Running & Racing Through the Alphabet

With all the sharing of places and spaces and races, throughout the alphabet, it was only a matter of time before I joined the party.

Most of us take great pride in taking our running with us when we travel. Besides, we all know the best way to explore a new-to-us location is via the running shoes. 

So, buckle-up and get ready! I'll take you on a journey of where my shoes, legs, and Garmin have taken me...

While I won't be highlighting any exotic international cities or countries, I will share some little (maybe unknown?) places of interest. And, I will be exercising some creativity in doing so...

A - Arizona. While en route to San Diego (to cheer on our Iowa Hawkeyes in the 2020 Holiday Bowl), we flew into Mesa (on Christmas Day!) and saw some friends. I went on a short run and refueled with some hand-picked oranges. Trust me, that doesn't happen in Iowa!

B-Baylake FL. Spring Break, 2018, had us in the sunshine state.

C - Christmas In July. This was a fun, and quite decorative, event in Lisle, IL. I ran the 6-hour overnight ultra (2015) and the 12-hour overnight ultra (2016) and had a major endorphin buzz, both times, afterwards.

D - Des Moines, IA. I live an hour from Des Moines, Iowa's capitol city. Needless to say, I have run countless races there, including the 2014 IMT Des Moines Marathon, which holds my 26.2 PR. Many of the  DSM area races take us up and around the Capitol. 

E - East Moline, IL. Part of the Quad Cities (a cluster of four cities along the northern Mississippi River between Iowa and Illinois), East Moline is a major player on the route of the Quad Cities Marathon. The QC Marathon was my first marathon (I ran it in September 2013). I had such a fabulous experience, I returned in 2015 as part of a relay team, and again (in 2016), with three of my cousins (on a relay team and also running the 13.1). I simply LOVE this race! 

F - Fort Pierce, FL. While on another spring break adventure, we followed our son's collegiate swim team to the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) national swim meet (in Melbourne). While there, I just happened to find a nearby 10K, the Race the Runway, which took place on an air strip.

G - Grandma's Marathon (Duluth, MN). This is the only marathon I've run twice, in 2015 and in 2017. Although the timing in recent years has not worked out, I do hope to return for a 3-peat someday. Yes, this event is that grand! 

H - Huntington Beach, CA. Another bowl game, another trip to California...this time it was the 2016 Rose Bowl. The following day, I headed over to Huntington Beach for a 5K. 

I - Indiana. I may have gone for a short run in West Lafayette, while there for an Iowa football game. Just maybe.

J - Jingle For a Cure 5K (Newton, IA). In early December of 2019, I headed 20 miles east for the Jingle For a Cure 5K. What's so significant about this small little holiday-themed event? It was my first (and probably only, LOL) first place overall female finish. 

K - Kentucky. Nothing spectacular about this short run in the Paducah area. It got me out of the car, though, and allowed me to stretch my legs while en route to Florida (late December 2021).

L - Las Vegas, baby! The Rock 'n Roll Half Marathon (November 2017) holds a special place in my heart. This not only was a huge rally-back extravaganza, from my knee surgery a few months prior, but also a super fun meet-up with several peeps from our blogging group. 

M - Michigan. When in Ann Arbor for the 2019 Iowa-Michigan football game, I took a jaunt around the University of Michigan campus...decked out in my Iowa Hawkeye gear. Wouldn't you do the same?

N - The state of Nebraska. The Leprechaun Chase brought me both to Ashland (in 2020) and Papillion (2021). Who doesn't love donning o' the green for some running fun, right?

O - Ohio (city of Dayton). On our way back to Iowa, in April of 2017, we had a stay-over in Dayton. Imagine my surprise to happen upon a street named after my sweet little dog, Max.

P -Philadelphia! In September of 2018, I ventured to Pennsylvania to visit the oldest daughter (who was living there at the time) and also to run the Philly R'nR Half Marathon The race was fun, with a lot of neat sights to see in downtown Philly, and I got to meet-up (briefly) with my KimTwin. Does it get any better?

Q -  Quad Cities Times Bixx! I've mentioned this race a time or two (or several). It's a fun (in my opinion) 7-mile race through a hilly neighborhood in Davenport, IA. It's held in late July, so the weather is always hot and humid, and the hills are constant. Yes, it's a tough course, but that's part of its charm.

R - Lake Red Rock (Pella, IA). Nothing like a spontaneous 10K race amidst the 2018 Balloon Fest.

S - St Louis. In October of 2013, I met up with a friend, Fran, for the Rock 'n Roll Half Marathon. Little did we know, the streets would be a bit messy from all the World Series fans (from the evening prior). But we still had a great time!

T - Tulsa, OK. The Route 66 Marathon was a fun race, but crazy hilly (which I knew prior) and the wind was a bit insane. It's another race I'd like to go back and run again, though.

U - National F-U-nding Holiday Bowl 5K, in San Diego (Dec 2019). Yes, I'm really stretching it here with the U...but you do what you gotta do. This was another Iowa Hawkeye Holiday Bowl excursion. What was really unique about this race was that the course encompassed some of the Holiday Bowl parade route. I may have also scored a second place AG for my efforts from the race. 

V - Valdosta GA. While en route to Florida, this past (late) December, I hopped out of the car for a quick streak run in Valdosta. The warmer weather felt nice, having driven from Iowa the day prior, and my legs appreciated some movement.

W - Washington DC. This city never disappoints. Throw in a race, and some friends, and it's even better. In April of 2018, I ran the Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10-Mile...and it was a fabulous time.

...and let's not forget the 2019 Marine Corps Marathon. Lots of rain, a dead iPod, and absolutely no regrets.

X - The BiXX. Yes, I'm really stretching it here, too, and I'm repeating a favorite race...but it's worthy of a second mention. Besides, I got to meet Meb and he signed my bib.

Y - Yale, IA. As part of the 2019 Market to Market Relay, one of my legs took me to the itty bitty town of Yale, IA. It was a cold and windy morning (but the rain held off). That's all I got.

Z - FreeZe Fest 5K (Marion IA). Yes, I had to get creative with the letter Z as well. I've run the Freeze Fest 5K a couple of times (in 2019 and 2020). It's held in February, so you can imagine how cold it is, in Iowa, that time of year.

Obviously, there are many other cities and states (and races & events) not mentioned, but I cherry-picked a few of the more unique and obscure ones. It's been fun reading where other runners have run and raced, and this post gave me a nice "run" down Memory Lane.

Have you tried to assemble an alphabetical list of places where you've run or raced? Got any favorites? Were some letters of the alphabet more difficult than others? 

  I'm linking this with Kim and Zenaida for the Tuesday Topics Link-Up

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