'23 DSM Half: Reminding Me Why I Enjoy Races

I didn’t set a PR at this year's IMT Des Moines Half Marathon. Actually, my overall time was a tad slower than I’d hoped. But that’s the only downside of a thoroughly enjoyable race weekend.

The IMT DSM Half reminded me that there is more to racing than simply the event itself. What occurred surrounding the half marathon underscored all the reasons I thoroughly doing what I do.

How Did the IMT DSM Half Remind Me Why I Enjoy Racing? Let Me Count the Ways!

1. Meeting Dusty Cookson. I had the distinct pleasure of a meeting a Facebook friend in person the day before the race. Dusty and his family up from their home in Kansas for his first marathon. We’d only gotten to know each other a couple months before via a running group on Facebook (I Love To Run Community). While I confess to being nervous about actually meeting him in person, it quickly became clear that Dusty was even more delightful in person than his wonderfully supportive and inspiring posts. I just didn't know that he’d be so much taller than me.

2. Warm Up Mile. There's always a certain mystique for me with that warm up run prior to a race. As what I hope is an inspiring song plays in my earbuds, my mind takes in the scenery around me - be that a wooded trail, city street or crowded park - as well as the challenges that await All of this stood out even more prominently on this particular Sunday morning with the light of dawn cracking through a stubborn cloud cover, as I jogged along the bicycle trails along the Des Moines River with fun.'s "Carry On" providing the musical background. Seeing other runners and the headlights of approaching vehicles unleashed the same butterflies that I've felt prior to every race since my first one as a freshman in high school.

3. The Long Wait For the Start. With the start of the race delayed for about ten minutes as they waited for the volunteers to be in place and standing amid thousands of runners all awaiting to begin either a half or full marathon, I suddenly appreciated every jitter and every nerve, realizing that rarely had I ever felt more alive than I had in those moments.

4. The Race Itself. Each race poses a unique challenge and this one was no different. In addition to dealing with the mental fatigue early as I wait to cross that "halfway" threshold and the physical fatigue that begins to mount afterwards, I hit the wall like I've never done before. By "hit", I mean I felt as if I'd slammed full tilt into a concrete wall that slowed my pace for the final mile and a half by over twenty seconds. It proved a harsh price for kicking into race pace a bit early. Just about one and a half miles too early.

5. Inspiring Support System. When I resumed competitive racing in 2017, it was largely a solitary affair. The intervening years have awarded me the wonderful opportunity to make friends that I can talk with before and after each race. The DSM Half was no exception. Even though I didn't stick around long afterwards, I truly appreciated talking with friends before and after as well as the cheers of support I received during the race. Especially when I trying to shake that young whippersnapper with the yellow shirt!

6. Post race routine. It seemed like hours once I got home before I took a shower. Blame it on the myriad of tasks awaited me. After updating my wife as I mixed a bowl of granola and Greek yogurt, I carried my impromptu breakfast up to my home office. In no certain order, I wrote a Facebook post, took and uploaded pictures, added the medal and bib to my wall display, updated Strava and Training Peaks, responded to texts or social media comments and devoured that tasty meal. After that sinfully long shower, a good portion of rest of that Sunday found me on Facebook and Strava, both responding to comments from my racing posts and offering comments of my own to other friends from that race and different races shared by friends in other running groups. A perfectly wondrous way to unwind from that early morning.

I may not have had my best race on that Sunday morning. But each example serves as a sterling reminder of why I enjoy racing so much - and why I've already signed up for the IMT Des Moines Half Marathon in '24!

What about you? What are aspects of races that you most enjoy? I look forward to seeing them in the comments below or on Facebook. And best of luck in your next race!