A lucky 7 in Striderland for 2003 (created by Cal Murdock, USA T&F Chairperson for the state of Iowa.) The Biggest in America Dam to Dam 20 kilometer and Living History Farms cross country race were honored as the largest 20 km and XC races by USA Track & Field in 2002 - - wow! The hard work of race directors Kurt Schaeffer (DD) and Steve Bobenhouse (LHF) have not gone unnoticed. While both races are celebrating 25 years (LHF in Œ03 & DD in Œ04), that©ˆs where the commonality stops. Dam to Dam is a serious long distance race held in the heat of late spring and challenges even the most experienced runner. Living History Farms is all about fun, frolic and friends held in the cold air of late fall. Neither race disappointed in 2003 with both having perfect weather, great competition and a wonderful atmosphere for Striders near and far. And they both grew by hundreds with Dam to Dam 20 km having 2733 finishers and Living History Farms having 3862 finishers. Regardless whether these two veteran races are the largest in America for 2003, they give Striderland fitting bookends for the running season. It's a simple quiet sport, well, most of the time Running is attractive due to it's simple quiet nature, rarely calling attention to itself. While running is low key, marathons are not. Nothing stirs the public, running community or sponsors like the word marathon. Marathons and those who run 26.2 miles are held in high esteem - - it's a story of legends. The marathon symbolizes the feat of a Greek soldier who, in 490 B.C., ran from Marathon to Athens to bring news of his countrymen©ˆs victory over the Persians. The news in Striderland is the Des Moines Marathon, neither quiet nor legendary, has hit an emotional nerve. Maybe marathons in central Iowa will always struggle, in the late 1970s the Drake Relays Marathon drew everyone©ˆs attention when it was moved to Sunday, losing the admiration of Midwest runners who loved finishing in front of Saturday's packed house at Drake. Regardless of the constant rumors, news reports and friction about the Des Moines Marathon, the second year event continued to be successful, although drawing less marathon finishers than in 2002. 2004 being a special Olympic year, Greece will host the games and Athens will play a part in the noble sport of marathoning. Let's hope the Des Moines Marathon continues and duplicates the honor of marathon running. Rotich, Borgert & Friedman top Striderland runners This trio of runners captured Striderland running with ease. Julius Rotich topped a good field at Dam to Dam winning in 1:03:34 and duplicated his 2002 victory at Capital Pursuit 10 miler. Also Julius finished second at the Drake Relays Half-Marathon and narrowly got beat by 5 seconds at Midnight Madness. Michelle Borgert scored a terrific time at Dam to Dam, taking second in 1:13:46. Michelle triumphed for the second straight year at Midnight Madness 10 km and Drake Relays 8 km winning in 35:29 and 28:29. Robyn Friedman placed high at Drake, Dam to Dam and Midnight Madness but she saved the best for last. Robyn ran the Chicago Marathon breaking 2:50 but not enough for an Olympic Trials qualifying time of 2:48. A month later she ran the Philadelphia Marathon and qualified by one second for the Trials. These three runners are the best in Striderland where their talents and hard work are rewarded. Cross Country takes center stage It was a special year for cross country in Striderland and the state of Iowa. DM Roosevelt captured their third straight boys state team championship, also taking first, second and fourth in the individual race. Former Ankeny HS grad Marcus Murphy, Capital Striders scholarship winner, won his fourth Iowa Conference crown. Outside of Central Iowa, Wartburg's Missy Buttry and Jason Moen won Division III individual championships. Topping off an unbelievable XC season, UNI hosted the Division I Championships. The pre-nationals and nationals held on a wonderful spectator friendly course featured the best runners in the nation. Kyle Kepler, two time Drake Relays 8 km winner, was the UNI meet director. Capital Pursuit, best year ever! It took 20 years. The 21st Capital Pursuit had a record number of finishers, beating the previous best from the second year of the Pursuit in 1984. The race looked like it was on its last leg in the mid-90s, but no longer, as the finishers are almost three times as many. The Capital Strider namesake grew out of the first year of Capital Pursuit, so it's only fitting it should be a great Striderland race. Charlie McMullen passes away The beginning of the running boom reached Iowa at the 1978 Drake Relays Marathon as over 1000 entered the race. Ten runners broke 2:30 on a difficult course finishing on the oval stadium track. Leading the way was Charlie McMullen running a record 2:15:19, he also ran a 3:56 in 1974 (a rare double feat sub 2:20 & sub 4:00). On the east side of the state long time Cornbelt Running Club President, Nancy Kapheim, unexpectedly died. Charlie and Nancy, both in their 50s demonstrate that the race does have a finish line. Capital Striders do it right Just when you think you've heard it all, the Capital Striders Annual Winter Meeting was a hit. A packed room enjoyed