KATJA, DAVE, LEWIS, MARK, PAULA, JODY, KARA, TOM, SUSAN
ABBY,MARY,SANDY
CINDY, DEBBIE, NAN, LINDA, BETSY, JIM
THE PERFECT 13.1 SMILE
NUMBER 50
THIRTY YEARS OF MARATHONS, 1283.8 MILES, 49 STATES THERE WAS JUST ONE LEFT TO DO.
IOWA.
AFTER A WONDERFUL PARTY THE PREVIOUS EVENING, IT WAS TIME TO PUT THE ICING ON THE LAST STATE CAKE. CONDITIONS WERE PERFECT, THE CREW WAS FIRED UP AND OFF WE WENT. THE FABULOUS PICTURES YOU ARE LOOKING AT ARE FROM THE KIND AND GENEROUS DEBBIE AND KATJA. THEY ARE EUROPEAN CELEBRITY RUNNERS WHO INTERRUPTED THEIR WARM, SUNNY FLORIDA VACATION TO EXPERIENCE THE WONDERS OF DES MOINES.
LET’S BACK UP A BIT AND TELL YOU THIS CITY WAS UNANIMOUSLY ACCLAIMED BY ALL ATTENDEES AS A DEFINITE RETURN DESTINATION. MUSEUMS, SIGHTS, FARMER’S MARKET , RESTAURANTS, PUBS, NATURAL BEAUTY-CHECK CHECK CHECK. WE EVEN HEARD RUMORS FROM THE COUSINS REGARDING LIVELY NIGHT CLUB DANCING . CHECK IT OUT :
CAPITOL ROTUNDA
GOLD LEAF DOME- THE ONLY ONE IN THE USA
THE CREW THAT CAME FROM ALL OVER TO RUN AND CELEBRATE WAS THE BEST.
FROM L TO R
MARY M FROM ATLANTA (STATE 32)-CINDY D FROM CO (DEEP INTO SECOND ROUND 50 STATES ,PROFESSIONAL PACER) YOURS TRULY, TOM L GOING 1.5 HOUR SLOWER AND HAVING A BLAST (STATE #3) LEWIS H FROM JAX HAVING A GREAT DAY. DAVE BELL WAS ALSO AROUND RECRUITING MEMBERS FOR THE 50 STATE CLUB. WATCH OUT HE IS AN EXPENSIVE FRIEND – YOU HAVE TO GET ON LOTS OF AIRPLANES TO HANG WITH THIS GREAT GUY. BUT IT IS WORTH IT.
DAVE B IN YELLOW
THE MILES FLEW BY AS WE CHATTED AND GOT CAUGHT UP ON LIFE NEWS. THE COURSE WAS BEAUTIFUL, BIG HOUSES, PEAK COLOR, MAGNIFICENT PARKS AND GREAT SUPPORT. THE ADDED BONUS WAS EVERY 15 MIN A FRIEND OR FAMILY MEMBER WOULD POP OFF THE CURB AND MAKE US FEEL LIKE WE WERE CONQUERING ROME.
IT WAS TRUTHFULLY A BIT OVERWHELMING TO BE THE CENTER OF SO MUCH ATTENTION, BUT THIS WEEKEND WAS TRULY EVERYTHING AMAZING THAT COULD HAPPEN IN A LIFETIME ROLLED UP IN 2 DAYS WITH ALL THE BEST PEOPLE ON THE PLANET TO BE THERE EVERY SINGLE MINUTE. SUCH JOY ANY HEART COULD NOT POSSIBLY EXPERIENCE.
NO WORDS.
THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH.
OFF WE RAN WITH CINDY LEADING THE PACE AND TOM GRINNING
PHOTOGRAPHER DEBBIE WAS SO PROUD OF THIS SHOT OF THE WATER DROPS FALLING.
ISN’T IT COOL ?
ON TO THE NEXT MILE !
CROSSING THE RAINBOW BRIDGE
CINDY AND I SENDING LOVE AND PEACE TO EVERYONE IN DES MOINES
DOES THIS JOURNEY HAVE TO END ? TOO MUCH FUN.
MARY ACHIEVED HER GOAL OF NO SUNBURN.
DID YOU KNOW HER STATES ARE MOSTLY ULTRAS ON THE TRAILS ? . HARDCORE AND BAD TO THE BONE.
THANK YOU CINDY FOR ALL THE 50 STATE MILES
WE HAD A BLAST IN THE DRAKE STADIUM ENJOYING THE BLUE TRACK AND THE JUMBOTRON
THERE WAS EVEN A TACO STAND AROUND MILE 18 THAT WE DECIDED TO PASS UP.
