University of Okoboji Half Marathon (IA), July 19th, 2014

Thought of the race as I was looking into the cornfields lining either side of the course: “Wow, I don’t think I’ve ever seen so much corn.”  I turned and started to comment on my amazement at the cornfields to the runner next to me.  Then I remembered I was in Iowa.  A place where cornfields are not uncommon.  I realized that the runner next to me was probably not as fascinated by a cornfield as I was.

On the way to an annual family vacation to northern Minnesota, I convinced my parents we could swing south to Lake Okoboji, Iowa, so that I could cross off another state.   

The town of Lake Okoboji is what reminds me of an east coast beach town, complete with an amusement park and putt-putt course, on a lakeshore in the middle of cornfields.  The University of Okoboji Half Marathon was part of an event that included a triathlon, marathon, and 10k (although it was the homecoming for a university that does not actually exist).  The races started at various points around the lakes and began at staggered starting times, with the marathon beginning 2 hours before the half, which was one hour before the 10k.  As the race progressed, it was fun to pass and pick up runners completing different distances.


I enjoyed the race, but was ready to hop in the car and head north for a week of relaxation.  And kayaking, swimming, biking, and a little running.

Jamestown Half Marathon (RI), July 12th, 2014

I decided to make the most of my marathon training and booked 2 halves in July.  By “making the most of my marathon training,” I meant run as little as possible after the full and still be able to survive the two halves.  I survived both, barely.

As a teacher, summer provides me lots of time to take road trips and see new places without worrying about having to get back to work.  I found the Jamestown race and decided to tack it onto a trip to visit my parents in Delaware.  Somehow I convinced my mom to join me for the trip further north (she has been my most consistent travel partner over the course of my races).

Jamestown Island is a small residential island in Narragansett Bay.  The race started earlier than most, which I soon realized was not so that we could clear the roads early, but that it gets warm quickly that far north.  It was a quiet, pretty race through the wooded streets of the small island.

Thankfully the warm finish of the race was followed by a quick dip in the ice-cold ocean, lunch at a typical New England diner and a scenic road trip back to Delaware.