Don’t forget to join us for the Revenge of the Penguins 5K Fun Run/Walk, taking place on Saturday, May 11 at the southwest terrace at Gray’s Lake at 9 a.m. Capital Striders’ members can sign up for only $5. Non-members can join in the fun for $25; this fee includes cost of the race and yearly membership into the Capital Striders Club. All race entry fees will benefit Above & Beyond Cancer, Inc. Kids can get active too for free during the Kids’ Race, which starts at 10:45 a.m. To learn more, visit the event page or register here.
As many of you have heard, our running community was struck by the tragic events during yesterday’s 117th annual running of the Boston Marathon. According to news reports, nearly 160 Iowans were registered for running’s pinnacle event, and thankfully, all are reportedly safe. The Des Moines Register has first-hand accounts of the events from Iowans who were at the event in today’s online Register.
The Capital Striders send heartfelt thoughts and prayers to everyone who was affected by these events. This is a tragedy for the running community and we wish everyone a safe return home.
Don't miss out on the free Essential Workshop for Beginning Runners, on Monday, April 1 from 6 to 7 p.m. at Compass Chiropractic in Clive. This workshop will help you learn the concepts and techniques of low impact running style and proper form. This information will help you ease into running without pain or injuries. View this flier to learn more!
Thank you everyone who was able to join us for the AMAZING evening with Michael Wardian at the Capital Striders Annual dinner. We had 88 attend which was fantastic considering we had a winter storm blow through just hours before the program started. We were all very pleased and relieved when Michael’s plane arrived in Des Moines on time especially since he had to come all the way from DC and had a layover in Chicago. A big thank you to Chelsea Ochylski, Annual Giving Coordinator at Make-A-Wish Iowa who shared with the group the mission of Make-A-Wish is to grant the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions. She also noted that Tour De Lights raised $20,274.68 and that Jolly Holiday Lights numbers are still preliminary, but they are on track to make close to $300,000.
Thank you Erica Peterson for telling us about the financial support and impact to the students from the donations of hats, cots, mittens, boots, and scarves gathered from our Capital Strider Mitten Run. Erika noted that this year’s contributions clothed 82 children in winter wear and that they are grateful for the difference you are making in the lives of these youth. Thank you Cindy Elsbernd for telling us about the Mission behind Iowa Kidstrong is to promote healthy, active lifestyles among youth. Thank you also to Paxton Bennett who shared some of his personal experience with See-Us Run Des Moines. SRDM is an innovative intervention program that challenges teens to train for and complete a marathon. Paxton has served as a Running Mentor ever since the program was launched in April 2010.
Thank Living History Farms for being so generous. Thank you Steve and Nancy Bobenhouse for sharing and for being terrific sponsors. Thank you to all our wonderful sponsors, many of which donated fantastic door prizes. Thank you to our new in 2013 Bronze Level Sponsors O’Mally’s and Accelerated Rehabilitation Centers.
Thank you to our Golden Shoe – Sponsor of the Year recipient, Work Systems Rehab and Fitness. Thank you to Amber Crews and Roy Ney who have worked their tails off to support the Capital Striders. A huge Thank you our many, many, wonderful volunteers who help us throughout the year.
Thank you The Running Room for donating jackets to the Marriott for donating 1-night weekend stay with brunch included as additional door prizes. Also thanks to the all the Board of Directors as well as the Banquet Planning Committee; Brad Dains, Mike McGinn, Ellen Wade, Jeff Gray, Curtis Downs & Bobbi Snodgrass for another successful event.
Thank you Lance Bergeson and the Des Moines Register for providing the following summaries in the Mile Posts Running/Triathlons Blog. Article 1 l Article 2
Starting this Saturday, March 2, the Saturday training runs will begin at 7 a.m., 30 minutes earlier than previous Saturdays, for the remainder of the training program. Participants are asked to be at Meredith Hall on the Drake University campus on time, as the group will leave promptly at 7 a.m. Hope you’ll be there to join us!
