Racing Heart

John Penning 5k July 22nd 2017 Dubuque, IA 5k This was the second year I ran this race, (however it was the umpteenth time I have ran at this course since xc in high school). For a quick description of the course, its a cross country course at a soccer complex. There are three laps that each runner completes, (which yes, it can get repetitive), but each lap is slightly different than the previous, each having a long gradual hill that you must climb to get back to the top. There are short, steep, hills that take you from soccer field to soccer field, so the course gives a varying challenge to each runner. Also, the entire course is on grass, which can be a change if you are a runner who only trains on concrete. However, this does allow people who have spikes to dig them out of the closet and take them for a spin. This race is a fundraiser for a local high school's cross country teams. It allows for people to experience what these athletes have to go through for...

Thursday Sept 1st: Pound the Pavement; Sgt. Bluff;  register Friday Sept 2nd: Captain Midnight's Run for CF; Ames;  register Butterfly5k; Anamosa;  Register Saturday Sept 3rd: 5keg Run; Ankeny;  Register Madrid Milers Labor Day Run;  Register We Run Glow Run 5k; North Liberty;  register Stanford Sheldon Glow Walk/Jog; Sheldon;  register Step Up Half Marathon and 5k; Storm Lake;  Register Sunday Sept 4th: New Bo Run; Cedar Rapids;  register Monday Sept 5th: Run with Carl; Bettendorf;  register Dubuque Benefit Classic; Dubuque;  Register Saturday Sept 10th: Pufferbilly 5k/10k; Boone;  Register Trashmore 5k; Cedar Rapids;  register Wildcat Den State Park Ken Hyman Memorial Run; Muscatine;  register Wabash Trace Nature Trail Marathon and Half Marathon; Shenandoah;  register Park to Park Half Marathon; Waterloo;  register Sunday Sept 11th: Clinton Half Marathon, ...

%=1 Mile/#=5K/ *=10K/+=Half/~=Marathon/$=Other Friday, August 5th Atkins Watermelon Days Road Race; Atkins;  Register  %,# Murray Jamboree GLOWRUN 5k; Murray;  register  # Saturday, August 6th Operation T-Bone Run Fun Walk 5k/10k; Audubon;  Register  #,* John Penning XC 5k; Dubuque;  Register  # Run For The Cob; Estherville;  Register  %,#,* Run In the Sun; Oskaloosa;  register  # Wapsi-Great Western Line Race; Riceland;  register  #,$ That Dam/Skunk Race; Rutland;  Register  $ Swisher 5k Run/Walk; Swisher;  register  # Twin Lakes Triathlon & Duathlon; Twin Lakes;  Register  $ Urbandale Dash 5k; Urbandale;  Register  # ShamRock and Run; Waterloo;  register  # Team Fergalicious 5k; West Branch;  register  # Hit the Bricks; Williamsburg;  register  #,* Cannonball Pump and Run; Winterset;  register  %,# Sunday, A...

I have another for everyone! So yesterday was my last doctors appointment! (Well at least for my legs). If I haven't said it before, my doctor is someone who makes his appointments short, sweet, and to the point. Sometimes that is not a bad thing, but sometimes it sucks to drive a little over an hour to have a short, less than 5 minute meeting with him to discuss things. Well anyway, I get there and he takes a look at my scars, (which are a tad red from a sunburn), says they are healing well, checks my strength in my feet and ankles, says that the strength is good, then asks what I have been doing as far as activities. (Just to catch you up on things, I wasnt really supposed to do much until I went to this appointment...oops.) I was honest with him. I told him that I have been trying to walk a lot, taking it easy on days that I am more sore than others, and jogging a little, increasing the distance as things feel good. He told me that what I am doing is good, however I dont wan...

So I told you all that I would share a list of the races that I hope to do someday. I call it my race bucket list. I have a goal of running a half marathon in every state, however I do not know of all halves in every state, so I need some help. If you know of an awesome half that has a fun or interesting course, wonderful bling, or that you just really enjoyed, please let me know! I am going to keep updating this list as I find or hear about new races that I want to do in the future. January: The Big Beach Marathon - Gulf Shores, AL Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend (Dopey Challenge) - Orlando,FL February: Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend - Orlando, FL March: N/A April: Lincoln Presidential Half - Springfield, IL The Boston Marathon - Boston, MA Kentucky Derby Mini Marathon - Louisville, KY Garmin Marathon - Olathe, KY  May: 500 Festival Mini Marathon - Indianapolis, IN Valleyfair Half Marathon - Shakopee, MN Bay to Breakers - S...

%=1 Mile/#=5K/ *=10K/+=Half/~=Marathon/$=Other Saturday July 2nd Armstrong Pump-N-Run; Armstrong;  register  # Freedom 5k; Buffalo;  register  # Carlisle 4th of July Fun Run and Walk; Carlisle;  register  #,$ Rip Roar Kids Triathalon; Cedar Rapids;  Register  $ Coralville 4th FEST 5k; Coralville;  Register  # FAJ Squad 5k Run/Walk; Dubuque;  register  # Earlham Firecracker 5k; Earlham;  register  # Exira Fun Run/5k/10k; Exira;  register  #,*,$ Clayton Ridge Interact 5k; Guttenberg;  register  # Iowa Valley Fine Arts 5k; Marengo;  register  # Pleasantville Firecracker 5k; Pleasantville;  Register  # Running Makes Cent$; Reinbeck;  Register  #,$ Royal Rec 5k; Royal;  Register  # Sunday July 3rd Creston Half Marathon; Creston;  Register  #,+ Tri in July Super Sprint Triathlon; Sigourney;  register  $ 3 on the 3rd; Y...

Hello everyone! This is my 100th post! Woohoo! I have been working on this blog for a little over a year and a half now, and I just want to say thank you. Thank you to those who read these stories or calendars that I share with you. Thank you to those who keep up with the updates and share their feedback. Thank you to you all. This blog falls right in line with the passion that I have for running and I love to share all that I can with as many people as I can. So an update to go along with everything. It has been a little over a month since I had my surgery on my legs. Things are progressing well and I have started to run (at an 8:30 pace too, keep in mind!!) about 100-300m every few walks. I try to get out every day and walk about 1.5 to 3 miles and am hoping to walk/run a 5k in July or August, (I have yet to pick a specific one yet). I recently set a goal to train and run (possibly walk some) the Rails to Trails half marathon in Norwalk, WI in November. I think that gives me plen...