not only socializing with new and old friends but a wonderful program of speakers. The Des Moines Police, Lint Van Lines, Capital Striders Scholarship fund and CS donations such as the big annual contribution to Living History Farms were all honored. But maybe the best was saved for last as Curt and Nancy Hoegh were given accolades for training beginning runners and directing the Clive Running Festival. Nancy exclaimed, It's like a big family. Yes the running family had a great year. A lucky 7 in Striderland for 2002 Distance wins BIG, once again Many communities are lucky to have any distance runs as a 5 km or 5 mile fits the needs of many social runners. In Striderland, not so as there is a quality race at almost every major long distance. The 26.2 mile marathon distance, after a 10 year break, has the Des Moines Marathon. Dam to Dam represents the largest 20 km in the US with well over 2500 finishers. The Capital Pursuit 10 mile celebrated 20 years in record fashion. The oldest race in Iowa, the Drake Relays On-the-ROADS overcame the worst race weather in history, regardless a near record number finished the Half-Marathon. And the Equalizer 6 hour and now 24 hour tests of survival around Gray's Lake fills out the list of distance races. The true test of running is to go the 'distance', in Central Iowa runners have that choice. Dalton & Friedman shine, especially at the DM Marathon Marty Dalton and Robyn Friedman have a lot in common - - they grew up and currently live in small town Iowa, went to private college in Iowa and scored impressive seconds at the inaugural Des Moines Marathon. Both know fast times as Marty was the 1993 2A Iowa XC Champion and Robyn was a 4-time XC All-American at Wartburg. Marty opened his running season scoring a victory at the Drake Half-Marathon with an impressive 1:11:00. Robyn displayed her distance ability at the Capital Pursuit with a 1:01:26 victory. Without a major marathon in Iowa during the past decade, the Des Moines Marathon provided the perfect stage to see if Iowans could go the distance. Marty and Robyn didn't disappoint as they ran 2:25 and 2:55 respectively. Honorable mention as top Striderland runners go out to Daniel Kinyua (Dam to Dam winner), Julius Rotich (Capital Pursuit winner) and Michelle Borgert (Drake 8 km & Midnight Madness 10 km winner). Redefining what's a Master Runner Traditionally a masters runner was anyone over 40 years of age. Twenty-five years ago, masters runners were a rarity, no more. Nearly half of the men and a quarter of the women finishing Dam to Dam were over 40 years old. The new definition of master is being challenged by a trio of 70 year olds - - Gene Harding, Jim Smedema and Jim Schleisman. Gene, while not the speediest of the three, has an amazing record of winning the most age divisions of anyone at Dam to Dam, he has won the 45-49 through 70-74 divisions. The two Jims are extraordinary marathoners. Schleisman won his age division at Grandma's and Smedema won his age division at Chicago. At Capital Pursuit the two Jims were separated by one second at the finish. How big is big enough? Who knows, who cares? In 1992 Living History Farms was a modest race with 575 finishers. Fast forward to 2002 and 3499 finishers enjoyed the LHF experience. Wow, what happened? Any race that grows this fast must be doing something right. As it turns out the Farm race does everything right! In the last decade the Farm has added a Visitor Center, perfect for packet pickup; spacious parking lots, thank goodness; and an upgraded Walnut Hill Village, an ideal setting for the finish. No cross country race in North America is as large as LHF, for good reason, how would any XC course delight runners like the Farm. Gladly the weather at the Farm has been friendly too. So how big will LHF get, who cares. Local HS Cross Country Teams score big Roosevelt High School Boy's didnt disappoint. Their victory at last years State Meet was just a sign of their potential strength as they cracked the top 10 nationally this year. As Roosevelt reigned victorious at State, they weren't the only top Central Iowa teams - - Valley finished 2nd and Ankeny 3rd shutting out the strong Eastern Iowa teams, amazing. The cousin of running on the roads, cross country, is strong with the youth of Striderland. Al Gross, a Volunteer to Respect His resume includes race director, President of the Capital Striders, 15 year course director for Drake Relays On-the-Roads and the list goes on. He even runs, of course. Al has come to define the perfect volunteer and the reason that Striderland running is so strong. Al provides balance to the running landscape, respecting all runners and those who help others run. Good Things from the Running Community Running is self centered activity, so be it. Nicely runners and races are not. While charity races can take over many running communities, in Striderland good things are happening quietly. In 2002 traditional runner's races have contributed over $50,000 to good causes. Established charities have benefitted along with Gray's Lake, downtown river trail, top XC HS runners, Living History Farms, local youth track clubs and others. Good things are happening. 2001 report by Cal Murdock