Racing Heart

So this weekend has been a busy one. With a few major races from this past weekend, I am sure people were busy! I know I was! Just a snidbit from this weekend, we had the Linn-Mar Growl Prowl, Y2Y, and The Hyvee Road Race At Drake. I competed in the Y2Y, and I had a lot of fun! You can see my review of it  here!  I mean the race did not go as well as I wanted for myself, as I severly strained my toe and could not put pressure on my foot. I finished the race, but was 10 mins slower than my predicted time. Oh what fun that was, but dont get me wrong! The race was a blast! I am excited for next year! As for this weekend's races, we have quite a few! Girls on the run 5k, Cornbelt Running Club 24 hr Run, Nacho Ordinary 5k, Cuba City Family Fun Run 5k, Prairie Du Chien Half Marathon & 5k, and the Red Shoe Run! I hope everyone takes advantage of these fun, local races! I may go down and try to run the 5k at the red shoe run! So maybe I will see y...

Race Date: April 26th, 2015 Location: Cedar Rapids, IA Race Length: 8 Miles Website: http://corridorrunning.com/race-event/y2y-2015-2/ Me on the left, around approx. 4 miles.  This year, as a substitute for the past Mall to Mall race, a new race was created with the same concept as the old race, predict your time and if you guess the closest to your finishing time, you win. However, as Westdale mall in Cedar Rapids is no longer there, race director, Mark Powers utilized local YMCAs and the running trail in town to create a brand new, wonderful race.  The one nice thing about this race is that, although long, this race is open for any ability. As long as you can guess accurately on how long it will take you, you have a chance for winning. Yes, now 8 miles is long, however on a trail system that many local runners and walkers are used to, the 8 miles feels more like 5 or 6. I am not kidding. Things seemed to fly by. I really enjoyed that aspect. Also,...

Here is the portion of my blog where I feature different runners and their thoughts on a few different ideas. I hope that all of you enjoy reading and learning about different runners as much as I do. If you would like to be featured as a runner, send me an email! I would be more than happy to feature any runner who contacts me! Life of a Runner: Allison Rogers, 21 Allison Rogers, left, finishes her race strong. What is your running history like? How long have you been at it?  I started running when I was 14. It was my sophomore year of high school and my dad convinced me to go out for cross country at my new school. I come from a long line of distance runners on my dad's side so it seemed natural. What shoes are you using right now? I'm currently alternating between a pair of Saucony Guides and Brooks Ravennas. Are you currently training for anything right now? I typically run 3,000 and 5,000 meters during the indoor track season, but the long term...

So I mentioned earlier in one of my updates that I am planning on doing a giveaway for my followers! Here I am to announce that the first giveaway is about to commence. The drawing will take place on May 31st, at noon, and the winner will be chosen from my followers list. "Now how do you go about becoming on the list?" See the box in the lefthand column that says: "Stay updated on my posts!"? All that you have to do is put your email address in the box and hit submit! You will get an email that confirms your subscription, and follow the steps there! Boom! You have been registered to earn a spot in the giveaway! "What will I be winning?" You will earn a gift of running supplies! A waterbottle, a pair of socks, body glide, and some nutritional supplies. Definately some things that any runner could use! And in total, around $40, worth of gear. So sign up! Encourage your friends to sign up as well, and I will share the winner on May 31st! The contest i...

On May 2nd, Girls On The Run will be hosting their annual 5k at Prairie High School in Cedar Rapids Iowa. The race will begin at 10 am, and all members of the community are encouraged to attend. So what is Girls on the Run? This non-profit organization is a program for girls in 3rd to 8th grade. They inspire these girls to be "joyful, healthy, and confident" through a curriculum that integrates running. They combine training for a 5k with lessons that help girls become "Independent thinkers, enhance their problem solving skills, and make healthy decisions." Through the help of numerous volunteers, the girls are grouped with coaches and running buddies, who help train and lead these girls through their 5k. The race on May 2nd will consist of all the girls in the Eastern Iowa program, their running buddies, family members, and community members.  This is a great race that benefits a wonderful organization. I would recommend any one to come out. The course ...

Hey Everyone! So an update on things. I know I usually do these updates on Mondays, however, my life is so jam-packed right now, that I am going to do things as I find time for them. So this past weekend, we had quite a few wonderful local races, and I hope that all of you were able to take advantage of them and run or volunteer at one! As for this upcoming weekend, the list of races are as follows. NICC Student Veteran Spring Sprint 5k, Dubuque Diabetes Dash 5k, Spring Chaser 5k, Bishop Hill 5K Swedish Stomp & Skamparoo, Growl Prowl , Iowa Walk For Epilepsy & 5k, The Color Dash 5k, Foamy Fun 5k , Y2Y Time Prediction Race , River Run 5k/10k, and Hyvee Road Races at the Drake Relays. I will be in attendance at the Y2Y, so maybe I will see some of you there! Keep an eye out for a new "Check This Race Out!" post, as there is a new one coming each week. I will be updating the race calendar as I find out about other races coming up, or as you share them with me, and ...

