The Circle of Life

When I was in my teens, I was a cyclist... I attended many cycling events like RAGBRAI and many unknown rides as well. I remember when I was 14 that I struggled to keep up with my dad; when I turned sixteen, it wasn't so. What became the hallmark of my change was a time that I had a flat and my dad stopped to fix it with me... or rather for me. When he finished, I repaid him by smokin' ahead of him to catch up with my friends. While I cringe at that memory, it's just the way things are when a young man starts his physical growth and his dad begins to lose his.

I'm reminded of this now as my son turns 13. At last year's Coca Cola Classic in Sioux City, my son easily beat me to the finish line. I'd like to blame it on the 5K race I rarely take part in (I like longer, endurance-based races), but the fact is that I'm the dad watching my son disappear into the distance now. It's just the way things are meant to be.

And, when it comes down to it, I wouldn't have it any other way; he's healthy... he's full of energy, and this is the basis for much of my joy as I enter my older years. May you see the wisdom in this when it happens to you, parents.

Happy running to old and young alike!

ALL Royal Run Race Times Posted

Race times have been posted at www.igroyalrun.com for the 5K walk, 5K run, 10K run, and 1K kids' run.

As we do not use chip timing (we will look at this as we continue to grow), we cannot verify exact timing.

Look for the new "2009 Race Results" navigation button to the left on the home page.

2009 Royal Run Medal Winners

Here are the medal winners for our 2009 Royal Run:

5K Male Medal Winners

1st - Gold - Jay Welp (107) - Marcus - 19:09.98
2nd - Silver - Mick Hoffman (90) - Battle Creek - 19:54.60
3rd - Bronze - Brian Kelly (130) - Omaha - 19:57.589

5K Female Medal Winners

1st - Gold - Mandi Hare (87) - Ida Grove - 25:48.54
2nd - SIlver - Marissa Hare (88) - Ida Grove - 26:42.46
3rd - Bronze - Bailey Hare (86) - Ida Grove - 27:12.48

10K Male Medal Winners

1st - Gold - Greg Swynar (120) - Ida Grove - 40:45.19
2nd - Silver - Jaime Dodge (130) - Ida Grove - 41:28.81
3rd - Bronze - Kipp Gebel (131) - Ida Grove - 42:22.83

10K Female Medal Winners

1st - Gold - Caitie Taylor (121) - 48:55.42
2nd - Silver - Shannon Wingrove (124) - 51:54.24
3rd - Bronze - Erica Thompson (122) - 52:06.17

We think anyone who participates wins... that's Royal... he's that way. We'll post all participants - except those that came in with their bib bottoms already torn off (we had a couple) - by the end of this week.

Stay tuned!

We Want Your Royal Run Pictures!

Calling all participants and their fans! We want your digital pics for our Facebook presence. Do you have pictures of the start, finish, or anywhere in between? Send them to us and we'll post them on Facebook for all of our friends to see. Please send your pics to director@igroyalrun.com! We'll give you credit for the pics that we post.

Bring Your Raving Fans!

Royal LOVES it when you bring your adoring fans... make sure your family and friends come along to give you all the inspiration you need when the perspiration starts to flow.

Your personal "groupies" can cheer you on at the start and finish from Godbersen Park at the corner of 2nd and Main. Take time to look at our course map at www.igroyalrun.com to see other places your raving fans can cheer you on!

Important Times and Places

Here's the scoop on where to be and when for this weekend's premier event, our Royal Run!

Choose one of two packet pick up times!
EARLY Packet Pick-up: Friday, June 26 - 7 -9 p.m. - Ida Grove Rec Center for ALL races, including 1K

RACE DAY Packet Pick-up: Saturday, June 27, 7 - 7:30 a.m. - Ida Grove Rec Center for ALL races, including 1K

All participants have a racing bib, including the 1K participants, that will need to be worn on the front of clothing. This will be used for timing participants as well as to be entered for prize drawings and to present to rec center employees to use facilities for the day. Please remember that only 5K and 10K entrants are eligible for the prize drawings.

