The Grand Blue Mile

Named as such, you would think the "Grand Blue Mile" would be run on Grand Avenue. Ha! Des Moines has once again challenged your world view by running the Grand Blue Mile on Locust Street!

This year, in conjunction with the Drake Relays (a.k.a. the only time of the year Drake University seems like an actual college campus filled with young people), Wellmark Blue Cross/Blue Shield sponsored a one mile road race in Downtown Des Moines. The race was billed as a way to get active (and reduce medical costs Wellmark) for average citizens and would be capped off by an elite field of runner racing for prize money. I had been thinking about running (in the recreational division), but it wasn't until we found out that Molly was invited to participate that we all decided to run.

During the school year Molly and her classmates are given the oppotunity to walk/run laps around the field at Cowles. Lest you think it is a shameless effort to run them out of energy, those kids that meet certain goals get to participate in the Drake Relays. This year, for walking 13 miles, Molly earned the right to represent Cowles in the Grand Blue Mile Kids Fun Run.

On Tuesday evening we all met downtown and headed to the start line. The Kids Fun Run was a noncompetitive 1/4 mile and grouped by school. Since Molly was one of the very few (2 0r 3) preschoolers, Cheryl joined her. Molly ran the entire distance and as the video shows, they finished triumphantly together.

My run was significantly less exciting and I fully appreciate that I do much better over longer distances. The winner completed the mile in 3:55.