Thatcher Markham Memorial Run, Presented by Aspirus Health

Packet Pickup
Packet pick-up for pre-registered runners/walkers and late registration will be held on Thursday, 6/12/25, the day before the race at Copper Country Running Company (318 Shelden Ave, Houghton, MI) from 5:00pm - 8:00pm. Race packets can be picked up by others, if needed.

Race Day
Race Day registration and pre-registration check-in/packet pick-up near the race start (maybe Keweenaw Co-Op), 4:00pm – 6:00pm. Race packets can be picked up by others, if needed. Race Day packet pick-up and registration will end promptly at 6:00pm.

The pre-race staging area is Dakota St between Quincy St and Hancock St (across from Finlandia Old Main). Restroom facilities at the race start will consist of several porta-potties.
Starting line is on Quincy St near the intersection of Dakota St in Hancock (west of downtown). All participants must be present for staging no later than 6:45pm. We will stage on Dakota St (south of Quincy St) and then move out onto Quincy St to get in starting positions after traffic has been stopped for the Bridgefest parade.

Race Start (runners and walkers together) at 7:00pm to be followed by the Bridgefest Parade at 7:05pm.

The use of headphones is strongly discouraged for the safety of our participants, as portions of the race course are not closed to traffic.

Race Course
All runners and walkers must stay ahead of the parade until the race course leaves the parade route (about 1.5 miles). If you are caught by the parade lead vehicle, you must step off the course onto a sidewalk (this has not happened in the past).
This is a flat and fast 5K course with no major uphill climbs and a net elevation loss from start to finish. There is one major downhill section.
Race course is Quincy St east through downtown Hancock, right turn onto Reservation St, left onto Front St, over the Portage Lake Lift Bridge on the northbound lanes into Houghton, left onto Shelden Ave through downtown Houghton.
At the end of the parade route at Franklin Square runners and walkers will transition to the sidewalk eastbound on College Ave.
At this point the course is not completely closed to traffic and participants must proceed no more than two abreast for the remainder of the course. Runners and walkers also must stay on the left side of the road at all times, facing traffic. There will be an aid station with water and sports drink adjacent to the College Ave sidewalk.
The race route proceeds to the entrance of the Michigan Tech campus with left turns onto Cliff and then Phoenix Drives – downhill to the Michigan Tech Central Receiving building, this is the only significant grade on the course, please use caution – making a turnaround turn to the left around the stop sign onto the bicycle path, eventually following the Portage Canal shoreline (bike path on the water side of Super 8). Proceed on the bike path past the East Houghton waterfront park, Dee Stadium, and the Lakeshore Center.

The finish is at the new Houghton Pier (between the Lakeshore Center and the Portage Lake District Library). Finish amenities will include water, sports drink, and snacks.

Packet Pickup
Packet pick-up for pre-registered runners/walkers and late registration will be held on Thursday, 6/12/25, the day before the race at Copper Country Running Company (318 Shelden Ave, Houghton, MI) from 5:00pm - 8:00pm. Race packets can be picked up by others, if needed.

Race Day
Race Day registration and pre-registration check-in/packet pick-up near the race start (maybe Keweenaw Co-Op), 4:00pm – 6:00pm. Race packets can be picked up by others, if needed. Race Day packet pick-up and registration will end promptly at 6:00pm.

The pre-race staging area is Dakota St between Quincy St and Hancock St (across from Finlandia Old Main). Restroom facilities at the race start will consist of several porta-potties.
Starting line is on Quincy St near the intersection of Dakota St in Hancock (west of downtown). All participants must be present for staging no later than 6:45pm. We will stage on Dakota St (south of Quincy St) and then move out onto Quincy St to get in starting positions after traffic has been stopped for the Bridgefest parade.

Race Start (runners and walkers together) at 7:00pm to be followed by the Bridgefest Parade at 7:05pm.

The use of headphones is strongly discouraged for the safety of our participants, as portions of the race course are not closed to traffic.

Race Course
All runners and walkers must stay ahead of the parade until the race course leaves the parade route (about 1.5 miles). If you are caught by the parade lead vehicle, you must step off the course onto a sidewalk (this has not happened in the past).
This is a flat and fast 5K course with no major uphill climbs and a net elevation loss from start to finish. There is one major downhill section.
Race course is Quincy St east through downtown Hancock, right turn onto Reservation St, left onto Front St, over the Portage Lake Lift Bridge on the northbound lanes into Houghton, left onto Shelden Ave through downtown Houghton.
At the end of the parade route at Franklin Square runners and walkers will transition to the sidewalk eastbound on College Ave.
At this point the course is not completely closed to traffic and participants must proceed no more than two abreast for the remainder of the course. Runners and walkers also must stay on the left side of the road at all times, facing traffic. There will be an aid station with water and sports drink adjacent to the College Ave sidewalk.
The race route proceeds to the entrance of the Michigan Tech campus with left turns onto Cliff and then Phoenix Drives – downhill to the Michigan Tech Central Receiving building, this is the only significant grade on the course, please use caution – making a turnaround turn to the left around the stop sign onto the bicycle path, eventually following the Portage Canal shoreline (bike path on the water side of Super 8). Proceed on the bike path past the East Houghton waterfront park, Dee Stadium, and the Lakeshore Center.

The finish is at the new Houghton Pier (between the Lakeshore Center and the Portage Lake District Library). Finish amenities will include water, sports drink, and snacks.