Saturday, June 27th - Race Day! Corner of 2nd and Main - Godbersen Park is Meeting Place for both the start and finish
8 a.m. National Anthem
1K runners starts immediately after National Anthem
5K and 10K runners start immediately after 1K finish
5K walkers are released immediately after runners

10 a.m. Recognition of top finishers followed by prize drawings at Godbersen Park; in case of rain this will be held at the rec center

Looking forward to seeing you this weekend!

Bathroom anyone?

Here's a topic that everyone want to know about... portable toilets! We are working with the Heritage Days' Committee to see if we can get some spot-a-pots in the start/finish area... but at this point there are no guarantees. There are bathrooms available at the Ida Grove Rec Center which is about 3 blocks away from race start. The lesson? Watch the coffee intake and do your "best" to take care of any "issues" before getting the starting area! Sorry for the inconvenience.

It's Happenin' at Godbersen Park!

Our 1K, 5K, and 10K events are all starting at 2nd and Main's Godbersen Park kitty-corner to United Bank's main office. This is the area where the races all start and finish. Remember that race day packets can be picked up Friday, June 26, from 7 - 9 p.m. at the Ida Grove Rec Center or from 7 - 7:30 a.m. the morning of our events. We highly encourage you to pick up your packet the night before so you don't have to hassle with it the night before.

Summer is here!

My early morning run along the Pleasant Valley Trail didn't seem so much like an early morning when it came to the weather. Our Iowa summer is clearly in force for this week! As my grandfather said when he was living, "That's not sweat. That's liquid sunshine!" If grandpa was right, then I was downright drenched in it.

In my own training, I carry a water belt to make sure I stay plenty hydrated. When I first started running, I would get headaches and sour stomachs at the end of such runs I had today. Hydration solves that. And while grandpa would have solved the problems brought on by the heat with a big glass of lemonade, nothing hydrates better for athletes than water.

Our Royal Run will have three water stands (one that can be used both going out and back from Moorehead Park). However, if you've got your own water belt, or plan on getting one, then you've got the control as to when and where to hydrate.

Looking forward to seeing you display your "sunshine" this weekend!

Royal Run Just One Week from Today

We're just a week away from the most scenic run in NW Iowa. We are down to a few details necessary to make this one of the best.

A note about a slight change in the route... we've had LOTS of rain in our area lately and it's caused a bit of trouble with our trail from the high school parking lot to the hospital. This segment is closed but it will have little effect on the run as we have a paved road that runs along it. All the same, you will see the trail closed for this short segment and you'll be directed to the road that parallels it. No big deal but it's something that we need to let you know about in advance. This will have little or no effect on mileage.

See you on the 27th!

Prize Additions

Only nine days until the second annual Royal Run. We're putting the finishing touches on this event in preparation for an excellent run. We've added a Heart Rate Wrist Monitor and sports sunglasses to our list of prizes to be drawn for at 10 AM on race day courtest of Dr. Al and Becky Veltri.

Ida Grove Pharmacy, home of one of the last true soda fountains, has donated a free single-scoop ice cream cone to all participants. It's a great way to cool down after the race.

I hope the rain hasn't stifled your training. It's been raining in many locations around the Midwest so I'm thinking your shoes have been getting soggy here and there in your training as mine have.

As always, don't hesitate to contact me if you have any questions. Use the Contact Us section at www.igroyalrun.com to zing me a question or a comment.

Prize Drawing Time & Location CHANGE

We've decided to draw for prizes at 10 AM at the park kitty-corner to United Bank of Iowa, which is the same area where the race starts and finishes. Based on committee discussions, we feel that all runners and walkers will be in by this time to take part in the prize drawing; no need to come back to the Ida Grove Rec Center at 11:45 AM! You can take time to watch the parade, eat at City Park, and enjoy the rest of Heritage Days!

Our alternate location for the drawing, in case there is inclement weather, is the Ida Grove Rec Center - 10 AM as well.

Good luck at our prize drawings!

A Walker-friendly 5K Event

Since our first run last year, we've billed ourselves as a walker-friendly 5K. We are that indeed. Our trail is wide enough to accommodate both our walkers and runners with this year's two-way traffic.

We will release the 5K and 10K runners first and then, shortly after, release the 5K walkers. This is to spread out the runners from the walkers for safety's sake. As you see at http://www.igroyalrun.com/course_maps.html, the 5K route goes out to Moorehead Park and then returns on the same route; this means that at some point the runners will be coming back on the very route the walkers are still going out on.

