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...