CHUCK

Chuck started running at 7 years old to help his father lose weight and has been running ever since. He ran competitively in high school and college, but the marathon and ultra-distance events have been his passion since his first marathon at 13.

Chuck especially enjoys adventure running in different wilderness environments. Some of his favorite memories are the stiff winds that blew him off the trails in the mountains of Ireland and the prickly pear and ocotillo cactus he dodged in the Anza-Borrego Desert of Southern California.

Chuck lives on the east side of Des Moines, and his favorite local trails are the Sycamore trails or taking the hour drive out to the Whiterock Conservatory.

The running community of Des Moines played a big part in Chuck’s decision to move to Des Moines, and he wasted no time getting involved with the Capital Striders. He joined the club the same week he moved to Des Moines and joined the board in 2023.

ELLEN

Ellen has been a dedicated runner ever since she first joined the middle school cross-country team and has never stopped through high school, college, and beyond. She still runs regularly with many of the same friends who first helped her fall in love with the sport. Her favorite runs are long runs for the camaraderie and sense of accomplishment that build over the weekly ritual. 

Her favorite race memory was running in the Chicago Marathon because it felt like the biggest celebration of what it means to be a runner. The whole course was a party, and Chicago knows how to have a good time!

Ellen lives in Des Moines, where she appreciates the strong community, extensive trail system, and abundance of great coffee shops for post-run gatherings.

The Capital Striders is one of her favorite communities to be part of, whether she’s bundling up for a cold Saturday long run or pushing her pace at a toasty Wednesday morning track session.

JASON

Jason has been a runner for as long as he can remember. What started with high school track and cross country, and a brief stint of collegiate running, evolved into a lifelong passion that’s taken him everywhere from the 200‑meter start line to ultramarathon trails. Over the years, he’s tackled races of all distances, including four Boston Marathons, always chasing the next challenge. Turning 50 didn’t slow him down; he celebrated the milestone the only way he knew how, by running 50 miles.

While Jason loves a good test of grit, he’s equally content cruising through easy neighborhood miles, the kind that remind him why he fell in love with running in the first place. Running has also woven itself into Jason’s family identity. He passed his love of the sport to his three daughters, each of whom ran track and cross-country in high school. Practices, meets, and weekend miles became part of the family rhythm, creating shared experiences and memories that still mean the world to him.

Some of Jason’s favorite miles have been spent with his loyal running buddy, Charlie the Golden Retriever, his constant companion and the undisputed champion of enthusiasm.

Today, Jason continues to lace up daily and remains an active part of the Des Moines running community. Whether chasing goals or simply enjoying the movement, running remains one of the threads that connect the chapters of his life.

LINDSEY

Lindsey is a runner, coach, and community leader dedicated to building an inclusive running culture in Central Iowa. Lindsey has been involved with the Striders for a decade and joined the Board of Directors in 2020.

Her love for running began at age 11 and carried through high school and college, including competing for the University of New Mexico at the 2015 NCAA Division I Cross Country National Championship.

Today, she runs for joy while raising two kids, immersed in the running world through Fitness Sports and local races.

PAUL

Paul started running track in 9th grade and has run fairly continuously since then. His first marathon was in Los Angeles in 1987, a bucket-list item. However, when he moved to Iowa, he fell in with some bad influences, people who ran marathons on a regular basis, and Paul went down the same dark road. He has now run over 100 marathons and isn’t done yet. While Paul has run more marathons than any other distance, his race range spans 50 meters to 50 miles.

Paul lives in West Des Moines and does most solo runs at Raccoon River but greatly prefers group runs. After two surgeries in the past 6 years that sidelined him for a few months, Paul didn’t really miss running. However, he did miss running with friends.

Paul has been involved with the Capital Striders for over 20 years and enjoys meeting runners of all ages and abilities, hearing their stories.

RACHEL

Rachel discovered running as an adult in 2021, starting with no formal background and no expectation that it would become such a defining part of her life. What began as a way to move quickly grew into chasing start lines near and far, learning to love the process, and saying yes to experiences that pushed her outside her comfort zone. Her most unique race was a nighttime mountain descent in Utah, and her favorite races include the Indy Half and the Sycamore Trail Race. A marathon remains on the horizon. 

She lives in Johnston and runs all over the metro, balancing training with easy, no-pressure runs. Community is central to why she runs, especially Tuesday morning runs with a fun, consistent group of friends. Running has also become part of family life. Her kids often watch someone in the family run, and just as often join in themselves. Early mornings are her favorite time to run, when the city is quiet, and the miles feel honest, always followed by an immediate iced coffee that somehow tastes better after a run.

TIM

Tim found running in high school a convenient excuse to avoid playing football, and has been hitting the streets, trails, and tracks ever since as a way to stay sane and socialize with like-minded folk.  

After raising three avid runner daughters, Tim's favorite runs are those spent with them, their friends, and now their children.  His favorite recent races were half marathons done individually with each of his daughters. 

Capital Striders became an immediate support decades ago when he moved to Des Moines, and continues to inspire through the ever-changing mix of older veterans and those brand new to the sport.  Tim appreciates Capital Striders as the established community-focused running group in the Metro and wants to help that continue for the next generations of runners. 

VANESSA

Vanessa is a lifelong runner and a former Division I track and cross-country athlete at the University of Utah. Her favorite runs are early-morning trails, especially anything over 20 miles. 

Her most embarrassing running moment involved her dog Chester, a fall, a bag of dog poop, and the unfortunate realization that she had unknowingly smeared it on her hands, arms, and face.

She enjoys the Capital Striders for their sense of community and genuine encouragement. Vanessa lives in Adel with her husband, two dogs, a cat, and fish.