Dennis Lee (left) and Daren Schumaker, aka Team 99 Counties, make their way across Emmet County, looking for a little help from their support team. (Team 99 Counties)

Editor’s note: Daren Schumaker and Dennis Lee are crossing Iowa’s 99 counties, raising money for the American Heart Association. They have completed 44 counties.

By Daren Schumaker, community contributor

Communication is key when you’re attempting to chew up the middle miles of a long run. It just makes things easier.

Whether the topic of your conversation is nonsensical or directed at a specific topic, it helps take your mind off what you’re attempting to do.

During the more than 1,240 miles we’ve run across 43 of Iowa’s 99 counties, we have experienced both effective and ineffective communication — at times believing that a run was easier than it really was and, at other times, believing that a run was much more difficult than it should have been.

Most recently, we experienced effective and ineffective communication on April 27 as we ran across our 44th county — Emmet County.

After leaving Cedar Rapids at 5 a.m., we started our run just west of Estherville at 9:15 and enjoyed a cool breeze and a sunny sky.

Effective communication helped us “chew up” the first several miles of our 26.2-mile route. When you’ve run as many miles as we have, you end up talking about nearly everything. The laughs we shared that morning got us through, but not for long.

As we danced out of Estherville, we decided to forego the first planned rendezvous with our support vehicle. We figured they would come and find us as we followed Highway 9 east toward Kossuth County.

The miles passed by as we ran eastward through flat farmland. The sun was hot and the bugs were biting. The laughs started to wear off.

Soon the snow that remained in the ditches reminded us of how thirsty we were. When would our support crew arrive? We continued to run, stopping at a farm for water as we completed our 15th mile. We kept running. Our support crew did not arrive. We began to worry. After more than three hours of running we borrowed a phone from a farm laborer and left a message for our support crew. We kept running. Finally, as we were halfway through our 22nd mile, our support crew arrived.

We learned our support crew had remained at the first planned rendezvous, waiting for us to arrive. If only we had communicated more effectively. We ended up crossing Emmet County in 3:41:05 — but not nearly as effectively as we could have.

Moral of the story? You guessed it, communication.

When attempting to get back into shape this year, ask a friend to accompany you on your journey. A good conversation will definitely make things easier for both of you.

Also remember to communicate your plans to others. Let your family and friends know where you plan to be and what you plan on doing. Don’t find yourselves sun burned and dehydrated like we did in the middle of Emmet County. Don’t risk your safety by failing to effectively communicate.

Hopefully we have effectively communicated our message to each and every one of you.

Get out there and get active. Inspiration through perspiration.

Become active or make a donation to the American Heart Association to help fight heart disease.

The first Panthers girls' basketball team. (Submitted photo)

By Nicole Dighton, community contributor

It started with the graduating class of 1990 and ends with the graduating class of 2017.

The current eighth grade girls Cedar Rapids Panthers AAU basketball team is the last in a long list of teams that has dominated the state for nearly 30 years.

The program, started by Mike Whited in 1984, began with one 12U team. The team formed at the time when girls’ basketball in Iowa was shifting from the 6-player format to 5-on-5 play. Whited, then coaching in the parish league, decided to pull some girls together to form a 5-on-5 team. The team name and its dominant color — royal blue — came as a result of the girls being thrown together in a room without any parents or coaches to influence their decision.

Whited’s first Cedar Rapids Panthers team was composed of Leslie Pink, Renee Baldridge, Marsha Frese, Tonya Slezak, Jenny Jacobsen, Julie Brown, Tara Troendle, Shelley Sheetz, Kate Galligan, Natalie Serbousek, Barb Ockenfels and Christy Hebert, whose dad, Mike, helped coach that first group.

This first team ended up claiming the state AAU title.

The program eventually evolved to include one team of girls for each grade, third through eighth, and traveled across the country playing teams from other great programs.

In 1989, five years after Whited started the program, all 12 members of his original team were playing varsity basketball for their respective high school. A year later, in 1990, Cedar Rapids Washington’s 11-player varsity roster consisted of all Cedar Rapids Panthers, including two freshmen.

The Cedar Rapids Panthers also produced the No. 1 high school recruit in the nation in 2002, Ann Strother, who was the first Panther to play for powerhouse Connecticut.

Since that time, former Cedar Rapids Panther Kiah Stokes has joined the Huskies basketball team. In addition to Strother and Stokes, the Cedar Rapids Panthers were the start for many other great collegiate basketball players — like Kelly Rushford (San Diego State, 1998-2002), Ryanne Ridge (Colorado, 2006-2008), Katelin Oney and K.K. Armstrong (UNI, 2007-2011), Jamie Printy (Iowa, 2009-2013), Jade Rogers (Iowa, 2010-present) and Morgan Paige (Wisconsin, 2010 — present).

Sheetz, a Cedar Rapids Kennedy standout, played college basketball at Colorado and was the first Panther to play professionally in the ABL (American Basketball League), playing for the Colorado Xplosion and the Portland Power in 1996-1999.

Others, however, would soon follow. Stacy Frese, Lindsey Meder, Anne O’Neil and Strother round out former Panthers who played professionally, all in the WNBA.

Not only did the Panthers have some great basketball players, but also excellent track stars, softball players and volleyball players.

Sue Buckheister, class of 1999, and Jenny Buelow, class of 2005, ran track at Luther and Coe, respectively. Allie Hutcheson, class of 2012, plays volleyball at Northern Colorado and Christy Hebert, class of 1993, Erin Doud, class of 1997, and Kristin Johnson, class of 1999, all went on to play college softball at Iowa.

Many of the Panther players have been inducted into their high school’s Hall of Fame.

Kennedy inducted Tammy Brauer, Jill Hlavacek, Sarah Russell, Vanessa Schrock and Anna Swanson, among others. Xavier recently inducted Kristin Jennings into its Hall of Fame.

The program has developed of at least 480 skilled players, nearly all of whom played or will play high school varsity basketball.

To date, the Cedar Rapids Panthers have won 83-plus state championships and have had 72 players named state MVP and 179 players named to the all-tournament team.

In all, more than 145 Panthers have thrived in collegiate basketball.

In the early years and up through 2010, the Iowa AAU hosted two state tournaments each year, one based on age and one based on grade.

The Cedar Rapids Panthers graduating class of 2012, which included Benton Community senior Madison Weekly, won eight state titles.

In the fall of 2007, after the graduating class of 2017 had formed its third-grade team, Whited stepped back from his lead role with the organization to pursue other interests. Rob Dighton and others came forward to finish coaching this last group through their AAU years, which concluded this past February with their eighth grade season.

This last class of Cedar Rapids Panthers ended up winning three state championships and earning five runner-up titles.

As the team members head to high school next fall — Kennedy Dighton and Avery Guy to Jefferson; Ashley Hamilton, Kendal Meier and Jordan Vaske to Kennedy; Jessi Puk and Brittany and Melanie Hoeger to Washington; and Ellie Anderson and Lexi Frese to Linn-Mar — we will see what the future holds.

Based on past success, their futures look bright on the court as a result of the foundation and skills learned thanks to the Cedar Rapids Panthers program.

The Panthers entered the Missouri Valley Conference tournament as the No. 3 seed, but with a losing record overall. UNI had to fight through the adversities of a young team and a shortened season because of  poor weather.

But three wins later, the Panthers are headed to Omaha, Neb., for the first round of the NCAA Division I Championships.

UNI scored two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning of last Saturday’s championship game against Evansville and Jamie Fischer held the Purple Aces scoreless in the top of the seventh to advance to the NCAA tournament.

“It’s those types of situations that we weren’t able to come out of on the positive end of earlier in the season,” Coach Ryan Jacobs said. “These girls have been learning from those types of situations and continued to work hard.”

It’s just the second time UNI has reached the NCAA tournament. The first time was 1990.

The Panthers started four freshmen in the championship game, including former Clear Creek-Amana standout Caitlin Wnek, who was the co-newcomer of the year in the Missouri Valley Conference.

“At the beginning of the season, this club came up with the goal of winning the conference tournament,” Jacobs said. “As a group, when you’re working towards one thing and working at it together, you’re able to get it done.”

UNI will face 14th-seeded and host Nebraska on Friday at 7 p.m. Depending on the outcome, the Panthers will face either Stanford or Tulsa in the double-elimination regional.

“I gave them a challenge on the bus after the game,” Jacobs said about returning from the MVC meet. “Tonight we can celebrate the win, but when we get back to Cedar Falls we need to set a new goal.

“The captains came to me the next day and told me what their new goal is and that is what our new focus is going to be. We’re at the point where I don’t care what elimination it is, we’re just focused on what is right in front of us. We’re going to deal with whatever we’re faced with.”

Kirkwood softball coach Joe Yegge greets Kristen Winter as she heads home. (Kirkwood News photo)

The Kirkwood softball team is having a season for the ages.

The Eagles (55-3) followed their Region XI title by capturing the District F Championship last weekend, beating Dawson Community College of Glendive, Mont., 12-0.

The win was the 48th straight for Kirkwood and sent the team to the NJCAA Division II national tournament as the No. 3 seed.

The Eagles have the highest winning percentage (.946) of all national tournament qualifiers and lead the nation in multiple categories, including runs scored (524), homeruns (101), walks (218) and opponent batting average (.176).

