DES MOINES, IOWA (February 15, 2019) — Runablaze Iowa team athletes are sponsored by: GOLD ($1,000+ yearly contribution) — Bix 7, Dam to Dam, Fitness Sports, Fleet Feet (Davenport), IMT Des Moines Marathon, GetMeRegistered and Living History Farms Race, RipRoar Events (DAM to DSM)
SILVER ($500+ yearly contribution) — Runner’s Flat, Drake Relays road race, Pink Gorilla Events BRONZE ($250+ yearly contribution) — Capital Striders, Fifth Season, Sturgis Falls, Midnight Madness, Capital Pursuit, Iowa Running Company (Cedar Rapids), Corridor Running Club - - - -
And now for the news . . .
ALEX(INA) WILSON — 9:48:37 3000 meter Steeplechase & 4:18.27 1500 meter
* I have a great support system here at UNI with my coach Dave Paulsen (Head Coach of UNI Track) and my training partners Brette Jensen and Brittney Neeley (both Runablaze Iowa runners).
* My ability to focus on the process rather than the end result. End goals are important but focusing on the process helps keep me grounded.
* The reason I decided to pursue professional running after college was because I felt I still had so much more room to improve and I want to see just how good I could get. I think that at this level you have to be intrinsically motivated because few people want to you succeed as much as yourself.
SAMANTHA WINGERT — 2:41:48 marathon & 1:16:50 half-marathon
* A supportive family. My family has always supported me and encouraged me to take some “me” time with no questions asked. My husband takes the kids every Saturday morning on a special date (usually to our local coffee shop to get a cinnamon roll or to Icon Donuts in town) while I do my long run/workout. They’re amazing.
* Consistency over time. I didn’t start taking running more seriously until 2014, after I had my daughter. Although I have taken a break for the birth of my son in 2016, I have largely been very consistent over the years, running quicker, gradually to avoid injury and burnout.
* Coaching and community support. I surely would not have any running “success” had it not been for my coach, Scott Gall (Runner’s Flat & Runablaze Iowa sponsor). Not only does he keep the guesswork out of training, but he has been a constant encourager, supporter, and mentor. He has transformed me physically, but more importantly has helped drastically strengthen my mental game. We view running as something we are BLESSED to be able to do, and we don’t want short term success but to be able to live many years in our best health. In addition, the runners in our community are so amazing and inspiring. Many are routinely going out for 3-4 hour long runs on the weekend which blows my mind.
BROGAN AUSTIN - 2:12:38 marathon & 1:02:39 half-marathon
* Consistency — I’ve put in over 20 years of work to gradually progress to level I’m at today. Working day in and day out adds up over time. My 7th-grade 800 pr was 2:26 (about 5:00 pace); 10th-grade 2 mile pr was 9:55 (about 5:00 pace); 24-year-old half-marathon PR was 64:38 (about 5:00 pace); and most recently at 27 my Marathon pr is 2:12:38 (about 5:00 pace). Consistently putting in the effort regardless of the sport, job, or any life accomplishment and you’ll be definitely be better down the road.
* Balance — This can be interpreted in many ways. Train hard enough that your body has to adapt to the efforts you put it through but not too much that you've dug yourself into a hole that you can't get out of. It's also important to be balanced in your training specifications. You should be able to run your best 800, mile, 5k, 10k, or marathon at any given time where each training component has value. Focusing your training towards one race makes you imbalanced and often leads to deficiencies and injury.
* Goals — Without setting goals we perform daily acts of randomness. Goals force us to be deliberate about our actions and drives us with purpose to seek out an accomplishment. Lack of goals allows us to make excuses and deviate to any path that may not set us up for success.
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The list has gotten twice as long, thanks to everyone, especially coach Eric Cogdill. Now almost 40 races at least 30 years old.
Oldest Races in Iowa (2019 anniversary year):
55th Iowa State Fairgrounds Turkey Trot (Des Moines) 51st Drake Relays Road Races (Des Moines) 48th Midnight Madness (Ames) 47th Wahlert Turkey Trot (Dubuque) 45th Bix-7 (Davenport) 44th Quad Cities Half-Marathon (Davenport) 43rd Run the for the Schools (Iowa City) 42st Nordic Fest (Decorah) 42st Watermelon Stampede (Muscatine) 42st Dubuque Half-Marathon (Dubuque) 41st Sturgis Falls (Cedar Falls) 41st Madrid Milers Labor Day Run (Madrid) 41st Road-O-Cross at Living History Farms (Urbandale)
40th 1980 Dam to DSM (Des Moines) 39th O’Round the Loch Half-Marathon (Emmetsburg) 39th Hobo Days (Britt) 39th Columbus Day 5K (Columbus Junction) 38th Clive Running Festival (Clive) 38th River Run (Iowa City) 38th Gaelic Gallop (Dyersville) 38th B-rrry Scurry (Clinton) 38th Cornbelt Running Club 24-hr Run (Eldridge) 38th Firecracker Classic (Belmond) 37th Capital Pursuit (Des Moines) 37th Waukee Fun Run (Waukee) 37th St Patrick’s Day (Davenport) 36th SAVMA Scamper (Ames) 36th Friendly Sons of St Patrick’s (West Des Moines) 35th Moonlight Chase (Eldridge) 35th Lincoln Highway Bridge Festival (Tama)
35th St Jude Sweet Corn Festival (Cedar Rapids) 34th Fifth Season (Cedar Rapids) 34th Firecracker (Dysart) 33rd Run for the Roses (Ames) 33rd Scott County Y Turkey Trot (Davenport) 33rd Duesey Days (Garner) 32st Paul Skeffington Memorial (DeWitt) 32st Firecracker 5k (Webster City)
30th Red Flannell Run (Des Moines) ** Updates are appreciated!
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AND as always check out nextleveliowa.com and Lance Bergeson’s DM Register blog featuring a lot more in the Iowa running world.
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About Runablaze Iowa - Runablaze Iowa athletes are based throughout Iowa. Formed in 2006, the purpose of the team is to improve post-collegiate Iowa distance running. Major Iowa running specialty stores, Iowa races and Iowa runners at those races support Runablaze Iowa. President: Ben Jaskowiak Secretary: Robyn Friedman Treasurer: Tim Ives At Large: Erin Moeller and Jason Flogel Team Manager: Cal Murdock, 515-274-5379, calmurdock@earthlink.net
