IN THE NEWSLETTER

IMT Des Moines Finishers • Saturday Morning Group Run • One Week Until To Grandmother's House We Go • 100 Miles in November • New Members and Renewals • Sycamore 8 (New Logo) • Tell Us About You • CS Turkeys Trail • Iowa Race Calendar • Sponsors

 

Congratulations, IMT Des Moines Finishers!


A huge congratulations to everyone who crossed the finish line at the IMT Des Moines races this past weekend! Whether you tackled your first race, set a personal record, or simply enjoyed the miles, we hope you're proud of what you accomplished.


Now it's time to relive the memories! Check out some of the finisher photos and add your own! We'd love to see your race-day smiles, finish-line celebrations, and favorite course moments.


Congratulations to all our runners, and a special thank-you to the volunteers and spectators who helped make race weekend memorable!

 
 

TO GRANDMOTHER'S HOUSE WE GO

To Grandmother’s House We Go


Saturday, October 31, 2026

9:00 am

Brown’s Woods, West Des Moines


5K, 10K, 15k


Lace up for one of Central Iowa’s favorite fall trail races. Whether you're a seasoned trail runner or new to dirt paths, this race delivers the perfect blend of challenge, charm, and community.

Join Us Saturday at Brown's Woods!


Join the Capital Striders on Saturday, October 24, at 7:30 am, at Brown's Woods for a preview of the To Grandmother's House We Go route!


Whether you're planning to participate in the upcoming event or just looking to enjoy a group run, this is a great opportunity to get familiar with the course, connect with fellow runners, and enjoy some fall miles together.


Choose your distance: 5K, 10K, or 15K


All paces are welcome. We hope to see you there!

All runners will receive a thermal running headband and glass.

100 MILES IN NOVEMBER

Does the thought of colder weather and winter's approach get you down? Fall is the perfect time to keep moving, enjoy the cooler temperatures, and stay consistent with your running.


The challenge is simple: 100 miles in 30 days, or 3.3 miles a day. 


There is no entry fee, and there will be prizes. Everyone is welcome to participate and will be eligible for the weekly prize drawings, with Capital Striders members qualifying for the larger prize drawings.

NEW MEMBERS AND RENEWALS

Thank you to everyone who renewed their Capital Striders membership, and welcome to all our new members. We’re glad to have you in the Capital Striders community!

Caitlyn Birmingham

Cheyenne Cox

Cindy Elsbernd

Connor Gronski 

David Cox

Devon Gurnett 

Janette Pasker

Jenifer Cox

Jennifer Kallman

Josefa Valdes 

Kyle Carswell 

Kyle Carswell 

Lars Elsbernd

Luis Gomez

Nate Boulton 

Olivia Cox

Ryan Elsbernd

Sam Elsbernd

Sarah Engquist 

Sarah Grundfast

Tammy Houts 

Tanner Hinders 

SYCAMORE 8 TRAIL RUN

 

Sycamore 8 Trail Run


Saturday, December 5, 2026

9:00 am

4301 NW 66th Ave, Johnston


This hidden gem winds along the Sycamore Trail, a single-track dirt path that runs beside the Des Moines River. Expect about 8 miles of well-groomed, flowing singletrack.

WE WANT TO HEAR ABOUT YOUR RUNNING JOURNEY

THANK YOU FOR BEING PART OF WHAT MAKES THE CAPITAL STRIDERS SO SPECIAL!

Your experiences, challenges, and triumphs. Your story might be featured in the newsletter and on social media. As a thank-you, you will be entered into a drawing for a free race entry (membership required to win). Your journey inspires us, and we look forward to sharing it with the rest of our running community.

CAPITAL STRIDERS' TURKEYS

Love trail running and nature? Join the Capital Striders' Turkeys for group runs on scenic trails, great company, and a supportive community. All paces are welcome!

UPCOMING RUNNING EVENTS

In addition to the Capital Striders races, there are great races across Iowa year-round.


From small-town fun runs to larger competitive races, there’s something for everyone.


If you’re interested in running events around Iowa, check out the Fitness Sports or Runnerstuff.org race calendars.

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS

Gold Level ($5,000+)

Silver Level ($2,500 - $4,999)

Bronze Level ($1,000 - $2,499)

Sustaining Level ($500 - $999)

Curt and Nancy Hoegh

Sustaining Members (Current as of October 13, 2026)


Aaron Wheelock • Alan and Mary Gross • Angel Shawda • Ann Flood • Bernie Beck • Brian Benjamin • Bruce Huckfeldt • Carl Voss • Charles and Rusty Snyder • Connor Gronski • Curt Hoegh • Dale Finnegan • Dana Danley • David Kent • David Pullara • Dennis Judd • Dennis Wheeler • Dianne and John Liepa • Duke Reichardt • Elaine Van Dyck • Emily and Nick Webb • Eric Conrad • Frank Hilton • Glen Dippold • Heather Stilborn • Jackie Young • Jason Hahn • Jeff Perry • Joanne Sackett • Julie Schneider • Kathy Bowen • Kevin Cooney • Kristin Adkins • Lambert Blank, Jr. • Melinda Urick • Michael Tiedens • Nathan Wagner • Paul Grinvalds • Paxton Bennett • Rob Semelroth • Ruth Comer • Sara Schwendinger • Sharon Tahtinen • Simon Casady • Steve Halstead • Susanne Kennedy • Tim Schott • Thomas Mcbride • Tod McComb • Todd Schemper • Tyson Wieland

Becoming a Strider member offers numerous benefits, including weekly emails with running updates and access to a supportive community through social media. Members enjoy race entry discounts, merchant discounts at fitness-related businesses, and exclusive club events. Group training runs provide opportunities to stay motivated and connect with fellow runners.


Annual membership options are $30 for individuals or $50 per family.

Become a sustaining member for an additional $25 per year.