It’s also been a record-breaking campaign for the Eagles. Sophomore Kayla Tatge broke the team’s career homerun record and sophomore Amber Logemann set the team mark for the most strikeouts in a game.

The mix of a potent offense and great pitching have propelled the Eagles all season, butCoach Joe Yegge said his team will have to be on its toes at all time during the national tournament.

“At this point in the season everyone is ready to win games,” Yegge said. “You’re going to get every team’s best everyday. The competition will be top-notch.”

Yegge said while the squad is mentally in a good place after winning regional and divisional championships, the Eagles are going into the tournament ready to compete.

“Right now our team is excited to participate in a national tournament,” Yegge said. “I think as a whole we are going down to Mississippi with a relaxed attitude and ready to play good ball.”

The NJCAA Division II championship begin Wednesday and run through Saturday at Traceway Park in Clinton, Miss. LSU-Eunice (La.) is the top seed at 57-5 and Phoenix (Ariz.) College is No. 2 at 44-15.

Adam Rees, GRIT Gym

Editor’s note: Part II of a two-part series about the benefits of supplements by Adam Rees, founder of GRIT GYM in Iowa City. Rees attended Wartburg and worked under nationally recognized strength coach Matt McGettigan at ISU.

Last week, I wrote about the benefits of fish oil, probiotics, vitamin D and green drinks. Here are some others with benefits when, used correctly, enhance an already solid nutritional regimen and active lifestyle.

Keep in mind, no one can supplement or exercise their way out of poor nutrition and most supplements are pointless and many can be dangerous.

Magnesium

• Helps control blood sugar
• Very important for the heart
• It has a very relaxing affect, which improves sleep quality, and is used by physicians for people experiencing a panic or anxiety attack.
• Has a strong affect on the regularity of bowels. Don’t underestimate this.
• Needed for strong bones
• Helps lower blood pressure

Our bodies have difficulty absorbing magnesium from our food. One of my favorite smoothie recipes includes one can of pumpkin, one scoop of protein powder, a handful of kale, then cinnamon and nutmeg to taste. It’s like drinking pumpkin pie and much healthier.

Protein Powder

• Most athletes won’t get sufficient calories during portions of the year (especially from protein) without liquid supplementation. They are typically drastically low before and after competition, workouts or practice and in the morning (when almost everyone needs to be ingesting somewhere between 20-40 grams of protein).
• Use whey and/or casein, absolutely no Muscle Milk, it’s a dangerous product. It has one chemical called Glycocyamine that is a precursor to creatine.

CoQ10

This is one of my favorite discoveries. From a personal standpoint, the first day my heart felt like it was pumping more blood with less effort. I had more stamina, physically and mentally, and recovered quicker from my workouts. This supplement has fantastic affects across the boards in studies, but it is pricey.

• Anti-aging, which has become an increasingly popular topic, especially with baby boomers.
• Can also potentially switch slow twitch muscles fibers to fast twitch muscle fibers, if taken correctly.
• It is a great antioxidant

CoQ10 already exists in our body, the highest levels are in our organs, the most being in the heart. Statins are rough on CoQ10, so for people taking heart medication, CoQ10 is a very good idea.

Multivitamin

• It simply makes sense, covering bases that could be potentially missed.
• Choose the right vitamin because, in plain truth, many name brands are a poor fiber pill because it’s going to go right through the body, and even if something does get absorbed, all it’s actually done is increase the price of urine.

Resveratrol

• Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-aging
• Found in Red wine

Curcumin

• Found in Turmeric and Curry
• Powerful anti-inflammatory, very helpful to liver, anti cancer properties.

I add turmeric to my eggs every morning, and use it in many dry rubs/marinades.

— Adam

• For more of Rees’ advice go to www.GRITGYM.com/resources and adamrees.blogspot.com. Email Rees at adam@gritgym.com Adam Rees

Steve Charters, golf pro

Editor’s note: Steve Charters is in his 11th year as a pro at Twin Pines Golf Course. Born and raised in Cedar Rapids, Charters competed at Central College in Pella and has been a pro for 18 years in Dubuque and Cedar Rapids.

So you’ve reached that point where your close enough to the green where you can’t hit a full swing shot anymore, but not close enough to chip or put.

Now your wedges come into play.

I recommend players carry at least a pitching wedge, which will range from 45 to 48 degrees depending on the set, and a sand wedge, which will range from 54 to 56 degrees.Some players will add a gap wedge, 50-52 degrees, and a lob wedge, 58 to 60-plus degrees.

Regardless of the makeup of wedges in your arsenal, you’ll want to learn more than just the full swing distances with them.

Imagine when you set up to the ball that there is a clock going around you vertically. At address your arms are at 6 o’clock.With every wedge you have,I want you to swing your arms to 8 o’clock and record how far your hit it yardage wise. Then swing your arms to 10 o’clock and record the yardages, then full swing, or 12 o’clock, and record the yardages.

By doing this you’ll be able to dial in your non-full swing wedge shots more precisely. When you’re 50 yards out you’ll know that is you’re 10 o’clock sand wedge swing.

Instructor Dave Pelz says 80 percent of those shots lost to par occur inside 100 yards from the green. This will help you save more of those shots and not cast them to the wind.

— Steve

By Christian Kleinow, MFL MarMac senior

MONONA – Two years ago, MFL MarMac High School hosted an Interim day for the students.

Interim means “an intervening time” and it’s meant for students to take a break from their traditional classes and learn something new.

Well, it’s returning this year and it’s Friday at MFL MarMac.

Not everything is the same as two years ago. For example, the committee took out some of the mini-courses and added several new ones, including antler carving. In this course, students will supply their own deer antler and they will carve a morel mushroom out of it. Other new mini-courses this year include boating with the DNR, fire and rescue, bowling, photography, hair and nails, and facials and massages.

In addition to these new courses, there will also be some from two years ago such as trapshooting and aviation.

Another new thing for this year is having a professional chef come in to make lunch for the high school students. This actually will be one of the mini-courses, however, with 12 students – three  from each grade — joining him to help make the meals. There will be four different choices – Italian, Cajun, African and Mexican. Students will get to choose which one they want to have for lunch ahead of time, and the students signed up for the class will have to cook enough of each meal for the entire high school.

What’s the point in all this? It’s to introduce students to new and different things. It gives the students a new experience, and they shouldn’t be afraid to try new things.

“Providing these ‘real world experiences’ will open students’ minds to a possible career path or an interest in a lifelong hobby,” said Angie Killian, one of the event’s organizers.

There are many volunteers giving their time to come and help the students have a good experience – some of whom are traveling from a long distance. This is meant to be an educational day for students. They are encouraged to come and try different things while having some fun, too.

There is a cost for some of the courses, like $5 for bowling and $10  trap shooting.

Students also  should wear appropriate clothing for the courses they choose. If you are going outside, bring a coat or sweatshirt. If you are doing self defense, you should wear sweatpants and a loose t-shirt.

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. — Iowa City Regina seventh-grader Mary Crompton finished second in the 12-13 age group at the Elks National Free Throw Contest recently.

She hit 24 of 25 free throws to tie for first with the defending national champion in the opening round, then hit 5 of 5 in the first tiebreaker. She went 4 of 5 in the next tiebreakers to finish second.

Crompton connected on 94 percent of her shots this year in local, district, state and regional wins.

Wensel wins state track title

WAUKEE — Payton Wensel, a seventh-grader at Oakridge Middle School, won the high jump and placed second in the 400- and 200-meter dashes at the Mike Henderson Junior High State Track and Field Meet.

Twisters crowns 10 state champs

HIAWATHA — Ten members of the Twisters Gymnastics team won titles at the Xcel State Gymnastics Championships the club hosted last weekend.

Abby Hawken (bars, all-around), Payton Basquin (beam, floor,all-around), Cora Spiegelhalter (bars) and Abigail Green (floor) won in Xcel Bronze.

Emma Schminke (bars) and Lauren Lacy (vault) won in Excel Silver, and Anya Metelman (bars, floor), Emilee McGowan (bars, floor,all-around) and Emily Crumbo (floor, beam) won in Xcel Gold.

Skylar Meyers (bars) won in Xcel Platinum.

Peyton Krotz and Miyako Coffey were Bronze placewinners. Brooklyn Pladsen, Leah Crilley and Ellie Martens placed in Silver, and Gretchen Gehrls and Ellie Pins were top three in Gold.

The Bronze and Gold teams finished third.

Mark Stout, Titans coach

By Jeff Morrow, correspondent

KENNEWICK, Wash. — Cedar Rapids Coach Mark Stoute expected an offensive shootout Saturday night against the Tri-Cities Fever.

What he didn’t expect was his Titans making so many mistakes — especially on special teams — that ended up costing his team an Indoor Football League game, losing to the Fever, 70-68, at the Toyota Center.

“We knew it would be a shootout coming in,” Stoute said. “They’re a good team. But we made some special teams gaffes. And the momentum we had was killed.”

The momentum was building early. Cedar Rapids scored on its first five offensive possessions.

Charles McCullum connected with Laron Council on a 29-yard touchdown pass to open the game; Radamez Rubio added a 20-yard field goal; two McCullum keepers for TDs; and a 3-yard Council dash for another score.

The Titans had the Fever on the ropes with a 30-14 lead late in the second quarter.

