Office of Student Life
Events and Conferences

5K Outdoor Events


5K events must be requested and confirmed through the Outdoor Events area within Student Life Events and Conferences. Student organizations, campus departments and external organization request space for a 5K utilizing pre-approved race routes. 

 
Reserve Space 

To request outdoor space please submit a request through the event request form. 

Route 

Pre-approved routes on-campus utilize sidewalks and do not require Public Safety personnel or road closures. Groups can design and request their own route but could be subject to additional costs if road closures and Public Safety personnel are needed to enact their race route. 

For a list of pre-approved routes please contact outdoorevents@osu.edu 

Outdoor Policies 

Route markings: Sidewalk chalk is the only approved material to mark your route. Spray chalk is not permitted. Please note that chalking is not permitted on vertical or covered surfaces.   

Equipment Rental 

Most races will start/end near the Recreation and Physical Activity Center. Operations staff at that facility can reserve equipment as part of your pre/post-race area. Equipment available at the RPAC for 5Ks include a portable sound system, race/pace clock, tables, chairs and more. 

Equipment can also be rented from an external company or borrowed from the Ohio Union. You may obtain a maximum of 4 tables from the Ohio Union by contacting the Reservations Coordinator at outdoorevents@osu.edu; requests must be submitted at least 48 hours in advance of your event; members are responsible for daily pick-up and drop-off at the Ohio Union loading dock. All equipment must be returned to the Ohio Union Loading Dock in the condition it was received within one hour after the event concludes. 

Any other equipment such as audiovisual equipment, tents, electricity units/generators, portable restrooms, inflatables, stages, medics, and any other race-related equipment must be provided by the organization itself or sourced from an external vendor. Any questions related to event equipment can be addressed with the Reservations Coordinator at outdoorevents@osu.edu.  

Groups can partner with race companies to assist in the coordination of their race logistics. Please provide the Reservations Coordinator details related to your vendor so staff can coordinate appropriately. 

Noise 

The University Space Standards state that amplified sound is not permitted outside the hours of Saturday, 12:00pm to 12:00am and Sunday, 12:00pm to 10:00pm. If your event time falls outside of those hours, you will need to submit a Sound Exemption Waiver. To do that, please email the Reservations Coordinator at outdoorevents@osu.edu with the following information: 

  • Name of Event 

  • Date and Time of Event 

  • Overview and Purpose of Event 

  • Type of Sound Requested (Ex. DJ, chanting, microphone, band, aux, etc.) 

  • Exact Timeframe sound will be used 

Once the Reservations Coordinator receives that information, it will be sent to our Sound Exemption Review Team, and a verdict will be determined. 

Food 

The University Space Standards states no food shall be sold except by University food services or contracted vendors with authorization to serve a particular area.  

All food must come from a licensed caterer, restaurant, store, or University Catering. No homemade food is permitted on campus and must be pre-packaged or prepared on-site. The appropriate permits from the City of Columbus may also be required. For questions about food options, please contact the Reservations Coordinator at outdoorevents@osu.edu.  

Due to the university’s agreement with Coca-Cola, no beverages competing with Coca-Cola products are permitted to be distributed on campus. All beverages must be Coca-Cola branded. Please visit Coca-Cola's Brands page for qualifying beverage options. Student organizations can request beverages through a Coca-Cola grant. Please visit Coca-Cola Beverage Donations to submit a request. 

All food and beverages must be made available for free or for a suggested donation and must not require payment. For questions on the university bake sale policy, please contact the Reservations Coordinator at outdoorevents@osu.edu. 

Parking 

Please visit the CampusParc web site to review parking options. Special event parking arrangements can be coordinated by submitting an Event Notification Form with their area.