Don't forget to get signed up for the Capital Striders' Annual Dinner, taking place on Friday, Feb. 22. Join us at 6 p.m. at the West Des Moines Marriott for a night of great food, good friends and interesting commentary. It's sure to be a crowd pleaser! Make your reservation today, only limited tickets available at the door.
Join us on Friday, Feb. 22! West Des Moines Marriott
1250 Jordan Creek Parkway, West Des Moines Social Hour: 6 to 7 p.m. (cash bar) Dinner: 7 p.m.
Members: $25/person ($35 after 2/18) Non-members: $35/person ($45 after 2/18) Register online @ Getmeregistered.com
Speaker: Mike Wardian Runner, Triathlete, Ultra-marathoner, & Olympic Medalist
Menu: Braised Round of Beef Roast - served with sour cream, Yukon gold mashed potatoes, braised vegetables and pork pan gravy.
Pecan Encrusted Chicken - chicken breast that is beer battered & pecan encrusted with wild rice pilaf and whiskey caramelized onion & demi-glace served with chef selected vegetable.
Eggplant Napoleon - layered eggplant, zucchini, roasted red pepper & portobello mushroom placed on top of a red pepper coulis.
All entreés are served with fresh garden salad with two dressing options, fresh baked dinner rolls with butter, red velvet cake or chocolate overload cake (both are a two layer cake and table is pre-set with each at alternating place settings), coffee & water.
We have some great candidates who are interested in becoming part of the Capital Striders Board of Directors, and helping the club continue its long tradition of being a vital part of the running community in Central Iowa. Learn more about them here.
Don’t miss out on the Annual Dinner, taking place on Feb. 22 at 6 p.m. Join us for a night of good food, drinks and company at the West Des Moines Marriott on Jordan Creek Parkway. Hear from Mike Wardian, a three-time U.S. Olympic Trials qualifier, five-time member of Team USA for the 100K World Championships, and two-time member of Team USE for the 50K World Championships, and a gold, silver and bronze medalist, speak on “The Ultra Life: An Evening with Mike Wardian.” Mike ran his first marathon in 1996, and qualified for Boston with a time of 3:08. Since then, he has completed over 150 marathons, 60+ Ultra marathons on three continents, 20 triathlons and one adventure race. He was the highest USA finisher even on the men’s side at the “Marathon Des Sables” (150-mile stage race across the Sahara Desert) in 2010 with a third place finish. In addition, he has won multiple major big city marathons, including San Francisco, Rock & Roll National Marathon in Washington, D.C., Deleward, Kauai, and Mercedes Marathon in Birmingham, Ala. He has set multiple Guinness World Records for Fastest Marathon Pushing a Pram, Fastest Marathon as a Super Hero, and currently has the Indoor World Record for fastest indoor marathon with a time of 2:27:21.
Mike, his wife Jennifer, and their two sons, Pierce (5) and Grant (3), live in Arlington, VA. Mike works full time as an International Ship Broker.
You won’t want time miss out on this informative and entertaining event!
Join us on Friday, Feb. 22! West Des Moines Marriott
1250 Jordan Creek Parkway, West Des Moines Social Hour: 6 to 7 p.m. (cash bar) Dinner: 7 p.m.
Members: $25/person ($35 after 2/18) Non-members: $35/person ($45 after 2/18) Register online @ Getmeregistered.com
Menu:
Braised Round of Beef Roast - served with sour cream, Yukon gold mashed potatoes, braised vegetables and pork pan gravy.
Pecan Encrusted Chicken - chicken breast that is beer battered & pecan encrusted with wild rice pilaf and whiskey caramelized onion & demi-glace served with chef selected vegetable.
Eggplant Napoleon - layered eggplant, zucchini, roasted red pepper & portobello mushroom placed on top of a red pepper coulis.
All entreés are served with fresh garden salad with two dressing options, fresh baked dinner rolls with butter, red velvet cake or chocolate overload cake (both are a two layer cake and table is pre-set with each at alternating place settings), coffee & water.