Then all things went to down hill for the Titans — and it happened in under a minute.

To wit:

- Fever kicker Brady Beeson connected on a 52-yard field goal with 1 minute left before intermission, cutting Cedar Rapids’ lead to 30-17.

- Beeson’s ensuing onside kick could not be fielded by the Titans and Tri-Cities linebacker Boris Lee recovered. Three plays later, Fever quarterback Dante Warren hit Tre Young for a 12-yard TD pass, cutting the Titans’ lead to 30-23.

- On the next kickoff, Desmond Tardy fielded the squib in the end zone, but Young knocked it out of his hands. In the ensuing mad scramble for the ball, Tri-Cities’ Keithon Flemming pounced on it in the end zone for a touchdown. The game was tied at 30-30, and there was still 33 seconds left in the half.

-  T.J. Simmons hung on to the ball on the next kickoff. But on a second-and-9 from his own 7, McCullum was sacked by the Fever’s Malcolm Riley in the end zone for a safety, and Tri-Cities had a 32-30 lead.

Stoute was beside himself over this one minute breakdown.

“We were not mentally in sync,” he said. “You cannot win on any one play. Charles taking that sack was another mistake. Why not just throw the ball away?

“Our problem is we’re making mental mistakes, trying to focus on making the big plays.”

Only when Rubio was able to connect on a 27-yard field goal as time expired were the Titans able to go into intermission with a 33-32 lead.

“That little 14- to 16-point turnaround, we lost some momentum,” McCullum said. “But we got it back with the field goal at the end of the half. Then we kind of came out in the third quarter and played worse.”

The Fever opened the second half with a quick touchdown for a 38-33 lead.

And then it happened again: another Cedar Rapids special teams mistake. Simmons returned the kickoff, but the Fever’s Young knocked the ball out of his hands and Lee recovered.

Five plays later, Warren hit Flemming for a 6-yard TD pass and a 44-33 Fever lead.

From there, it became a shootout — as if it wasn’t already — as the teams kept trading scores.

“And I didn’t want a shootout because I didn’t know if we had the experience at quarterback and other positions to match them in one,” said Fever Coach Adam Shackleford.

It looked as if the Titans had found the upper hand when Trevor Glomski blocked a Beeson 48-yard field goal attempt. When Council rushed in from 4 yards out for a touchdown one play later, Cedar Rapids held a 54-51 lead with 11:54 to play.

The Fever answered. Warren ran in from 8 yards for a touchdown with 7:21 left to play for a 57-54 Tri-Cities lead.

In a game of big plays, the biggest came on the next possession.

On a seoncd-and-5 at the Fever 8, McCullum found Carl Sims open at the back of the end zone. The pass was a little behind Sims, and the receiver got a hand on the ball. But it popped up in the air, and Tri-Cities defensive back Dennis Rogan caught it six yards deep into the end zone.

Rogan turned and ran, racing up the sidelines until 56 yards later he had scored a touchdown for a 63-54 Fever lead with 6:03 to play.

“(The Titans) thought the ball hit the wall,” Shackleford said. “But it was about time we got a break.”

Cedar Rapids couldn’t catch Tri-Cities again, and the Titans fall to 5-4 — a half-game behind Chicago for second place in the United Conference.

“We should have learned from our mistakes the past few games,” McCullum said. ”We weren’t playing Titans football today.”

NOTES: DL Michael Graise may have separated his elbow late in the fourth quarter. The game was stopped as he was tended to. Stoute wasn’t sure of Graise’s condition after the game. … Brian Pray had a strong game for the Titans, catching nine passes for 118 yards and two touchdowns. … McCullum accounted for seven touchdowns — four passing and three rushing. He was 13-for-18 for 231 yards. … Warren led the Fever in rushing with 75 yards, and he scored four times. Flemming added 64 yards of rushing. … DBs Simmons and Cashmin Thomas each had 10 tackles for the Titans. … The Fever was familiar with a number of the Titans. McCullum, Thomas, Graise and Walner Leandre all played for the Everett Raptors last season before that franchise folded. The Raptors and the Fever played each other four times last season. Of course, Titans assistant head coach Sean Ponder was Everett’s head coach last season. … Another Cedar Rapids-Tri-Cities connection: The Tri-Cities was the beneficiary when the owners of the Cedar Rapids Silver Bullets decided to move that Continental Basketball Association franchise to Kennewick back in 1991. The team lasted four seasons at the Toyota Center before it was folded.

Murder as a Fine Art (5/7/13)by David Morrell

There are many words that describe David Morrell’s latest novel, “Murder as a Fine Art.”

Author Douglas Preston called it a “masterpiece.”

“Brilliant” also comes to mind.

I prefer to simply call it the best book Morrell has ever written. The best book I have ever read.

Best known for his first novel — “First Blood,” the book that made Rambo a household name — Morrell has put together a remarkably well-written and well-researched story about London in 1854.

Typical of his writings, “Murder as a Fine Art” mixes reality with fiction, a task that meant two years of research for Morrell.

The story follows the real-life Thomas DeQuincey’s return to London, years after his infamous “Confessions of an Opium Eater” had been published as well as another a tale about the Radcliffe Highway murders.

The fiction takes over when, 43 years after those real-life murders in 1811, a copycat has emerged among the yellow fog and grimy streets of London.

DeQuincey, back in town thanks to an anonymous donor to promote his writings, becomes a suspect because of his tongue-in-cheek portrayal of the earlier murders as “fine art.”

The story that follows has elements of suspense, high action and intrigue.

It is so well written — especially diary passages by DeQuincey’s daughter, Emily — that you actually feel dirty when a constable gets stuck in the mud, battling two wild pigs while trying to save the footprint of the murderer.

It’s hard to keep fact from fiction at times, but that’s what makes Morrell a true master and these kinds on novels.

Sit back and enjoy this wonderful tale, go back in time and feel the grit. And don’t be surprised if you can’t put it down.

Runners take off at the start of the Marion Rotary Marathon for Shoes last month in Marion. A 26.2-mile race takes a lot of time and energy - so follow these tips by Erin Moeller. (Justin Torner/correspondent)

Editor’s note: Erin Moeller, 35, of Mount Vernon, is a lifelong runner who qualified for the last two Olympic Marathon Trials. A native of Ryan, she’s a graduate of North-Linn and Wartburg who works for Benchmark Inc. in Cedar Rapids. She has two children — Ryne (8) and Evelyn (3) — and one on the way with husband Andy.

Whether you lost a bet, made a commitment to mark off one of those bucket list items, got sucked in by a training buddy, or maybe got a little too lippy with friends while enjoying a late Saturday night, you’ve verbally made it known that you’re going to run a marathon.

Yikes.

What have you gotten yourself into?

If your friends and family are anything like mine, you may find yourself answering a common question: “how far is your marathon?” Every marathon is 26.2 miles. A 5K is not considered a marathon. A 10K is not a marathon. In my opinion, running a half-marathon doesn’t even come close to the “full” experience.

In addition to the time commitment required for long runs, speed sessions, extra naps (if you can sneak them in), it all leads up to the big event — marathon day. Just thinking about the excitement on race morning brings butterflies to my stomach.

Erin Moeller, training for one of her may marathons. (Moeller family photo)

Throughout my marathon running career I’ve had the opportunity to start the marathon in the masses of Chicago with approximately 40,000 other runners. I’ve also had the opportunity to toe the start line with some of the most elite marathoners from all over the world.

Regardless of your start position or anticipated completion time, all marathoners have the same feat ahead — willing their mind to convince their body to cover 26.2 miles, on foot.

Even though I’ve done the training and know my body is capable of the distance, the mind can be a dangerous foe when it comes to running the marathon. I’ve found breaking the race down into segments has been extremely beneficial in getting me through the tough phases along the way. Each person is different, but following are a few tips that have helped me along the way (yes, I do realize that some of these are a little comical and won’t be offended if you get a laugh or two at my expense):

l During the first hour of running, I commit to not thinking about anything other than hitting my pace, getting into a groove, taking in my surroundings, and focusing on how good my legs feel as the miles click by. Marathon morning is filled with so much excitement and adrenalin. Take advantage of this amazing feeling, allow your mind to check out for a bit, and take this time to enjoy the entire experience.

- After about an hour of running, I take this time to reward myself with a Gu packet. My preference is Tri-Berry, but I encourage runners to seek out whatever form of nutrition works best for their body. (Note: Unless you have a gut of steel or aren’t opposed to frequent stops at the Port-o-potties along the way, experimenting with nutrition/fluid intake on marathon day is not something I recommend!) You are going to be burning a lot of calories while covering 26.2 miles, and it’s really important to not deplete your supply of carbs, electrolytes, and especially good old H2O along the way.

Ok, here’s where you’re welcome to think I’m a little crazy. I generally work on taking in my Gu pack over the course of a mile. I find this helps distract me a little and before I know it another mile is “in the books.” After finishing my Gu and taking in some water at the next water stop, I picture myself being Mario from Mario Brothers. You know Mario as the super-charged little guy from the Nintendo game who appears to have meg-power? Well, that’s what I picture in my mind. My gas tank has been topped off and I have an extra spring in my step as I focus on the next phase of the run.

This approach generally brings me to about the half way point of the marathon. Yahoo, 13.1 miles done and half way to home. Talk about exciting.

