spalding students carrying banner for 1986 rat race

Rat Race '91: Spalding students holding up sign supporting their rat, Susan B Ratony

Spalding students around rat race track as the race begins

Spalding students around rat race track during 1986 Rat Race

Group of smiling students, including one holding a white rat, making a 'W" gesture to celebrate Running of the Rodents victory

Crowd gathered around rat race track for Rat Race 1984

Welcome to the Rat Race banner for Rat Race 1988

At the 2016 Running of the Rodents, rats race around a green oval track with plexi-glass walls while a female student cheers and several onlookers take pictures

Spalding student Amanda Jewell holds a white rat named Luna after it won the Running of the Rodents

Group of human rat race participants after completing obstacle course

Quotes

"My favorite Spalding memory would have to be attending the Running of the Rodents, aka the Spalding Rat Race, every year. I have attended the last five since starting at Spalding my freshman year in 2014. Kentucky Derby season is my favorite time of the year, and it’s super cool to me that Rat Race kind of unofficially starts the Derby festivities in the city. I enjoy getting friends together and walking in the parade beforehand and cheering on my favorite departments’ rat! Once I graduate, I will absolutely come back and attend the Rat Race every year."

Hannah Mattingly
Health Science ’19

"My favorite Spalding memory was when the School of Nursing won the 2019 Rat Race. I had never heard of this tradition prior to transferring to Spalding University, but it was definitely a fun and interesting experience being a 'rat trainer.' We almost won the year before, so I was determined to pull through for first place this year!"

Amanda Jewell
Nursing ’19

“This event is what we’re all about – an awesome sense of community and making sure everyone’s included.”

Ethan Thornton
Business Administration – Marketing ’21

For More Info

Madison Martin
Director of Student Engagement
Phone: (502) 873-4425
Email: [email protected]