Saturday, October 13, 2007

Iowa Envy

It sounds like a few of my blogging pals might have a little case of Iowa Envy. Well, maybe except for Vanilla. :^( Yes, it really is heaven here, great hospitality, great people, great races...hmmmmmmm (light bulb). Some local folks are getting together to have a little run and some fun to celebrate the opening of the Runner's Lounge. Yeah, it's next Tuesday, so I doubt most of you can make it. But what if we did it to coincide with a real event ( a really fun event) and gave you lots of notice?? Set up a real place for us to Lounge. Would you come to Iowa??

I've been thinking about my plans after this HM (God, help me, I hope I can do it) next week and beyond. I really need to keep up the training through the winter, maybe even do a winter race or two to have something to shoot for. I need to keep building the base and be consistent to see if a marathon is possible next year. But for sure, in the back of my mind has been probably the most popular and fun race in Iowa, called Dam to Dam, Iowa's Distance Classic, slated for May 31, 2008. Nearly 4000 did this 20k last year, great shirts, medals, bands, mascots, great food, scenic countryside and downtown Des Moines.

I'm thinking maybe we should start planning now??!! Are ya with me?

23 comments:

ws said...

If there is no ocean there, I'm not jealous. hmmm...What ocean is in Iowa?

And, you can do the HM.

And, I can do a 20K but that's a holiday weekend, isn't it?

Marcy said...

Oooooooooooooo I'll have to look at the link! Sounds good Nancy! It could be an early B-Day present for myself. Wow, what nutcase wants to RUN for a B-day present? LMAO!

Amy@RunnersLounge said...

You know you can count me in Nancy! Dam to Dam is my absolute favorite race each year!

You are going to have alot of fun in the Half Marathon - I swear! Just sit back and enjoy the run - it is a very nice, flat one.

Tom and I will have a "Runners Lounge" at the expo and the post race - we will be anxiously waiting to hear your race story.

Can't wait to see you Tuesday for our victory lap around Gray's Lake!

Amy
http://blog.runnerslounge.com

Tom@RunnersLounge said...

We're going to court Marcy to come to Des Moines, also known as paradise, and she will create the buzz about our showcase race Dam to Dam.

We really have a great running community with more and more great running ops and connections with runners.

Looking forward to Tuesday's celebration!

Scott McMurtrey said...

Dam, I wish I could make it. Hmmm, maybe I can.

Laura N said...

Love that you are planning more races... those are great motivators.

Congrats on the weight loss! That is awesome, and I think you were out of town recently with work, weren't you? It's so tough to lose when you're traveling.

Thanks for your support over on my blog. I really appreciate it. Hope you're having a good weekend!

Ian said...

I've been to Iowa once and it seemed nice enough, so I'd consider coming to a really fun event. As long as it was really fun. :)

PNW Runner said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
PNW Runner said...

Oh I would luv to be apart of it in person...but being a few states away brings quite a challenge.

And you're so doing a marathon soon in the future too, get that base training in. :)

Jess said...

Wendy: Iowa has an ocean of corn.

I have toyed with idea of organizing a massive RBF event, but I haven't ever actually wanted to do the organizing. But if you do it, I definitely think it's a great idea. I'll be there.

Unknown said...

At the Elephant man, we had to sign a Dam Waiver (to cross the dam). I'm not sure I liked having to sign a Dam Waiver just to do a race. Do we have to sign any Dam Waivers to do the Dam-to-Dam race in Iowa?

Jamie said...

After the wedding palooza I get to expierence in May I think a long race may be in the cards. I will put it on my tentative race calendar :)

And you will rock the HM no worries! Plus it will be great running weather!

Bill Carter said...

I will definitely check out the link. I love all of you Iowans and it would be great to bring the whole Carter Running Team out to Iowa for what sounds like a big party. Oh, there is that race too isn't there??

Vickie said...

Hey. I am with you! Don't stop now. It is a lot easier to continue into the next year if you (a) have a goal and (b) actually have a race you are training for! I will follow you all the way!

DawnB said...

Very tempting Nancy thanks for the offer. Do the half and have fun with it next weekend

Wes said...

I've never been to Iowa, so its hard to be envious of that of which we have no knowledge... but OK, if you say so, I'm entirely jealous :-)

20K should be a peace of cake for you, now that you got your feet issues straightened out! Rock on, sister :-)

Kent said...

I would love to do the Dam2Dam race, but it has consistently fallen on the same week as Microsoft TechEd conference. I think it is an anti-MS, pro-Linux conspiracy by the race organizer or maybe the first week in June is just a popular weekend. Hope you have a great race in 6 days!!!

Vickie said...

I think thats a great plan, to find another race after your half. I'm thinking the same thing for myself, to keep me focused. I'm sure your winters are similar to ours, so getting out there isn't always the most fun, but you will be surprised at how much stronger you are for next year, making some decisions easier because you will have a better base. A friend of mine from GR is going to be doing the Des Moines marathon next Sunday. Is that the half you will be doing?

Andria said...

I'd love to be there! I need to start planning now.

Running Ragged said...

I have traveled to Des Moines before and I would not mind visiting it again (now if I can only convince the hubby to go!).

Too bad I am doing the Indy 500 HM next year in May, otherwise I'd really consider coming to DM...maybe in '09?

J said...

What a great idea, Nancy! The Dam to Dam sounds like a lot of fun. That would be cool if was a runner's lounge race!

Anonymous said...

That sounds great! I'm only 3 hours away and while I know someone originally from De Moines and drive thru there all the time to go to my cousin's house in Nebraska...I've never actually stopped there. This will give me a reason :)

kate said...

I wanna go! Does Skybus go to Iowa??