- After enjoying the excitement for a mile or two, this has historically become my most vulnerable part of the race. My legs begin to remind me that they’ve just run a half marathon and we still have a long ways to go.

This is where the real benefits of training come in. “Attitude is everything” I tell myself.

- At mile 15, I focus on relaxing and just running the next 5 miles. While continuing to take in fluids at each station, I also reward myself with another Gu packet. You know the drill — another Gu and more Mario super powers.

I’d be remiss if I didn’t also mention that lots of prayers also are said. I’ve also been known to dedicate certain miles to family members and friends who have supported me along the way or who might be struggling with a particular issue or ailment. I try to channel their strength and allow their support to carry me throughout the mile.

Whatever it takes to get to the reward of having the next mile marker in sight.

- This game plan typically works pretty well for me, but it only brings us to mile 20. While many may have run a 10K (6.2 miles), I assure you that this 10K is going to be unlike any other 10K you’ve run before. Unfortunately, you have 20 miles on your legs and your mind is doing its best to convince your body that another 10K doesn’t sound doable at the moment.

Dig deep, keep up the positive self talk, and believe in yourself, the end is getting closer with each step.

- I’ve found that starting to count down helps me to stay focused through the final miles. After reaching mile 21, I only have 5 miles left (yes, I lie to myself a bit and ignore the final .2). I’ll reward myself with a final Gu, and then all focus is shifted toward the finish line.

If all goes well and I can maintain something close to my target pace, I only have about 30 minutes of running left. I know I can run for 30 minutes (my 8-year-old could run for 30 minutes, I remind myself).

Before you know it, you’re down to only 20 minutes of running, then 10 minutes. The finish line is definitely getting closer.

Despite the excitement, your legs may feel like they are about ready to break as they are getting heavier and heavier with each step. For the “lucky” ones, you’re also struggling with the onset of muscles cramping up. (Are we having fun yet?)

At this point, I find myself resorting to spelling my kids’ names or counting. Yes, I’m serious. My body is moving and my mind is forced to think about something else.

- Before you know it, that beautiful mile 26 mile marker is in view. Whoa, we’re not done yet. There is .2 miles to go. At this point, I focus on my breathing, do my best to pick my feet up and maintain a decent stride, and picture myself running at top speed toward the finish line (with a little theme music from Chariots of Fire going on in my mind).

I’m sure it doesn’t look very pretty to the spectators lining the course, but I do my best convince myself otherwise.

- You’ve reached the finish line, the Mylar blanket has been draped over your shoulders, finishers medal placed around your neck and you painfully waddle toward friends and family awaiting your finish.

Regardless of your finish time — it’s official — you did it. Congratulations, you are a marathoner. Enjoy all of the aches and pains over the next few days — you earned them all.

One more thing. Be sure to enjoy the experience and have fun along the way.

— Erin

Adam Rees, demonstrating proper push-up technique. (Adam Rees photo/Community contributor)

Editor’s note: Part I of a two-part series by Adam Rees, founder of GRIT GYM in Iowa City. Rees attended Wartburg and worked under nationally recognized strength coach Matt McGettigan at ISU. Next week: Rees will write about magnesium, protein powder, CoQ10, multivitamins, resvertol and curcumin

There is no doubt that in today’s world supplement use has its benefits when used correctly to enhance an already solid nutritional regimen and active lifestyle.

Adam Rees, GRIT Gym

The idea that “diet should give us everything we need” is sadly untrue. Our produce is grown in depleted soil, picked well before it ripens, shipped thousands of miles and then sprayed with ethylene gas (or even worse painted) to make it look edible and purchasable.

Even if we eat five cups of vegetables and five cups of fruit every day, we still could benefit from certain supplementation. Keep in mind, noone can supplement or exercise their way out of poor nutrition and most supplements are pointless and many can be dangerous.

This is a list of supplements proven to work or aid daily life, not replace anything.

Fish oil

• Anti-inflammatory
• Helps improve mood
• Helps lower triglycerides
• Modestly lowers blood pressure
• Improves circulation and heart health
• Absolutely necessary for everyone, this should almost be. Sadly not all fish oils are created equal. There can be high levels of multiple toxins such as mercury for instance.

Probiotic

• An imbalance of good and bad bacteria in the gut causes fat gain, irritability, poor health, etc.
• Probiotics promote good bacteria and gut health leading to better use of food and improved health.
• Every single person can benefit from ingesting a probiotic.
• Natural probiotics are good to ingest as well, which would come from fermented foods such as sauerkraut, pickles, greek yogurt (most yogurts are simply sugar ridden deserts, don’t eat them), kimchi and, my personal favorite, Kombucha.

Vitamin D

(At least 2,000 iu per day)

• Improves mood
• Levels predict success at weight loss
• Those with higher levels have less risk of death from all causes
• Improves physical performance in older adults
• Absolutely necessary for bone health
• May have cancer preventative properties

The RDA of Vitamin D3 is 600 iu and this is drastically undershooting most people’s needs, especially if you have dark skin. It’s encouraged to get tested, but the test alone will cost as much as two years worth of Vitamin D3 supplementation, just take it.

By the way, you can take Vitamin D2, but Vitamin D3 gets absorbed around 500 percent better.

Greens drink

• Alkalinity may be the most important component to healing, recovery and overall health. The further we get into an acidic state the more the body has to rob bones of calcium and muscle of glutamine to buffer this in order to bring us back to balance.
• It’s simple: more greens means that we keep more bone and more muscle.
• Ingesting a greens drink is a great way to add some extra green to your life, especially from sources that most diets don’t include on a daily basis, such as alfalf. I know, I just salivated a little bit, too.

For more of Rees’ advice go to www.GRITGYM.com/resources and adamrees.blogspot.com. Email Rees at adam@gritgym.com Adam Rees

A coach gives his boxer some advice during the Iowa Golden Gloves tournament last month in Des Moines. (Megan Lehman photos/Community contributor)

Editor’s note: Megan Lehman is a student at Kirkwood Community College in Iowa City who will transfer to the University of Iowa in the fall to study communications and journalism.

By Megan Lehman, community contributor

DES MOINES — The Iowa Golden Gloves boxing tournament, which took place last month at the Forte Events Center, is more than a path to the national championships.

For some, boxing is all they have.

“We’re saving lives here,” said Don Avant, Iowa Golden Gloves director and a former national champion. “A lot of these kids are at risk of going down the wrong path.”

Boxing, he said, gives them the opportunity to follow in the footsteps of people like Muhammad Ali and Joe Lewis, two hugely successful professional boxers who started as Golden Glove amateurs.

The athletes who train for the Golden Gloves tournaments can find themselves as leaders and role models in the community, Avant said.

“They learn their hard work and commitment from their training,” he said.

A judge watches the action last month in Des Moines. (Megan Lehman photo/Community contributor)

An amateur boxing organization with state, regional and national competition, Golden Gloves is open to all non-professional competitors, ages 16 and up. The Silver Gloves, another branch of the organization, is for non-professional competitors ages 10 to 15.

April’s tournament was the 75th Golden Gloves state tournament in Des Moines and Iowa has had its share of national champions — Henry Ulrich in 1942, Melvin Barber in 1948, Lamont Lovelady in 1972, Steve Eden in 1980 and Jeremy Williams in 1990. The latest winner was De ’Rae Crane in 2004.

This year’s National Golden Gloves competition runs May 13-18 in Salt Lake City. More than 300 of the country’s best amateur boxers will compete to be 2013 Golden Gloves champions.

Several local boxers won state titles last month, including Martin Schuh, a 21-year-old University of Iowa student who boxes for ICOR Boxing Club.

Schuh will compete in the national tournament.

Vern Boenish drives the ball across the fairway during last summer's Men's Senior City Amateur tournament, at Gardner Golf Course. (The Gazette)

Here is our latest list of golf tournaments throughout Eastern Iowa.

If you would like your golf tournaments listed here, send them to sports@sourcemedia.net

Like the running calendar, we will update this from time to time and repost.

Enjoy.

