Celebratory 5k to Honor the Retirement of Kevin Marsh May 2

Race Info
Date and Time: Friday, May 2, 4 p.m.
Location: start and end on the quad in front of the Liberal Arts Building, ISU campus
Distance: 3.1 miles

Celebrating Kevin Marsh
Dr. Kevin Marsh is a beloved history professor at Idaho State University and is retiring after 22 years of teaching. Marsh's research focuses on the history of the American West with a special focus on environmental history and water management. His classes, such as Idaho History and U.S. Environmental History, are a perennial favorite among history students. Faculty in the History Department know that he has quietly built the department into a thriving, supportive community over the course of his career. Marsh is also known for his community engagement and has won the ISU Outstanding Public Service award not once, but twice.

In addition to his academic work, Marsh is a dedicated and impressive runner who regularly completes ultramarathons - we hope this 5k will serve as a little warmup jog for him. He routinely gives back to the outdoor recreation community by volunteering for races and trail maintenance both here in Pocatello and in Sun Valley. Everyone who has run, worked, or studied with him likely knows that he has modestly served and built up each community that he is a part of. This race is a small token of our appreciation of him as a colleague, mentor, and friend.

Registration
Participants can use this link to register in advance or register in person on the day of the race. There is a $25 registration fee, which can be paid in cash or on Venmo. This money will go towards creating a Kevin Marsh Scholarship fund, which will support history students at ISU.

Swag
Remember your run with your very own Kevin Marsh Celebratory 5k t-shirt! Shirts will be available to the first 50 participants to show up on race day. Wear it with pride to celebrate Kevin Marsh all over town.

Race-Day Check In
On race day, please check in on the quad between 3 - 3:50 p.m. All participants will be required to sign a brief waiver.

Course
This 5k course takes you on a rolling 3-mile route alongside Red Hill (NOT up to the top), featuring beautiful views of the ISU campus. Runners will start on the ISU quad just in front of the Liberal Arts building and head past the Administration Building to S. 8th Avenue. There, you will cross the road at the crosswalk and turn right onto 8th. Cross Red Hill Road on the crosswalk, and take the asphalt path on your left. Although we will have volunteers to help manage traffic, please be aware and cautious of cars. Stay on the asphalt path of Red Hill Trail - if you take the dirt path, you're in for an extra climb! When the path forks, stay to the right towards Mountain View Cemetery.

When you reach the cemetery, take an immediate right. You will turn left at the third cross-street, then left again at the far edge of the cemetery to complete a small loop back to Red Hill Trail. Then, you'll go back the way you came. Please stay to your right to avoid crossing paths with runners coming the other direction. Once you make it back to campus, you'll turn left at the quad and finish with a celebratory loop. Take the inclined path rather than the stairs in front of the Student Union, and come back to the finish line to celebrate!

This is a fun run (and unfortunately not a Boston Marathon qualifier), so there will be no timing chips or bibs. However, there will be a unique award for the top male and female finishers.

Parking
Parking is available in the lot next to the Liberal Arts Building (in front of Frazier Hall). ISU Parking has allowed parking privileges for this event and will not ticket this lot on Friday after 3 p.m.

Facilities
The Liberal Arts Building will be open, and racers are welcome to use the restrooms and water fountains inside.

Race Day Schedule
3 p.m. Registration opens - look for our table on the quad in front of the Liberal Arts Building
3:50 p.m. Pre-race announcements - please gather by the starting line
4 p.m. Race start
4:20 - 5:30 p.m. Post-race celebrations. Water and light refreshments
5 p.m. Top finishers announced
6 p.m. Kevin's Retirement Celebration at Jim Dandy Brewing, 305 E Lander St.

Celebration at Jim Dandy's
After the run, join us for a celebration of Kevin's retirement at Jim Dandy's, starting at 6 p.m. Invite your non-running friends, too.