“Make your reservation today, only limited tickets available at the door”
Start the new year off right with our traditional Jan. 1 Mitten Run, followed by a potluck. The Capital Striders will provide the chili, beverages and table service, and ask participants to bring a side dish or dessert. Meet us at 10 a.m. at the Lions Park shelter house in Urbandale (just south of the High School), for the run. The potluck lunch will begin at 11 a.m. Runners can choose to run from routes of one to six miles, which wind through the streets of Urbandale. Small groups often break off and do less or more than the mapped route. This is an un-timed and casual fun run – no racing on this day (at least officially!).
To help give back to our community, the Capital Striders asks attendees to bring new or gently used kid-sized mittens, gloves, scarves, stocking hats, boots, or other cold-weather items to donate to The Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Iowa. Cash and checks also will be accepted. These donations will be distributed to children in need in Central Iowa.
Come help us celebrate the new year with a run, feast, friends and the warmth of giving.
December is right around the corner – don’t miss out on the upcoming trail race, Sycamore 8. The Capital Striders Running Club has been given the honor of carrying on a Central Iowa tradition and will be hosting the 2012 Sycamore 8 Trail Run in Johnston on Dec. 1. This 8-mile trail race will take place on the Sycamore Trail between NW 66th in Johnston and the Polk County Office on Euclid. With the perfect wintry blend of road and groomed single track trail it promises to be a messy good time. Unpredictable Midwestern weather has always given participants a unique run whether it is dealing with snow, ice, sleet or flat out rain. Click here to read more and register today!
It was a perfect running day on Sunday, Sept. 23, 2012, as over 800 runners rocketed through downtown Des Moines to celebrate the 30th Anniversary of Capital Pursuit. Thanks to the RRCA (Road Runners Club of America) for making our 10-mile race the State Championship event with a record setting 655 finishers. Local runners dominated the 10-mile race by cruising through the finish line in seemingly effortless fashion. The overall female winner of the 10-mile race was Danna Kelly, finishing in 59:22, (5:56 pace). The overall male winner of the 10-mile race was Jason Flogel, finishing in 51:10, (5:07 pace). The overall 5k female finisher was Yelena Nanaziashvili of Clive with a time of 18:33 (5:59 pace). The 5k male winner was Mason Frank of Ames with a time of 15:04 (4:51 pace).
Many thanks to the City of Des Moines and the DM Police Department for keeping our runners safe and traffic moving. There was a 2 block section of Locust from E 4th through E 6th that was opened so our runners could take a quick tour of the World Food Festival, which I was told, smelled delightful.
We had 19 student athletes and 17 adult mentors from See-Us Run Des Moines running our 10 mile race. Capital Pursuit sponsors SRDM by inviting the students and mentors to race free of charge. SRDM is a wonderful program of Iowa Kidstrong, Inc. See-Us Run Des Moines helps teens who face adversity in their lives learn that they are capable, resourceful, and resilient to respond to Life's challenges by providing them the opportunity to experience first hand the benefits of goal setting, character development, adult mentoring, and improved health through committing to training for and completing the Des Moines Marathon.
Des Moines' next generation of runners showed us how speedy they are as approximately 30 Pursuit Junior kids sprinted for the finish line Sunday to earn participation medals.
Thank you to our many wonderful sponsors who without, we would not be able to continue to put on this race. These businesses, organizations and individuals provide critical resources to support our races.
Pella Windows - Premier financial sponsor Living History Farms Race Scheels Fitness Sports Crystal Clear Water America's Best Apparel Gatorade Lint Van Lines Taco Johns Brueggers Bagels Capital City Fruit Roberts Dairy Mars Chocolate Prairie Life Fitness America's Best Apparel, Inc. Capital City Graphics DMU Osteopathic Finish Line Treatment The Suites of 800 Locust Dahls Grocery Momentum Magazine Des Moines Register Juice Magazine As anyone involved in race directing knows, the weather and runners are only part of the formula to a successful event. More than 200 people volunteer each year to help with Capital Pursuit. They pour water, serve as course marshals, help with registration, distribute food, provide massages, and a host of other tasks that go on seamlessly behind the scenes.