May

4 — 2-couple best shot, Buffalo Creek Golf Course, (319) 935-3697

4 — 1-person best shot, Pin Oak Links, (563) 927-4653

4 — 4-person scramble, Marengo Golf Club, (319) 642-3508

4 — 3-person best shot, River Ridge G.C., Independence, (319) 283-3258

5 — 3-person best shot, Belle Plaine C.C., (319) 444-3113

5 — 2-person 27-hole Ryder Cup, Hickory Grove G.C., Oelwein, (319) 283-3258

6 — Leukemia & Lymphoma Society four-player best shot, Cedar Rapids Country Club, (319) 330-1084

8 — Women’s Wine & Cheese Clinic, Edgewater G.C., Oelwein, (319) 283-3258

10 — 2-person Ryder Cup, Elkader Golf & C.C., (563) 245-2230

11 — Senior (50+) 2-man best shot, Jesup G.C., (319) 283-3258

11— 3-person best shot, Elkader Golf & C.C., (563) 245-2230

11— 4-man best shot, Buffalo Creek Golf Course, (319) 935-3697

13 — Two-lady best shot, nine holes, Saddleback Ridge, (319) 624-1477

15 — Women’s Wine & Cheese Clinic, Edgewater G.C., Oelwein, (319) 283-3258

16 — Over 50 2-person best shot, Marengo Golf Club, (319) 642-3508

17 — 8-inch cup 3-person best shot, Elkader Golf & C.C., (563) 245-2230

18 — Women’s Wine & Cheese Clinic, Edgewater G.C., Oelwein, (319) 283-3258

18 — Couples 9 & dine, Pin Oak Links, (563) 927-4653

18 — Two-person best shot, Wapsi Country Club, Anamosa, (319) 462-3930

18-19 — The Robin (2-day stroke play, pre-flighted), Thunder Hills Country Club, Peosta, (563) 556-3256

19 — Two-person best shot 5-iron tournament, Jones Park, (319) 286-5581

21 — 50 and over 2-person best shot, Belle Plaine C.C., (319) 444-3113

22 — Women’s Wine & Cheese Clinic, Edgewater G.C., Oelwein, (319) 283-3258

23 — Seniors two-man flghted best shot, Saddleback Ridge, (319) 624-1477

25 — 4-person pay day best shot, Hickory Grove G.C., Oelwein, (319) 283-3258

26 — 3-person best shot, Belle Plaine C.C., (319) 444-3113

26 — 2-person Ryder Cup, Jesup G.C., (319) 283-3258

27 — Memorial Day Couples Best Shot, Edgewater G.C., Oelwein, (319) 283-3258

27 — 4-person best shot, Pin Oak Links, (563) 927-4653

June

1 — Couples Ryder Cup, Marengo Golf Club, (319) 642-3508

1 — 4-person best shot, River Ridge G.C., Independence, (319) 283-3258

1 — 3-gal best shot, Jesup G.C., (319) 283-3258

1 — Oelwein Alumni Golf Outing, Hickory Grove G.C., Oelwein, (319) 283-3258

2 — Michelle Rima Memorial scholarship benefit, 4-player best shot, Backbone Golf & C.C., (563) 933-4545

4 — 2-man Duffers 45 & over, Buffalo Creek Golf Course, (319) 935-3697

5 — 2-Lady best shot, Belle Plaine C.C., (319) 444-3113

5-8 — Oelwein Junior Golf Clinic, Edgewater G.C., Oelwein, (319) 283-3258

6 — Over 50 2-person best shot, Marengo Golf Club, (319) 642-3508

8 — Parent/child alternate shot, Belle Plaine C.C., (319) 444-3113

8 — 2-person best shot, Elkader Golf & C.C., (563) 245-2230

8 — Iowa Valley CSF Golf Outing, Marengo Golf Club, (319) 642-3508

8 — 4-person best shot, Pin Oak Links, (563) 927-4653

8 — 3-gal best shot, Buffalo Creek Golf Course, (319) 935-3697

9 — 3-person family best shot, Belle Plaine C.C., (319) 444-3113

10 — 2-Lady best shot, Marengo Golf Club, (319) 642-3508

10 — 2-senior best shot, Pin Oak Links, (563) 927-4653

12 — 2-Lady best shot, Backbone Golf & C.C., (563) 933-4545

12-15 — Independence Junior Golf Clinic , River Ridge G.C., Independence, (319) 283-3258

14 — 2-senior best shot, Backbone Golf & C.C., (563) 933-4545

14 — 2-person best shot, glow ball, Backbone Golf & C.C., (563) 933-4545

15 — Elkader Men’s Amateur, Elkader Golf & C.C., (563) 245-2230

15 — Three-person best shot, Wapsi Country Club, Anamosa, (319) 462-3930

15 — 2-person best shot, Jesup G.C., (319) 283-3258

15 — One Man Mulligan, Marengo Golf Club, (319) 642-3508

16 — Elkader Men’s Amateur, Elkader Golf & C.C., (563) 245-2230

18 — 50 and over 2-person best shot, Belle Plaine C.C., (319) 444-3113

19 — 2-Lady best shot, Belle Plaine C.C., (319) 444-3113

21 — Couples 9 & dine, Pin Oak Links, (563) 927-4653

21 — 2-player 3 club, Backbone Golf & C.C., (563) 933-4545

21 — PGA Junior Tournament, Edgewater & Hickory Grove G.C.s, Oelwein, (319) 283-3258

22 — The Tengo Memorial 4-person best shot, Hickory Grove G.C., Oelwein, (319) 283-3258

22 — 4-person best shot, Buffalo Creek Golf Course, (319) 935-3697

22 — Couples best shot/Steak Fry, Marengo Golf Club, (319) 642-3508

23 — 2-couple best shot, Jesup G.C., (319) 283-3258

27 — 4-gal best shot, Thunder Hills Country Club, Peosta, (563) 556-3256

27 — Over 50 2-person best shot, Marengo Golf Club, (319) 642-3508

28 — 3-person best shot, Elkader Golf & C.C., (563) 245-2230

30 — Eight-inch cup four-man best shot, Indian Creek Country Club, (319) 377-4489

July

4 — Flag Tournament, Hickory Grove G.C., Oelwein, (319) 283-3258

6 — Firecracker Open (18 holes+9-hole Championship Flight), River Ridge G.C., Independence, (319) 283-3258

7 — 3-person best shot, Marengo Golf Club, (319) 642-3508

7 — 4-person best shot, Belle Plaine C.C., (319) 444-3113

9 — 4-Lady Invitational, Elkader Golf & C.C., (563) 245-2230

9 — Senior 2-person best shot, Hickory Grove G.C., Oelwein, (319) 283-3258

12 — 2-senior best shot, Backbone Golf & C.C., (563) 933-4545

13 — 4-person best shot, Pin Oak Links, (563) 927-4653

13 — 4-person alternate shot, Jesup G.C., (319) 283-3258

14 — 8-inch 4-person best shot, Backbone Golf & C.C., (563) 933-4545

14 — Couples Open best ball, Elkader Golf & C.C., (563) 245-2230

15 — One Lady Mulligan, Marengo Golf Club, (319) 642-3508

15 — 2-senior best shot, Pin Oak Links, (563) 927-4653

16 — 4-gal best shot, Jesup G.C., (319) 283-3258

17 — 2-Lady best shot, Backbone Golf & C.C., (563) 933-4545

18 — Over 50 2-person best shot, Marengo Golf Club, (319) 642-3508

19 — 3-person best shot, Elkader Golf & C.C., (563) 245-2230

20 — Couples 9 & dine, Pin Oak Links, (563) 927-4653

20 — 2-man best shot, Buffalo Creek Golf Course, (319) 935-3697

20 — 3-person Best Shot, Marengo Golf Club, (319) 642-3508

21 — The Nelly Memorial 4-person best shot, Edgewater G.C., Oelwein, (319) 283-3258

21 — 2-person best shot, Belle Plaine C.C., (319) 444-3113

22 — Junior Open, Buffalo Creek Golf Course, (319) 935-3697

23 — 50 and over 2-person best shot, Belle Plaine C.C., (319) 444-3113

23 — 2-person senior (50+), Jesup G.C., (319) 283-3258

25 — MGC Youth Tournament, Marengo Golf Club, (319) 642-3508

27 — 4-Lady best shot, Buffalo Creek Golf Course, (319) 935-3697

27 — 3-Lady Beer/Steak Fry, Marengo Golf Club, (319) 642-3508

28 — 4-person best shot, Backbone Golf & C.C., (563) 933-4545

28 — 2-couple best shot, Jesup G.C., (319) 283-3258

August

3 — 2-person best shot (Moonlight golf), Elkader Golf & C.C., (563) 245-2230

3 — 2-person Ryder Cup, Buffalo Creek Golf Course, (319) 935-3697

4 — Ryder Cup, Indian Creek Country Club, (319) 377-4489

4 — 1-man mulligan, Belle Plaine C.C., (319) 444-3113

6 — Senior 4-man best shot, Edgewater G.C., Oelwein, (319) 283-3258

6 — 2-Gal Rally for the Cure, Elkader Golf & C.C., (563) 245-2230

6 — Men’s Invitational, Buffalo Creek Golf Course, (319) 935-3697

8 — Over 50 2-person best shot, Marengo Golf Club, (319) 642-3508

9 — 3-man best shot, Elkader Golf & C.C., (563) 245-2230

9-10 — Couples Classic (2-day selective tee/alternate shot), Thunder Hills Country Club, Peosta, (563) 556-3256

10 — Couples Invitational, Belle Plaine C.C., (319) 444-3113

10 — Manchester Open (27 holes), Pin Oak Links, (563) 927-4653

10-11 — Northeast Iowa Amateur, Edgewater & Hickory Creek G.C., Oelwein, (319) 283-3258

11 — 2-Couple Alt. best shot, Marengo Golf Club, (319) 642-3508

12 — 2-lady best shot, Marengo Golf Club, (319) 642-3508

13 — 2-man Duffers 45 & over, Buffalo Creek Golf Course, (319) 935-3697

13 — Senior 2-person 18-hole Ryder Cup, Hickory Grove G.C., Oelwein, (319) 283-3258