We encourage walkers to socialize, stop to read the trivia along the way, and enjoy the scenery along the route. We also ask that you keep a heads-up for the runners who are competing on the way back. Give them plenty of birth on half the trail. It'll be a small part of the walk but a very important part.

We appreciate your participation in this year's Royal Run!

Starting Times for our Events

Remember that the Kids' 1K starts promptly at 8 AM. The Royal Run committee encourages you to pick up your children's packets the night before the race when we have our early packet pick-up from 7 - 9 PM at the Ida Grove Rec Center.

If you are a 5K or 10K participant, we are not starting those events until the 1K is completely over and all children are with their families.

We anticipate the 5 and 10K will start at 8:30 am at the latest but we encourage you to be in the starting area at 8 AM to make sure you are there plenty early for the start.

Remember that the Heritage Days Parade is at 10:30 AM and the grilling starts at 11 AM. We will begin prize drawing at the Ida Grove Rec Center at 11:45 AM.

There's a lot going on! Be sure to take part in as much fun as you can - see the full Heritage Days agenda at http://www.igroyalrun.com/heritage_days_events.html.

Early Packet Pick-up

You may pick up your packet the night before the race, June 26, at our Ida Grove Community Rec Center from 7 - 9 PM. We encourage all runners and walkers to take advantage of this offer. If you choose to do this, all you have to do the morning of the race is meet at the sitting park at the corner of main and second prior to the 1K kids' run that starts promptly at 8 AM (5K and 10K events start immediately after). You may pick up your packet from 7 - 7:30 AM at the same location if you are only going to be in town the day of the race. Just one more way we are making our race as fun and convenient as possible to take part in!

Prize Drawings

Prize drawings will be held at noon back on race day at the Ida Grove Community Recreation Center. We've timed the prize drawings so you will be able to watch the parade after the run, eat lunch at City Park, and then make it back to the rec center for the drawings.

Our community fully supports our run and to show it, many stores are offering prizes and other savings in conjunction with our run as well as Heritage Days. Here are some samples of prizes we've acquired through our generous business community:

A 1/2 hour massage from Doreen's Therapeutic Massage

Four rounds of 9-hole golf from the Ida Grove Country Club

Carnival Ride tickets for the kids participating in the 1K kids' run

Ice Cream from Ida Grove Pharmacy's old fashioned soda fountain

Two 1/2 hour massages from Just Relax Massage Therapy

Five $10 amounts of Chamber Bucks from the Chamber of Commerce, good at any participating Ida Grove business.

United Bank of Iowa is offering coolers full of goodies, bagged chairs, and more.

Keep in touch with us through this blog... we'll have more to share soon!

Final Route Announcement

All Royal Run routes have now been finalized. To see color-coded route maps, go to http://www.igroyalrun.com/course_maps.html. The biggest change is in the 5K run and walk route; we have steered this route into Moorehead Park so 5Kers have the enjoyment of a new route as well as the beauty of our state park. As always, feel free to contact me at director@igroyalrun.com if you have any questions.

Morning Run

I'm a morning runner. I get up fairly early to make sure I get in my run before the day takes a course that I couldn't predict. Typically, I will run anywhere from 3 to 7 miles five days a week with a long run over the weekend. While I enjoy sleeping late during the weekends, the early morning is by far my most favorite time to run. Ida Grove's Pleasant Valley Trail is full of life early in the morning; from Canada's Geese to winter white mink, a runner can take it all in while he or she follows the Maple River. If you're contemplating running our second annual Royal Run, consider that Ida County is one of the best places in Iowa to catch wildlife in action. I've seen deer, fox, rabbits, hawks, and other wildlife in the area, just ready to be enjoyed by the runner who takes the time to survey his or her surroundings.

We hope you'll join us this Heritage Days; if you're staying for more than a day, take an additional opportunity to run or walk the Pleasant Valley Trail.

You'll be glad you did.

Just over a month to the 2nd Annual Royal Run

Only 35 days until our 2nd Annual Ida Grove Royal Run!