I HEARD THE MOLONEY/SOLON CLAN SAMPLED AND IT WAS DELISH. THEY EVEN HAD TOFU AND SEITAN.
DES MOINES– WHO KNEW ?
THE WHOLE WEEKEND WAS BY FAR THE MOST EXCITEMENT DEBBIE MOLONEY AND I EVER HAD. THIS INCLUDES THE 4 WEDDING CEREMONIES WE HELD OVER THE YEARS, 18 IRONMANS, DECADE BIRTHDAY PARTIES, CRUISES, ETC ETC.
MY MEMORIES OF THE RACE OTHER THAN A WARM COZY EMOTIONAL BUBBLE ARE NOT PLENTIFUL. IT FELT LIKE I WAS WATCHING THIS WONDERFUL MOVIE WITH A PERFECT ENDING THAT I NEVER WANTED TO TURN OFF.
IT WAS TRULY A CULMINATION OF ALL THE OLD FRIENDS AND FAMILY, NEW FRIENDS MET IN THE 50 STATES FROM ALL OVER THE USA, THE WONDERFUL PLACES, AND TERRIFIC RACES. HOW PERFECT TO SHARE THE PARTICIPATION IN DES MOINES WITH SO MANY GREAT FOLKS. I HAVE TRIED TO WALK THE WALK TO SHARE ENTHUSIASM, JOY, HEALTH, AND FITNESS.
ALONG THE WAY I LEARNED TO REPLACE DOUBT WITH OPTIMISM FAITH AND TRUST.
IF ONE PERSON DID ONE NEW HEALTHY OR ADVENTUROUS ACT AFTER BEING TOUCHED BY MY JOURNEY-THEN IT SERVED A MEANINGFUL PURPOSE.
KARA Z FIRST 13.1
KARA 1 STEP- DEBBIE 4 STEPS
SURPRISE !! MEL HOPKINS FIRST 13.1 MILES
GAME DAY: LUCH 1 CANCER ZERO !!
LORI K FIRST 13.1
THERESA FIRST 5K
BETH V (FAR LEFT) FIRST 5 K
LINDA B PERSONAL BEST 13.1
DEE R FIRST PLACE IN THE 5K
MARY KATE MULTI SPORT CHAMP
FOLLOW YOUR DREAMS AND MAKE IT HAPPEN
MEANWHILE BACK AT THE ZIEL
(THAT IS GERMAN FOR FINISH )
(DEE AND I LEARNED THAT AT A TERRIFIC IRONMAN IN ROTH GERMANY.)
PHOTOGRAPHER DEBBIE K WAS DOMINATING IN HER AGE GROUP AS WELL. AND CAME OUT ON THE ROUTE TO TAKE 300 PICTURES
A TOILET PAPER FINISH LINE WAS CREATED BY DEBBIE AND JULIE C AND DEE
GALLOPED THRU
AND THEN THE MAGIC UNFOLDED ONE SECOND AT A TIME
THE HUNTS STARTING THE CELEBRATION
AND THERE WAS JUST A FEW STEPS LEFT TO GO
A BIG THANK YOU AND ALL THE GRATITUDE TO DEBBIE
WE DID IT !
A GREAT DAY FOR HINMAN AVE KIDS
POST RACE AT THE ROYAL MILE PUB
PUTTING IOWA MAGNET ON THE BOARD.
A HUGE THANK YOU TO
DEBBIE K AND KATJA B
FOR ALL THE WONDERFUL PICTURES
OUR HEARTS ARE STILL GLOWING FROM THE WONDERFUL, MAGICAL WEEKEND IN DES MOINES. THANK YOU FOR BELIEVING IN THIS DREAM AND KNOW WE HOLD YOU EACH UP AND WISH YOU ONLY GOOD HEALTH AND ALL THE RUNGS IN THE LADDER TO TOUCH YOUR DREAMS.
THE HARDEST ARITHMETIC TO MASTER
IS THAT WHICH ENABLES US
TO COUNT OUR BLESSINGS.
-E. HOFFER
GO OUT THERE AND DO AMAZING THINGS AND MAKE IT A GREAT LIFE.
MUCH LOVE AND THANKS TO ALL.
NAN W.
Nanadventure 
Nancy, you are amazing!!! I want to be part of your next quest! :). Cindy
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Nancy, you are so powerful
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We will never forget your 50 States weekend in Des Moines and the smile on your face. Love to Florida from your British friend
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mark and I are so happy to share such a momentous occasion in your life. I am looking forward to our January double.
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