13 — 50 and over 2-person best shot, Belle Plaine C.C., (319) 444-3113

14 — 2-Lady best shot, Backbone Golf & C.C., (563) 933-4545

14 — Ladies 2-gal best shot, Edgewater G.C., Oelwein, (319) 283-3258

16 — Couples 9 & dine, Pin Oak Links, (563) 927-4653

17 — Rotary 4-person best shot, Edgewater G.C., Oelwein, (319) 283-3258

17 — 4-gal best shot, River Ridge G.C., Independence, (319) 283-3258

18 — Couples best shot, Wapsi Country Club, Anamosa, (319) 462-3930

18 — 4-person best shot, Backbone Golf & C.C., (563) 933-4545

23 — 2-senior best shot, Backbone Golf & C.C., (563) 933-4545

25 — Husband & Wife best shot, Buffalo Creek Golf Course, (319) 935-3697

29 — Over 50 2-person best shot, Marengo Golf Club, (319) 642-3508

31 — 2-person Ryder Cup, Buffalo Creek Golf Course, (319) 935-3697

September

1 — 4-person best shot, Belle Plaine C.C., (319) 444-3113

1 — Men’s 8-inch tourney, Wapsi Country Club, Anamosa, (319) 462-3930

2 — Labor Day Couples Best Shot Tournament, Edgewater G.C., Oelwein, (319) 283-3258

2 — Men’s Individual Labor Day, Buffalo Creek Golf Course, (319) 935-3697

2 — 4-person best shot, Pin Oak Links, (563) 927-4653

3 — 50 and over 2-person best shot, Belle Plaine C.C., (319) 444-3113

5 — Senior 4-person best shot, Hickory Grove G.C., Oelwein, (319) 283-3258

6 — Super Seniors (60^) 3-man best shot, Elkader Golf & C.C., (563) 245-2230

8 — 3-person best shot, Elkader Golf & C.C., (563) 245-2230

8 — Couples 8-inch best shot, Wapsi Country Club, Anamosa, (319) 462-3930

8 — 1-person 2-ball best shot, Buffalo Creek Golf Course, (319) 935-3697

8 — 2-person best shot, Marengo Golf Club, (319) 642-3508

8 — 4-person best shot, Backbone Golf & C.C., (563) 933-4545

12 — Senior 1-person best shot, Hickory Grove G.C., Oelwein, (319) 283-3258

14 — 2-couple best shot, Buffalo Creek Golf Course, (319) 935-3697

15 — 3-person bucket best shot, Marengo Golf Club, (319) 642-3508

19 — Over 50 2-person best shot, Marengo Golf Club, (319) 642-3508

21 — 3-man best shot, Buffalo Creek Golf Course, (319) 935-3697

21 — 2-man BIG MONEY best shot, Jesup G.C., (319) 283-3258

22 — 8-inch cup 2-person Ryder Cup, Elkader Golf & C.C., (563) 245-2230

22 — 2-person Ryder Cup, Pin Oak Links, (563) 927-4653

22 — Couples Ryder Cup, Marengo Golf Club, (319) 642-3508

22 — 3-person best shot, Belle Plaine C.C., (319) 444-3113

24 — 50 and over 2-person best shot, Belle Plaine C.C., (319) 444-3113

26 — Senior 3-person best shot, Hickory Grove G.C., Oelwein, (319) 283-3258

28 — 2-person Ryder cup, Backbone Golf & C.C., (563) 933-4545

28 — 2-man 27-hole Ryder Cup, Jesup G.C., (319) 283-3258

28-29 — Fall Classic (two-man best shot/best ball), Thunder Hills Country Club, Peosta, (563) 556-3256

29 — Chili Open four-man best shot, Indian Creek Country Club, (319) 377-4489

29 — 3-person best shot, Buffalo Creek Golf Course, (319) 935-3697

29 — 3-person best shot, Marengo Golf Club, (319) 642-3508

October

5 — Four-person best shot, Wapsi Country Club, Anamosa, (319) 462-3930

6 — Four-person best shot, Wapsi Country Club, Anamosa, (319) 462-3930

6 — Chili Dipper 8-inch cup, 4-person best shot,Thunder Hills Country Club, Peosta, (563) 556-3256

6 — 1-person best shot, Backbone Golf & C.C., (563) 933-4545

6 — 3-person best shot, Marengo Golf Club, (319) 642-3508

10 — Over 50 2-person best shot, Marengo Golf Club, (319) 642-3508

12 — 3-player scramble, Marengo Golf Club, (319) 642-3508

12 — 4-person chili best shot, Hickory Grove G.C., Oelwein, (319) 283-3258

13 — Edgewater Chili 4-person best shot, Edgewater G.C., Oelwein, (319) 283-3258

13 — Chili Open 3-person best shot, Elkader Golf & C.C., (563) 245-2230

15 — 50 and over 2-person best shot, Belle Plaine C.C., (319) 444-3113

19 — 2-person 2-cup, Pin Oak Links, (563) 927-4653

19 — Chili Open4-person best shot, River Ridge G.C., Independence, (319) 283-3258

20 — Chili Open four-man best shot, Indian Creek Country Club, (319) 377-4489

20 — 4-person Maid Rite Open, Jesup G.C., (319) 283-3258

20— 3-person best shot, Marengo Golf Club, (319) 642-3508

20 — 4-person best shot Chili Open, Belle Plaine C.C., (319) 444-3113

27 — 2-person best shot, Marengo Golf Club, (319) 642-3508

27 — Chili Open 4-person big cup “shamble,” Pin Oak Links, (563) 927-4653

November

3 — 3-person best shot Chili Open, Marengo Golf Club, (319) 642-3508

Note: Submit information to sports@sourcemedia.net; post tournaments yourself on the event calendar at www.thegazette.com

Mark Petersen (left) of Center Point, Dan Spoden of Cedar Rapids and Steve Lentz of Iowa City race out of the transition area to start on their cycling portion of the 2012 Pigman Triathlon at Pleasant Creek State Recreation Area in Palo. The bike portion can be challenging, but also is a great part of the triathlon experience. (The Gazette)

Editor’s note: Jason Clark of Iowa City is a group exercise instructor at North Dodge Athletic Club and an active participant in the Eastern Iowa race scene, competing in runs, duathlons and triathlons.

By Jason Clark, community contributor

I had just finished the swim and to my surprise, I was the first one out of the water.

I ran up to the transition area, pulling off my goggles and swim cap as I went. I washed off my feet, pulled on my shoes and helmet and as I reached for my bike, I realized that my pedals were missing and I would be unable to continue.

The elation of being the first out of the water quickly turned to massive disappointment as I watched my competitors pass me by.

The feeling of relief I felt when I awoke was palpable. Although this was thankfully just a dream, it underscores the importance of being prepared.

Your first test of preparation will come as you enter the transition area after your swim. You will have been assigned a small piece of real estate to call your own and everything you will need for the race will have to fit within that footprint.

This also depends on the set up of the race. In some, there will be two different transition areas. This usually is the case for a race that is a point to point race such as the Crossroads Triathlon.

In your transition area there are a few things that I consider must haves. For the bike portion of the race, my bike, bike shoes and bike helmet are a must and for the run, my running shoes and usually a hat or visor.

I have, however, never been to a race with only those items. Additionally, I bring a couple of towels (one to dry off with, and one to sit on), an extra water bottle to clean sand, grass, etc. off my feet after the swim and socks, sunglasses, anti-chafe cream, my running belt and any nutrition items I might need.

Each person has their own preferences. For example, in shorter races, many athletes don’t even bother with socks since it takes precious seconds to put them on. Personally, I find taking the extra time to put on socks makes me slows down just enough to ensure that I don’t overlook anything and it provides me with comfort. Racing is hard enough without blisters.

As you transition from the swim to the bike, you want to make sure you are considerate of the people around you. Keep your personal items close to ensure your fellow competitors can get to their gear.

As transitions are part of the race, it helps to practice them beforehand. Once you are ready, grab your bike and either walk or run it out of the transition area. Race volunteers will let you know when you are allowed to mount your bike. You may notice some racers running out of the transition area in bare feet. They are doing a running bike mount in which they run alongside their bike and jump on once they hit the mount line. They then put their feet in their shoes (which already are clipped onto their pedals) on the fly.

For your first triathlon, this is not a good idea unless you have practiced and feel comfortable with the technique. It is always better to take extra time in transition and the bike mount to ensure that you do it error free.

Once you are out on the bike course, there are a couple of important items.

First, drafting is illegal under USAT rules. You must stay at least 2-3 bike lengths behind the rider in front of you. You may close that gap if you are passing, but must complete the pass within 15 seconds or fall back out of the drafting zone (technically, a box six feet wide and 21 feet long around each biker). Violations of this rule may result in a time penalty. Individual races also may have rules they set for your safety that must be followed.

Secondly, watch out for vehicular traffic and road hazards. Most bike courses are open to vehicle traffic, so you will need to make sure you are following all traffic rules and cynically, don’t trust any cars. Most accidents on the bike course are due to road hazards (loose gravel on corners, deep grooves in the concrete, rumble strips, etc.), so be alert. If possible, either ride or drive the bike course before the race to familiarize yourself with any potential hazards.

You will notice many different kinds of bikes on the course. Some look like they were left out all winter while others look like they belong on a NASCAR track. Triathlon bikes range in price from $1,500 to more than $15,000. You do not need a triathlon specific bike to race in a triathlon. I rode my 1997 aluminum framed Trek mountain bike in my first race and finished before many of the riders with their tri-specific bikes.

