Some 30 to 40 ISU students are lacing up their tennis shoes and getting ready for the annual Veishea Voyage torch run.

Applications are being accepted through Friday, April 12, for the 300-mile trek that will pass through five towns with the entire route resembling an outline of the state of Iowa.

The run begins Monday, April 15, and will end with the lighting of the torch at the Veishea opening ceremonies about noon Friday, April 19, on Iowa State’s Central Campus.

The race will begin in Nevada at 8 a.m. and travel on Highway 30. Over the course of the five days, the torch will pass through New Sharon, Ottumwa, Thayer, De Soto and Boone before heading back to Ames.

Michelle Clausen, Veishea Voyage committee co-chair, said residents of the towns Veishea Voyage passes through are encouraged to watch the event.

“This way everyone can see the unity that Veishea brings to the Iowa State community,” said Clausen, junior in exercise and sport science.

Getting Iowa residents interested in the Veishea celebration is one goal of the torch run.

“We want to take the word of Veishea to towns around Iowa and spread the news of Iowa State and what we do,” said Andrew Slotterback, Veishea tournaments co-chair.

Another goal of the run is to get ISU students involved with Veishea. Organizers want to get as many students involved with the voyage and other Veishea events as possible, said Jamie Tierney, Veishea tournaments co-chair.

“This brings different people together to run and is a positive push for Veishea,” said Tierney, senior in industrial engineering.

One person will run at a time with a van of runners following behind to replace the torchbearer when he or she gets tired. The group will cover 30 to 50 miles per day.

“This isn’t a go-out-and-kill-yourself running event,” Clausen said. “It’s about going out and having a good time.”

Participants in the event sign up for one day of an eight-hour run, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. or noon to 8 p.m. Each day when participants complete their block of running they will be transported back to Iowa State for the night.

In past years the run also took place overnight, but was changed to an entirely daytime event this year for liability reasons, Clausen said.

To register for this event or to get involved in a variety of Veishea tournaments students are encouraged to check out the Veishea Web site, www.veishea. org, or students can visit registration tables that will be by the bookstore of the Memorial Union all this week from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The registration fee is $15, which includes a T-shirt, food and transportation.

“We want to get other communities throughout the state involved in Veishea,” Clausen said.