Drake Relays Half Marathon 2018

Dang! I'm not quite sure how I pulled this one off, but I'm pretty happy (and, dare I say, proud?) of how well the race went.

Anyone who knows a thing or two about competitive running (at least within the vicinity of Iowa) has probably heard of the Drake Relays (more info HERE). Hosted at Drake University (Des Moines, IA), this annual event attracts a very competitive field...elites, collegiate stars, and high school greats are all in attendance for this "mini" version of the Olympics.

In conjunction with the Relays, Drake University also hosts the Drake Road Races, for those of us who are not quite in the same (competitive) caliber as those who have qualified for the actual Relays themselves. There's a half marathon and a 5K. This year, they also brought back the 10K. All three of the Road Races events were held on Sunday, April 22nd, and kicked off the 2018 Drake Relays events.

Not My Typical Week

This definitely was not a typical week for me.

Well, it's not like each and every week is a carbon copy of the others, but this past week was a doozy. Not necessarily in a bad way, but it was challenging none the less.

What I’m Gonna LOVE about Spring

There’s a lot to love about Spring. 

If memory serves me right, I think Spring comes right after Winter. In Iowa, though, we’re still waiting for Winter to come to an end.

What's so great about Spring? As a runner who runs outdoors almost exclusively, there are several things, actually....

Just Run

Just Run.
That has been my mantra this past week.

In all reality, don't most of us runners already subscribe to it? After all, running is there when we need an escape. It makes us feel good. It's one of those "constants" that we can always rely on. And, it's something we can do (almost) anytime, in any place, and in all kinds of weather.

Such was the case for me. In the midst of all kinds of "reality checks" this week, running was its ever-so-reliable self.

5 Recent Aha Moments

Have you ever had an aha moment? Or several? All in the same week?

Well, welcome to my world!

Fight for Air Climb 2018

I took it to the stairs on Sunday morning, April 8th.

Four buildings. 85 flights of stairs. 1,796 steps. It was all good!

I climb in honor of friends and family members who have successfully kicked butt (and stopped smoking). I climb in memory of my late mother-in-law who was a lifelong smoker and suffered from COPD in her final years. And I climb in tribute to those who are struggling with lung disease.

"Spring" Training

Isn't it April? Spring? Where are you?

As much as I have been  loving the longer days, I'd be especially over-the-moon joyous if the weather was a teensy bit warmer. And, how about the wind? Well, there could be a little less of that as well. But maybe that's just me?

Oh well. Even though the weather has been questionable, the training continues.

This past week was another action-packed one. There was running (obviously), walking, dancing (more details below), and oodles of cross-training. Life is pretty decent even if the weather is not so desirable.