That is not to say that your equipment is not important. I found the next year, after the purchase of my tri bike, my time dropped significantly without any significant changes in my training schedule. If, after your first race, you are bitten by the tri bug, consider doing the dishes, doing the laundry, mowing the lawn or whatever your significant other normally does for an extended period of time in order to build up some good will before you broach the subject of buying a new bike. Once you get the green light, take your time and do the research to find the bike that is right for you.

There are a lot of bike shops around, but the three I recommend in the area are World of Bikes (Iowa City), Northtowne Cycling and Fitness (Cedar Rapids) and Healthy Habits (Bettendorf). Make sure you are fitted properly for your bike. A good fit will enable you to get the most out your new bike’s triathlon-specific geometry. A poor fit will give you a sore back, sore knees and sore shoulders.

Cycling is my favorite part of the race so I tend to push as hard as I can, but that isn’t always a good idea. Remember, you still have to run. Make sure to leave a little in the tank so that you can finish the race.

The bike leg is the preferred part of the race to rehydrate and refuel. In short races, water generally is all you will need but as you start racing longer distances, nutrition becomes a very important factor in the race.

In the last half-mile or so, start to mentally prepare yourself to transition to the run. As you approach the end of the bike leg, volunteers will be there to instruct you where to dismount so that you don’t go charging into the transition area with your bike. Once you get off your bike, run to your gear and get ready for the run.

Most importantly, always remember that this is not only supposed to be challenging, but it is supposed to be fun, too.

• Next month, Jason will explore the running portion of the triathlon.

Tipton's Brian Schulz (left) tries to get past North Cedar's Seb Meyer during their alumni football game in 2011. The North Cedar team is planning another game this summer. (Dan Williamson/rreelance)

Editor’s note: Casey Hack, 28, of Anamosa is a 2003 graduate of North Cedar High School and head football coach and physical education teacher at Midland High School in Wyoming.

By Casey Hack, community contributor

As soon as I graduated from high school, I wanted to put the pads on and play in a full-contact football game again.

It seemed to be a far-fetched dream, so my love for football led me down the path of teaching and coaching.

I never thought I would be able to play under the lights again, but Alumni Football USA has changed that for me and many others around the United States.

When I got the call from a friend about the opportunity to put together a team and play against our rival, Tipton, I thought it was too good to be true. I decided to sign up and give it a try.

Before we knew it, we were practicing and getting ready to be the first alumni game in Iowa. Our ages ranged from 19 to 46 and, while we had different skill levels, we all had the same goal in mind — to play football again.

We prepared every Sunday, it was talked about often in our community and people were excited to come and watch the game in the middle of the summer.

The game was a success, with both bleachers full of fans. It was everything we had hoped it would be and we even raised a bunch of money for our schools, which are given the opportunity to sell tickets and run the concession stand to make money.

Alumni Football USA has a goal to raise $1 million for schools across America.

As we prepare and build our roster again this year, I wanted to give you the opportunity to sign up and see what your alma mater can do. It is a great opportunity to put on the pads and see what you have left.

Don’t miss out on this great opportunity. Alumni Football USA will be in Iowa in June. All you need to do is get signed up.

l Go to www.alumnifootballusa.com for information about putting a team together

Dennis Lee (left) and Daren Schumaker completed their 43rd county earlier this month, covering a few more miles than expected after getting lost. (Team 99 Counties photo)

Editor’s note: Daren Schumaker and Dennis Lee are crossing Iowa’s 99 counties, raising money for the American Heart Association. The two have completed 43 counties.

By Daren Schumaker, community contributor

Direction is important. It gets you where you’re going. It helps you reach your goals. It gets you to your destination.

The importance of direction is often understated and under looked. If direction is so important, how are we to gain a better appreciation for the direction present in each of our lives? The answer is quite simple — get lost.

On April 13, we pushed off of the banks of the Missouri River and started to run eastward across Monona County and the Loess Hills.

We knew our run would be difficult — any run that is 37 miles is going to be difficult. We ran toward the looming Loess Hills for 16 miles before we began to climb upward into the hills.

Everything was going well. We never thought to question our direction or where our route was taking us. We haphazardly took a left turn on Oak Avenue and ran on a hilly gravel road for a good hour before we encountered civilization and realized that we were lost. We had lost our direction.

When it was all said and done, we had run more than eight miles south when we should have been running east. We had run 30 miles and were still several miles away from the eastern edge of Monona County and our goal.

We had definitely lost our direction.

Instead of continuing on the wrong path, we assessed the situation and turned ourselves in the right direction. We had no idea how far we were going to have to go, but we did know that it was going to be difficult. I’d love to tell you that things got easier once we were back on track, but that would be anything but the truth. It was far from smiles and high-fives. We ran for 6:32:02 before we crossed into Crawford County, running a total of 45 miles.

Moral of the story? Direction is important, but more important is the ability to realize that you are lost and to take the difficult steps to get back on the right path.

Whether you literally took a wrong turn or have let your personal health goals head south as you head north, you can always start back in the right direction.

Inspiration through perspiration. Become active or make a donation to the American Heart Association to help fight heart disease.

Steve Charters, golf pro

Editor’s note: Steve Charters is in his 11th year as a pro at Twin Pines Golf Course. Born and raised in Cedar Rapids, Charters competed at Central College in Pella and has been a pro for 18 years in Dubuque and Cedar Rapids.

We’ve all had it happen, that beautiful feeling swing that results in a tee shot that you can run 20 yards ahead and catch like a catcher in baseball. A can of corn, I think they call it.

The main reason for this is the swing is coming into impact with the ball at too steep an angle, causing the top, or crown, of the club to hit the ball first, hopefully not leaving a mark.

One way to quickly fix this error is to widen your stance. Part of the reason your swing may be too steep to begin with is a narrow stance at address. By widening it you will naturally add width to your swing and take some of the steepness out of your swing.

Just remember, as you widen your stance you still want to keep the ball position off your front heal.

Try this out and let’s keep those “dummy marks” off the top of our drivers.

— Steve

Laura Naber

Editor’s note: Here is your chance to tell your story about your team, your school or your favorite player. If you’d like to join The Gazette’s growing list of high school contributors, contact J.R. Ogden at jr.ogden@thegazette.com

By Laura Naber, Dyersville Beckman junior

DYERSVILLE – As we head toward the end of April, we can only hope that spring is on its way and warmer weather is in store.

Now that most of the snow has finally melted, opportunities arise for people to get outside and enjoy the new fresh air. This year, one of those opportunities could be running in a 5K road race.

I will admit, those 3.1 miles might seem kind of intimidating at first, so that is why I would start simple, by running the “Happiest 5K on the Planet” or, better known as, The Color Run.

The Color Run is a stress free, fun-filled, colorful race that brings people together. There are several races throughout the year and all over the country. There is even one in Des Moines.

According to thecolorrun.com, the race “celebrates healthiness, happiness, individuality and giving back to the community.”

These runs are not timed race and runners or walkers are engulfed in different powder-like colors at each kilometer. However, the fun doesn’t stop at the finish line. After the race, there is a huge “Color Festival” where even more colored powder is thrown to make the experience more memorable. By the end of the race, the white shirts that participants are encouraged to wear are drenched in a bright rainbow.

Not only are the crazy splashes of color the race provides unique, but also how they give back to the community. For each city The Color Run visits, the organization will donate money to a local charity. This race is just one example of how people can stay in shape and help others out.

But this race is not the only race that benefits others. There are several races locally that help raise money for those in need.

One race in particular was held three years ago for my two cousins who were severely burned in a house explosion while on a work site. Because the two brothers were badly burned, they had to stay in the hospital for several months. Some people in the surrounding communities got together to organize a 5K race to help raise money for the boys. On the day of the race, everyone was wearing matching t-shirts to show support for the boys’ recovery. It was so comforting to see so many people there, many of whom I was not even acquainted with.

Because of this experience, I am much more eager to join other races benefiting those who are sick or injured to show my support.

Therefore, these races can make a difference in people’s lives, both economically and through support, and the 5K races help communities as well. In July, the town of Earlville hosts its annual 5K Firework Fun Run/Walk. The event takes place on the Fourth of July and is sponsored by the Earlville Community Club. The money raised helps support other events for the community throughout the year. Even though the race takes place during the hot month of July, it is still a lot of fun seeing a small community come together. This race is great summer activity for family and friends.

Road races raise peoples’ awareness about staying fit as well as raising money to benefit those in need.

You don’t have to be an all-star track or cross country runner to participate in a 5K. People just have to be willing to get out there and support a good cause, all while keeping the body moving.

Some of the nearly 14,000 runners in the 2008 Bix 7 in Davenport. (Quad City Times photo)

Here is our second attempt at the 2013 running schedule, you know, those 5Ks, 10Ks and half-marathons you’ve been dreaming about all winter and into the cool (OK, cold) spring, those carrots at the end of the stick this winter.

If you know of a race or are a race director who wants his or her race on our schedule, email the information at jr.ogden@thegazette.com

I will update this list for The Gazette newspaper whenever possible and repost it here.