My son and I just finished finalizing the 5 and 10K routes. Most of the 5K route is flat and runs by the Maple River. The 5 and 10K both go over a foot bridge into Moorehead Park. Woods greet both 5 and 10K runners and a moderate hill before turning around the 5K runner and heading them back to the finish line. The 10K goes all the way into the park and then comes back to take the full circle of the Pleasant Valley Trail. It will be a route to remember!

Tomorrow we're off to finalize the 1K kid's run route which will take place entirely in downtown Ida Grove.

Look for updates to the Course Map section of www.igroyalrun.com coming soon!

Heritage Days Tentative Events

The Ida Grove Royal Run is a large part of Ida Grove's Heritage Days. To see how our run is part of our town's event, please go to IG Royal Run web site, click on "Local Area Info", and then select "Ida Grove Heritage Days" to see the tentative itinerary as it's being planned.

Early Registration Deadline Tomorrow, April 18

The registrations have been rolling in this week for all the running events due to our earlybird registration fees. Go to the IG Royal Run to download the registration form; send it in with tomorrow's postmark and you'll be on your way to participating in one of the best events of the summer!

2009 Logo

We just replaced last year's IG Royal Run logo with a new, updated one. We think you'll find it tastefully stands out amongst the best in the racing circuit!

2008 and 2009 Race Results

If you've been back to www.igroyalrun.com lately, you'll notice that we have 2008 race results posted. We had 70 participants and posted the results of the top ten runners. As an improvement for 2009, we will have realtime race results for all races on our site; as racers cross the finish line, we'll grab their bib number and race time and post them just as fast as possible. Each racer's time will post live on our site within 30 seconds of entry. It doesn't get much faster than that!

1K Kids' Run Question

I've had a few parents ask me how old their child should be before they should consider the 5K (3.1 miles) run instead of the 1K (0.62 miles). My answer is simple: a parent who pays attention to their child's development and watches them run a distance will have a pretty good idea. My son, age 13, ran a 1K in Sioux City, Iowa, in 2006 and ran a great race. It was clear that he knew how to pace himself and enjoyed the challenge. A year later, when he mentioned wanted to run the 1K again, we talked about how effortlessly he came in the previous year and it might be time to consider a 5K. Last fall, he ran and walked the 5K in Sioux City and came in ahead of me! I anticipate that this year, he'll run more and walk less. I give a few general pointers if you are considering having your child run the 1K:

1. There isn't an age restriction. If you child hasn't raced before, the 1K is a great starter race so he or she can gauge if they are ready for longer races or find that the 1K is the best place for him or her. You know what kids are like... they long for the day when they can do what big kids do; he or she won't stick with the 1K if they feel like they've grown out of it.

2. Encourage them to try the distance (0.62 miles) before race day. Watch them. Give pointers. The best advice I ever gave my son was to start slow and build momentum and have enough gas to kick it in at the end.

3. Take your child to the local high school track to get a feel for the distance. This is also a good indicator of their overall development.

3. Make sure they are hydrated before the race and hydrate after the race. It's a good lesson to learn early in life.

4. Make sure you emphasize fun rather than finishing quickly. All 1K finishers EARN medals. It's a great first race; I can't think of something to be celebrated more than developing their love for physical fitness.

If you have any questions about the 1K kids' run, please go to the "Contact Us" section of www.igroyalrun.com and zing me a message. I'll respond as quickly as possible.

Doug Clough
IG Royal Run Director

Earlybird Registration Deadline Approaching!

Many of you have probably either signed up for your first race or completed your first of the season. Don't forget to put Ida Grove's Royal Run on this year's race calendar. In fact, the earlybird registration deadline is fast approaching. Go to www.igroyalrun.com to see our special rates if signed up by April 18th! Looking forward to hearing from you soon.

Welcome to the Annual Ida Grove Royal Run Blog

This blog is set up to help keep you, the interested participant, volunteer and/or supporter updated with all the happenings related to the IG Royal Run event.

This blog serves as an interactive companion to the official IG Royal Run web site and the IG Royal Run page on Facebook. This is where I'll post my thoughts, ideas and other new developments as they happen.

My goal is to keep things informal while I keep everyone up to date, so if there are any typos or my prose is a little stilted, I trust you'll understand. :-)

Thanks to all of you for your interest in the Annual IG Royal Run! I'm really looking forward to this being our best year yet!