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.

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 mornings on the trails, especially anything over 10 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.

Vanessa lives in Adel with her husband, two dogs, a cat, and fish.

She enjoys the Capital Striders for their sense of community and genuine encouragement.

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.