Pain and joy: Emotion — and elevation — runs high in Boise’s Race to Robie Creek
Nathaniel Souther blew past the inflatable Race to Robie Creek finish line Saturday, coming to a halt. His legs shook, seconds after his repeat win of the 13.1-mile race held every April.
The course stretches from Fort Boise Park, where runners bubbled with excitement in the morning sun, up Aldape Summit before a steep descent to the finish. Racers take on 2,000 feet of elevation gain along the path, according to previous Statesman reporting.
“The hill never spares any punches,” said Souther, catching his breath at the finish line. Souther, of Boise, finished in around one hour and 16 minutes.
Soon after, repeat female winner Danielle Marquette of Meridian crossed the finish line. Marquette ran in high school and then started running again after she had kids as a way to have some personal time and feel refreshed. Slowly, it became more serious for her.
“I like competing,” said Marquette, who finished in one hour and 32 minutes. “You feel good after a run.”
Supporters waited at the finish line holding signs and applauding as each person neared the end. Many runners crossed, stopped and bent over for a few seconds before walking on. Some pumped their arms.
International flags flapped in the wind at both the start and end as a reminder of the year’s theme: Around The World in 13.1 miles. Music from around the globe played while racers reached the end.
Lorian Gans, a Race to Robie Creek committee member, called out runners’ names and where they were from as they completed the final stretch. Gans has participated in the race several times before. This year, she was dressed as Amelia Earhart to honor the theme.
“It’s just this wild, irreverent joy of life and being in the outdoors,” Gans said, while the finish line’s red clock ticked upward. “And you know you’re going to be causing yourself so much pain. But you keep doing it.”
Earlier in the day, hundreds filled Fort Boise Park to see the runners start off on their journey. Runners walked around, eating last-minute snacks like bananas to fuel up for the journey. In a homage to the theme, individuals could place a pin in a map top show where their ancestors were from.
Jason Marenda, running in his first Race to Robie Creek, told the Statesman he was excited and nervous. Another first-timer, Ekaterina Jackson, said she’s returning to running after having her second child.
And Donna Graybill, who was sitting on the grass, said she was anxious and going through all of the race’s possibilities in her head. But she said she knew that once the race started, she’d just do what she trained for — “how any stressful event works in life.”
This story was originally published April 19, 2025 at 6:10 PM.
