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A lucky 7 in Striderland for 2014
35th Dam to Dam, the soul of Central Iowa running
You can get better with age. It's hard to do everything right but Dam to Dam succeeded
and then some. The race harkens back to the best of Iowa running - grass roots, all-volunteer
organizers and a sheer delight to run. While race day wasn't the best weather: runners
fast and slow raved about Iowa's Distance Classic. Of special note, the 35th year
entry fee was $35, like every 5 year anniversary (ie 20th year, $20 entry fee).
4 women qualify for 2016 Olympic Trials
Toeing the line February 15, 2016 in Los Angles will be four Central Iowa women who
have made the 2:43 B standard for the Olympic Marathon Trials. Drum role please -
- Danna Herrick 2:40:11 at Grandma's, Lisa Uhl 2:40:51 at Chicago, Yelena Nanazaish
2:41:30 at California and Susie Duke 2:42:35 at Indianapolis have all made the standard.
Danna ran the 2012 Marathon Trial and Lisa ran the 10,000 meter at the 2012 Olympic
Games. This group is a record for Striderland women at the Marathon Trials.
He's a legend - - Phil Coppess is honored
The honorary race director for Dam to Dam declared, ìI always tried to run
as hard as I couldî. There is no doubt that Phil was the best runner ever to
grace Iowa soil. His humility 30 years ago, remains the same today. He was the top
US marathoner in 1985 and set the race record at Twin Cities Marathon, 2:10:05. Leading
up to that fall marathon Phil ran Dam to Dam 20K in 59:23 and Capital Pursuit 10
mile in 48:00. Deservedly, in the fall Phil Coppess was inducted into the Iowa Association
of Track Coaches Hall of Fame.
30th Year of Runner Stuff - the leader of running in the area
Itís really time for all of us to trot on over (run if you like) to the store,
club house, running news source - you name it - that has given so much to the sport
of running. Steve Bobenhouse has been at the center of Striderland running selling
shoes and the sport since 1984. Thousands of runners have been serviced not only
for the best shoes but the thrill of running. Itís time to thank Runner Stuff!
100x5K World Record - - whatís that all about?
What happens when a 20 year old Johnston prep, Tyson Wieland, starts to think the
unimaginable? Pretty easy. Recruit 100 runners, have them each run 5K on the track
as a relay, then sit back hoping for a world record (actually sounds impossible).
The relay started at 12 noon and the following afternoon Tyson fittingly was the
100th runner. The 100 person team set the record averaging 16:49 with 21 runners
breaking the 16 minute barrier. A great idea captured the imagination for the best
runners in Iowa.
ISU 2nd, Johnston 1st - - cross country champs
Iowa State women ran in the rarified air of the NCAA Division I Cross Country
Championship, finishing 2nd. Their placing matched their 1985 team performance. Johnston
High School girls placed even better. They won the Iowa High School Cross Country
Championship topping their neighbor Urbandale High School who placed 2nd. Dowling
Catholic High School previously had almost a lock on the championship, winning 6
of the last 7 years.
Where do we go from here?
Races have survived the color, mud, costumes, neon phase or craze. The general
public including a large section of the running world think of races as crazy entertainment
events or runs for charity. The ìsport of road racingî is barely glowing
. . . maybe it never was a blazing fire? Runners continue to train with the desire
to set a personal record or push their limits as they age. The question remains,
ìWill there be affordable quality races for them to enterî?
By Cal Murdock, observing Iowa Running for over three decades
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