Nicole Blanchard
Editor-in-Chief
On Saturday, Sept. 14, as many as 600 people will compete in the second annual Great ISU Ambush 5K, an obstacle race featuring mud pits, tire crawls, wall climbs and more.
According to co-organizer Zara Sivertsen, two weeks before the race roughly 280 people had already registered in teams of four to compete in the mud run.
Because the race is staggered in 15 heats (with 10 teams racing per heat) between 8:30 and 11:30 a.m., up to 150 teams of four are able to compete.
Sivertsen said registration was already closing in on organizers’ goals and numbers increased even more as deadlines drew nearer.
The event is not restricted to Idaho State students and has been advertised as far as the Boise area and Logan, Utah.
“The majority of people are from the Pocatello area,” said Sivertsen.
The race will take place on ISU’s campus, beginning at Bartz Field and concluding in the hilly area behind the Stephens Performing Arts Center.
In addition to race participants, organizers are looking for volunteers to help run the event. Those interested can contact Sivertsen and co-organizers Jordan Reed and Matt Bloxham via email at ude.usinull@hsubma.
Sivertsen said volunteers and sponsors have been an important part of planning the event.
“We have sponsors like ISU Credit Union, Idaho Central Credit Union, Barrie’s Ski and Sports and the ‘Idaho State Journal’,” said Sivertsen. “Most people were pretty receptive.”
Other local organizations, such as New Day Products & Resources, contributed to the packages race participants received. Sivertsen said utilizing local
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businesses for these items was a good experience.
“It’s nice to give back,” she said, “because without [our sponsors] we wouldn’t have a race.”
Sponsors aside, planning the race was a feat in and of itself. Sivertsen explained that she and her fellow organizers were pressed for time when mapping out their event.
“Getting details together at the beginning was challenging,” she explained. “Last year it was planned by the recruiters, so when they couldn’t do it and no one else really wanted to pick it up, Matt [Bloxham] said, ‘We have to!’”
“It’s definitely a team race,” she concluded. “You’ll need your team to help you over the obstacles but it’s definitely going to be a fun atmosphere.”
