Reunited with the Flock! Market-to-Market 2026 Recap

Oops, we did it again!

The date was Saturday May 9th. There were seven of us, dressed in seven variations of pink gear. There was a 72-mile course to run. And we had the entire day to do so.  

Yes, it was time to return to the Market-to-Market Relay!

(not our typical) Market-to-Market Relay

The Market-to-Market Relay never disappoints.

I can say this with 100% accuracy as a longtime participant.

The preparation. The team camaraderie. The support from fellow runners. The pink gorilla. The race day excitement. The nonstop action until the finish line is crossed.

The 2025 M2M was one like none other, though….

Market-to-Market Relay - 2024 Recap

Oops, we did it again!

The odds are really good we’ll do it again next year as well. Yes, it’s that fun!

What can I say? Eight run-loving gals, a fully-loaded van, a 15-ish hour day, and 77-ish miles of running to be had. How could it be anything but a grand time? 

No Time for Mayhem

Yikes, things were feeling a bit on the CrAzY side this week.

Somehow, I managed to keep things in-check, but there were a few shortened workouts (and maybe a few forgotten ones). Even with modifications, it's still my goal for daily fitness, and daily #OptOutside fun.

We do what we can, am I right?

Market to Market Relay 2023 - Rockin' the Flock

What happens when seven fun-loving runners team-up for a 76ish mile relay across Iowa?

A flock-rockin' good time is sure to happen! 

After all...we had the van, the fuel, the water, the body balm, the matching sequins-enhanced hats, and an unassuming flamingo mascot. How could it not be a good time?

Girl Power: Market to Market Relay 2022 recap

Girl Power.

There's something about rallying together, over the course of 76ish miles, and getting it done. All kinds of grit. Lots of perseverance. A few tears along the way. An endless supply of support, encouragement, and laughter. And a finish line like none other.

I'm talking about the Market to Market Relay. And the sisterhood of six other runners and myself. And 12 hours (and nine minutes) of running. And a crowded van. And a nearly 18-hour day together... 

Suddenly Summer

How about a sweet fast-forward right into Summer?

Momma N really had her game messed up this week! She kept forcing the wind on us (pretty much on the daily), but she also abruptly upped the temps by 40-ish degrees. As much as I embrace the heat of summer, I do appreciate a bit of an acclimation, thank you very much. I will gladly take it, though, and give winter a final kick to its backside. 

Fresh off a challenging 10K race, my body was more than ready for some recovery time. The heat and humidity, in a sense were pretty well-timed in that I didn't have a lot of intense outdoor fitness stuff on tap for the week...so maybe Momma N did me a favor?

Coffee? Make Mine a Lemonade

When life (or COVID-19) gives you lemons...you know what to do, right?

If there ever was a time for a big batch of lemonade, it would be now.

Currently, this virus is front and center. It's on the news everyday and plastered all over social media. The world is in a state of panic. Many stores' inventories are running on empty. Schools are closed. Pretty much anything that had been scheduled for Spring 2020 (and some of Summer 2020 as well) has either been outright cancelled or postponed. And social distancing has become the latest buzzword.

No doubt, it's a crazy and scary time. None of us are exempt from it, but we ultimately have 100% control of how we react to the situation.

Shall we gather, and chat for a bit? You can have your coffee...but I'm going with lemonade. After all, there's been a surplus of lemons dumped on us lately. I've simply chosen to rally with #TeamLemonade and make the best of it..

Running Against the Wind - Market-to-Market Relay 2019

We were running against the wind. All five of us. All day.

But, hey, at least we outran the rain!

Such was the day for our team at the 2019 Market to Market Relay on Saturday, May 11th. The temps were chilly (it never got warmer than 55F), the air was damp, and the wind was brutal. That said, it still was a fun adventure in our five sets of running shoes.

Spring Races...A Few Of My Iowa Favorites

Spring is in the air, and it's time to go racing!

Although I do not consider myself a competitive racer, it's no secret that I love pinning on a race bib.

After all, why not? Spring is a great time to test out the legs and the lungs, as well as one's endurance. After several months of cold weather running (or, in my case this year, indoor training), it's fun to see what my body can do in an outdoor setting among masses of other runners.

Even though I'm always on the search for new events to explore, there are a few nearby races that I usually do every year. Each of these has its own individual nuances, making each experience on the race course feel like a new adventure every year.