Special Thanks to:
Awards - Capital Strider Board Members: Mike McGinn and Ellen Wade
A big thank you to Prairie Life Fitness for allowing us space for packet-pickup on Friday night. Thanks to Gail Bormann, Lisha Steffey, Caroline Pester, Bill Wedeking, & Board Members Curtis Downs, Jeff Gray, & Mike McGinn along with other helping hands who just couldn't resist helping.
I want to thank Mike McGinn for stepping up to the plate to organize the course marshals this year, also helping are a host of volunteers including 20 some men from the Drake Cross Country Team and 20 some women from the Roosevelt Cross Country Team.
Thanks to Terry Lint of Lint Van Lines for being an wonderful sponsor, providing the truck that carries an unbelievable load of supplies for our races. Many thanks to Board member, Curtis Downs and the Lint Van Lines volunteers who did all the heavy lifting and provided invaluable assistance in moving materials and supplies to set-up and tear down our race courses.
Start and Finish Line - Carrie Van Quathem & friends, Steve Bobenhouse, Stan Smith, Larry Jablonski, Cal Murdock.
Pursuit Junior - Cindy Elsbernd of See-Us Run Des Moines.
Announcer - John Leonhardt & Ron Ricker
Thanks to Lori Ballard who sang the National Anthem.
Bike Support - Carl Voss
Denny Wheeler and Scott Dennis for marking the course.
Larry Jablonski for providing and setting up the finish line scaffolding.
Stan Smith for providing finish line and sound equipment for the last 30 years as well as Cal Murdoch for his 30 years worth of timing this event and providing race history.
Thank you to the The Suites of 800 Locust for helping us out with lots of last minute details as well as providing an area for race day registrations.
Thanks to Scheels and Fitness Sports for providing awards. Also special thanks to Wade Wearmouth of WCM Metals for providing the special metal hanger awards that went to our top men & women.
A huge thank you to our Water Stop support teams:
Greg Altmairer & friends for - Water Stop #1 Dan Hostager & the Drake Men's Cross Country Team - Water Stop #2 Todd Shemper of Work Systems Rehab and his friends of Central Presbyterian Church - Water Stop #3 Chris Burch and friends of IMT Des Moines Marathon - Water Stop #4
Thanks to you who share your photos with us on Facebook.
Also many thanks to my family and friends who got up very early Sunday morning to volunteer with set-up, late registration, and wherever needed. I know I have overlooked many who are so kind to reach out to us wherever they see we are in need. There is nothing more awesome than runners helping runners. We are so fortunate to live in such a supportive running community. Great job everyone! Hope to see you all again next year.
Medals4Mettle (M4M) is a non-profit organization that facilitates the gifting of marathon, half marathon, and triathlon finishers’ medals. Runners from around Iowa, and the world, give their hard earned medals to Medals4Mettle. The organizations volunteers then award these medals, attached to a Medals4Mettle ribbon, to children and adults fighting debilitating illnesses who might not be able to run a race but are in a race of their own just to continue to live their life. It is in honor of this mettle and courage in bravely facing these challenges that they are awarded a medal. If you have some medals that you would like to donate, they can be dropped off at Fitness Sports in Windsor Heights, The Runner's Flat in Cedar Falls, or mailed to Medals4Mettle, 1640 SE Florence Dr., Waukee, IA, 50263. "Like" facebook.com/medals4mettle, email jasonlawry@medals4mettle.org, or visit medals4mettle.org to help!
Congratulations and huge thank you to everyone who came out and ran Capital Pursuit. It was a beautiful day for a race, and we had a great turnout, with a record number of 10-mile runners. Thanks to all of our sponsors and volunteers; we couldn’t have done it without you. We’re already looking forward to next year! Find your results here.