One of the upcoming races this spring in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, is the new Y2Y time prediction race. This race is taking the spot of the old time prediction race, Mall to Mall . The new race will start at the YMCA on Council st, and head down towards the downtown YMCA, thus the Y to Y. The reasoning for the switch from malls to the YMCAs is because there is no Westdale mall anymore. The course, although stretching for 8 miles, is fairly flat. When you start on council st, you immediately turn towards the Cedar Valley Nature Trail and follow it to the downtown Y. The trail is a paved trail that does have some coverage from the trees and nature around it. There is a portion where you do divert off the trail and add a mile or two in, but that area is fairly flat yet again. For those who are unfamiliar with the idea of a time prediction race, let me explain it to you. A time prediction race is when you sign up or register for the race, you must predict how fast you run it. For the Y2Y, yo...

Hello everyone! This weekend was a great weekend for running! We had so many local races that I hope you managed to run one or maybe even two! I have attempted to post the results for the races, however many of them have not been posted yet, or I have not been able to find them. If any of you know where I can find the results, please let me know! As for this upcoming weekend, we have many more races to run in! Hennessey Hustle 5k, Gilda's Run for Laughs 5k, SFLC's Lids for Kids 5k, Run.Rock.Roll. 5k, Run for Renewal 5k, Go the Distance 5k, Dam to Downtown 10k, Loop the Lake 8k, Color The Earth 5k Run, Drake Law Court to Court 5k, Clear Lake Earth Day 5k/10k, Running with the Stars Make-A-Wish 5k, and Doughnut Run! A lot of opportunities for everyone! Check them out here. I did make a few new posts about some upcoming local races, and everyone should check them out and consider running them! There is the Growl Prowl and the Foamy Fun 5k. Well that is all for this week, ...

This year marks the 7th annual Growl Prowl 5k/ 8k for the Linn-Mar school district. This fairly flat race is one that benefits the local community and provides the basic needs for living and learning that a growing number of Linn-Mar children lack. Last year, the turnout was a huge success! They had over 1,500 runners and walkers participate and raised nearly $40,000 for the students and schools. Why should you participate in this race? I know there are not the colorful miles or obstacles every 20 feet, but listen. We all have been in school at some point or another. I am sure you remember having to buy the tons of supplies that every year required, and for some of us, we remember how difficult it was to afford the simplest forms of supplies. This race goes straight back to the community, and benefits schools in their purchase of school supplies and assisting students who really need these funds. Another reason is because of how cool the awards of. Overall and age group winne...

This year marks the first annual Foamy Fun 5k run/walk in Cedar Rapids Iowa. This race is organized by Lisa Henderson, who is up for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Woman of the Year. This is a contest, per se, which the winner of the award is the person who raises the most money towards the charity. Lisa's fundraising idea is the 5k. Now, will I be running through foam? Nope! The race begins at the Sag Wagon, a pub off of the Cedar Valley Nature Trail, near Cedar Lake. From there, runners and walkers head down to Parlor City, another local pub, then to Rock Bottom, (again another bar), and back to Sag Wagon for a lunch. Catch the theme? Participants will have the opportunity to purchase whatever beverage that you choose, whether that be beer or soda. Also, at each stop, there will be games to help break the event up some. In other words, this event is going to be a fun opportunity for both runners and walkers to support a local cause. I also wanna add that the course is f...

Hey Everybody!! Happy Easter! I hope all of you had great race weekends with all the wonderful Easter races that just passed. I will be posting the results for all of these races on the upcoming races page. All you will have to do is click on the link that says results, and it will take you right to them! Also, if you did run any of these races, let me know what you thought of them. This upcoming weekend, we have some great races! Starting with the Opening Doors Dash 5k, Red Shamrock Foundation Survivorship Trail Run, Bandits Race to Home 5k, Quad Cities 5k Run and Walk for Epilepsy, Springtime Sprint 5k, Midwest Medical Sprint into Spring 5k, AIDS Walk/Run, Beer & Bagel Off Road Run, Hawkeye 50k & 25k, Brett Smith Memorial 5k, Live Healthy Iowa 5k and the Hollywood in the Heights 10k on the 11th. On the 12th, we have the River Queen Track and Field Color Run 5k, Hoops Hustle 5k, Springtime Hill Climb 10k/5k, Autism 5k run/walk, Iowa State VK 5k, and the Rehab Run. There ar...

****DISCLAIMER: everyone's feet are shaped differently, and because I say that this shoe works or doesn't work for me, doesn't mean that it'll work for you. I intend on telling you about the structure and feel of the shoe and giving my opinion. Take it as you may.*** Nike Vomero 10 Category: Neutral, High Cushioning Fit: Hugs the foot more around the midfoot, toebox is roomy but not as roomy as it used to be Cushioning: Plush-like, but a little stiffer than it used to be. Heel to toe drop: 12mm Weight: 8.9 oz Price: $140 Comparable shoes: Saucony Triumph, Brooks Glycerin, Asics Nimbus Company says: The Nike Air Zoom Vomero 10 Women's Running Shoe delivers lightweight, breathable comfort and responsive cushioning with a Flymesh upper and Nike Zoom units in the heel and forefoot. Dynamic Fit technology uses Flywire cables that integrate with the laces to provide lockdown and stability through footstrike. I say: I never was too much...