Due to an injury, a spot has opened up for a 3:30 pacer for the IMT Des Moines Marathon, taking place on Sunday, Oct. 21. If you are an experienced distance runner who has a strong desire to give back to the sport by serving as a Running Room Pace Team Leader for the IMT Des Moines Marathon, please click here for more information.
Capital Pursuit is just two weeks away – don’t miss out on the early bird pricing! The 10-mile race is the State RRCA Championship event and begins at 8 a.m. at 8th and Locust. There also is a 5K run/walk, which also begins at 8 a.m. With two different distances, there is something for everyone at Capital Pursuit! All 10-mile runners who finish under two hours will receive medals. In addition, the first 850 registrants receive beautiful, long sleeve technical T-shirts. A portion of race proceeds will be donated to Iowa Kidstrong, Inc., as we welcome the See-Us Run Des Moines students to the 10-mile race again in 2012.
Check out the Capital Pursuit page for more race information and don’t forget to sign up by this Friday, Sept. 14 to take advantage of our early bird discount registration prices.
The Capital Striders will be moving the location of the Saturday training run this Saturday, Sept. 1 for ONE WEEK ONLY to accommodate the Hy-Vee Iron Kid's Triathlon, which will be using Gray's Lake Park at that time. We will relocate to Fitness Sports, 7230 University Ave. in Windsor Heights for this one time only, and will still meet at 7 a.m. This is ONE WEEK ONLY and is only happening ONCE. We are only doing this because Gray's Lake is being utilized by the Hy-Vee Triathlon. We will return to the southwest corner of Gray's Lake on Saturday, Sept. 8.
Parking concerns stemming from the overlap of the Capital Striders Saturday Training Runs and Yoga in the Park have led us to move our runs to the southwest corner of Gray’s Lake Park starting Saturday, Aug. 18. Water will be set up in the covered pavilion on the upper level of the terrace building. There is parking for 40 vehicles in the main lot and overflow parking is available and easy to find by following this map. We are glad to do our part to help with traffic flow at the park.
UPDATE: The pace team for the IMT Des Moines Marathon has been filled. Thanks for your support! The IMT Des Moines Marathon is seeking experienced distance runners that have a strong desire to give back to the sport by serving as Running Room Pace Team Leaders for the IMT Des Moines Marathon & Half Marathon on Sunday, October 21, 2012.
Marathon pace team goals will mirror the 2013 Boston Marathon qualifying times, ranging from 3:05 to 5:25 hours. Half Marathon pace team goals will be every 10 minutes from 1:30 to 2:30 hours. Although many of last year’s Pace Team Leaders will return this year, there are always few positions to fill for each race. Click here to learn more.
We hope to see you this Saturday morning (and every one thereafter) as we kick off our Summer/Fall Training Program. This is a great way to train for any upcoming race, especially a fall marathon. To help save paper and reduce waste, we will be cutting back on the number of printed maps we make available prior to the run. There will be maps to view as we gather, but if you want to carry one along, please print a copy before you leave home. Thanks and see you Saturday!
We’re excited to announce that we have new secured discounts to several new races for our members! See below for more details. One Hill of a Run Receive a $5.00 discount off your race entry! If you enter via the paper entry form, please write "CAPITAL STRIDERS" (plus your Capital Strider member number) on the form in big letters so the race director can make the required changes. You also can enter online via Active.com. Enter the discount code “CAPITALSTRIDERS” to receive the $5.00 discount.
Sleepy Hollow Sports Park Races Register for any of the extreme races at Sleepy Hollow Sports Park using the coupon code: RUNNINGCLUB (plus your Capital Strider member number) and receive $5 off! For more information on how to register for these races, visit the Sleepy Hollow website or their Facebook page.
- May 19 – Kosama Warrior Mud Run
- July 14 – Kosama Warrior Water Run
- Aug. 25 – Aspen Warrior Fire Run
- Oct. 13 – Run of the Living Dead