APRIL

27 — UI College of Denistry Brush and Rush 5K, Iowa City

27 — Trojan Dash 5K cross country challenge, Solon, info@trojandash.com

27 — MACC 5K Family Fun Run, Cascade, b_ragan@hotmail.com

27 — Quasky Church 5K run/walk, Quasqueton, (319) 934-3136

27 — MPD 5K4K9, Marion, admin@marionpolice.com

28 — UI River Run 5K/10K, Iowa City, iowa.riverrun@gmail.com

28 — Miles for Morgan 5K/1 mile, Cedar Rapids, (319) 330-1084 or jenniferbohr@aol.com

MAY

4 — Jones County K9 Challenge, Anamosa, (319) 462-4983 or (319) 480-4412

4 — Bleed Purpe, Win Gold 5K/1 mile walk, Oelwein, (319) 238-2065

4 — Christine Grant 5K run/walk, Iowa City, (319) 337-8949

4 — Jeff Stokes Benefit 5K run/walk, Neola, (712) 566-3420

5 — CVRA Mall to Mall run/walk, Cedar Rapids, klee@telcoden.com

5 — Ronald McDonal 5K/half-marathon, Iowa City, (319) 384-5852

11 — Lace up for Learning 5K/10, Cedar Rapids, (319) 558-2400

11 — Raiders Racing for Life 4K, Anamosa, (319) 462-3549, ext. 1202

11 — Bear Stampede 10K/5K, West Branch, westbranchpto@gmail.com

11 — Lake Macbride Duathlon, Solon, (515) 771-0213

11 — 10th annual Run Like a Mother 4-mile run/walk, Cedar Falls, (319) 231-5287 or freedman@uni.edu

18 — Marion Arts Festival half-marathon/5K, (319) 373-0741

25 — CRFD Firefighters Memorial 5K, Cedar Rapids, (319) 286-5200

27 — The Machine Challenge 5K and 1 mile, Clarence, (319) 331-7939, bailswilliam@gmail.com

JUNE

1 — Mount Vernon Chocolate Stroll 5K, (319) 331-7939, bailswilliam@gmail.com

9 — Junction Jugglefest 5K, Lisbon, (319) 331-7939, bailswilliam@gmail.com

15 — Xavier Catholic Schools 5K/10K, Puppy Pound half-mile kids run, Cedar Rapids, www.CRPoundtheGround.com

29 — 7th annual Victor 5K run/walk, (641) 990-1627

JULY

4 — Alliant Energy Fifth Season 8K, Cedar Rapids

4 — Firecracker 5K, Garnavillo

AUGUST

3 — Run for Reading 5K/1 mile, Clarence, (319) 331-7939, bailswilliam@gmail.com

OCTOBER

4 — 5th annual Believe 5K, Stanwood, (319) 331-7939, bailswilliam@gmail.com

A group of anglers fish below the Wapsipinicon River dam at Littleton in June 2011. (Orlan Love/The Gazette)

Editor’s note: Here is your chance to tell your story about your team, your school or your favorite player. If you’d like to join The Gazette’s growing list of high school contributors, contact J.R. Ogden at jr.ogden@thegazette.com

By Jacob Doyle, Monticello senior

MONTICELLO – Imagine a place you can be truly free. Imagine paradise.

For me, paradise is in the woods.

To most people, paradise is laying on a hammock between two palm trees on a beach, listening to the waves crash against the shore under the fading light of the setting sun with a gentle warm breeze.

To me, paradise is sitting on a small lawn chair listening to the wind rustle the leaves while a creek trickles just a few meters away. Paradise to me is the crackling of a small fire, feeling the warmth of it on my face and smelling the smoke and the wet leaves.

Seeing the trees, the dirt, the creek,  the limestone cliffs and the last few rays of warm sunlight poke through the trees before night – that is why I love going in the timber.

Freedom in paradise. The mystery of the woods intrigues  you. No trip in the wilderness is the same. The timber always is changing. Trees die and others grow, along with wildlife. The creek erodes the banks, leaving a new bank of sand. There is a vast array of wildlife, too. Whole families of deer, raccoons, opossums, skunk, coyotes, chipmnks and squirrels. All sorts of life.

I would recommend to anyone to take a trip in their local forest. There is never a dull moment. Take a hike and see what this world truly has to offer.

By Kourtney Kraus, Monticello junior 

MONTICELLO – Monticello’s Business Professional of America  is on point this year.

Many BPA participants qualified for state and, doing considerably well, seven also made it to nationals.  The national qualifiers included seniors Ben Dirks and Ellyn Felton. Two juniors – Madison Petty and Lacie Dotterweich – also advanced along with sophomores Katie Goettsch and Arianne Jenkins and freshman Haley Stickfort.

To make it to nationals as an underclassmen is a very good thing.

“It is good to have seven people qualify for us, usually we do not have that much,” said Jordyn Cigrand.

Some of the contests the qualifiers will be participating in will be news broadcast, legal procedures and extemporaneous speech. Nationals will be held in Orlando, Fla., May 8-12. There will be 5,000 advisors and members competing. so hopefully at least one of the seven will be able to show what small town Monticello is really about.

The first wave of runners starts the 117th running of the Boston Marathon in Hopkinton, Mass., on Monday. Hours later a pair of bombs rattled the event, participants, spectators and the running community. (Reuters)

Editor’s note: Erin Moeller, 35, of Mount Vernon, is a lifelong runner who qualified for the last two Olympic Marathon Trials. A native of Ryan, she’s a graduate of North-Linn and Wartburg who works for Benchmark Inc. in Cedar Rapids. She has two children — Ryne (8) and Evelyn (3) — and one on the way with husband Andy.

It is with mixed emotions that I write this week’s column.

For weeks I have been looking forward to this special weekend — a weekend residents throughout Marion, Cedar Rapids and the surrounding communities get to kickoff an exciting, inaugural event — the Marion Rotary Marathon for Shoes.

The Marion Rotary has been dreaming big, working tirelessly and teaming up to put on an amazing race right here in our backyard.

If you’re reading this bright and early this morning, consider putting your paper down, grab your jacket and head out to a location along the course to cheer on the participants.

If you haven’t experienced the thrill of the marathon, you’re in for a real treat.

Personally, I can hardly talk about the pain, agony, joy and excitement of the marathon without getting choked up. I think it’s because of all these emotions that my heart remains heavy for those who were impacted by the recent bombs at the Boston Marathon.

Many might think the marathon is a very personal experience. For some, this is the case. For others, committing to and ultimately training for the marathon becomes a family event. Schedules have to be adjusted to fit in the weekly long runs and workouts throughout the week, meal times have to be adjusted to allow for the crazy schedule, and other events slide to the back burner in weeks leading up to the big day.

In our family, it’s not uncommon for Andy and the kids to join me out on the trail handing me water bottles, high fives and other words of encouragement to help convince my mind that my body is capable of completing the workout.

I’m certain I am not alone in experiences such as these. When families come together to support one another throughout an experience like this, everyone feels the joy of the accomplishment and pain of defeat when things don’t workout as planned.

After training together throughout the marathon preparation, it only seems logical for our entire family to travel to marathon weekend together. After all, we’re all in this together and (as a parent) I know I’ll perform better with their smiling and supportive faces present along the race course.

This brings me back to Boston …

Watching the numerous friends, family and especially kids along the route encouraging each of the runners makes the events of Boston 2013 even more painful.

Training for a marathon is tough, but race day is the opportunity for all that hard work to come together and make the sacrifices worthwhile. Each step throughout the course is one step closer to the finish line, earning that finisher’s medal, and getting that big hug from family and friends who are waiting — those who supported you through all the ups and downs of your training program, offered encouragement and believed in you even when you didn’t believe in you.

For those who placed the bombs and did their best to sabotage this terrific American event, for those who killed innocent fans, spectators, family members, for those who left so many scarred for life, I really feel sorry for you and the sad and pathetic state you must be in.

Instead of recognizing the time commitment and dedication that each of the participants went through to not only qualify for Boston, but to also compete in this big stage, instead of considering the sacrifices that each of the family members made to help support their loved one chase their dream of finishing the marathon, instead you thought only of yourself.

Thankfully, Americans are tough. Americans are resilient. Today — right here in our backyard — we have an opportunity to make a difference.

Even if you’ve never experienced the thrill of the marathon, it’s not too late. Slip on your shoes, grab your jacket and pick a spot along the course throughout Marion to cheer on the numerous competitors. Even if you don’t run a step, I assure you that you’ll be moved by the true grit and determination of the participants.

You’ll find that marathoners come in all shapes and sizes. Despite their outer appearance, one thing is for sure — all share one common attribute, a huge and committed heart.

Do yourself a favor — go out and see what the marathon is all about. You might be surprised by what you see — and don’t be surprised if you’re inspired by what you see.

As for me, it’s not necessarily the fastest marathoner out on the course who will provide my inspiration. Sure, winning the race is an impressive feat, but, for me, it’s my group of co-workers who committed, trained and are running toward the finish line together.

One of my co-workers is running her first full marathon, while three relay teams were formed with various Benchmark employees, spouses, and friends. As a member of your Benchmark family — I am so proud of each of you.

Best of luck to all participants out on the course today. Enjoy the journey and be sure to have a little fun while you’re out there.

— Erin

Dennis Lee (left) and Daren Schumaker completed their 42nd county recently, this one across Ringgold. (Team 99 Counties photo)

Editor’s note: Daren Schumaker and Dennis Lee are crossing Iowa’s 99 counties, raising money for the American Heart Association. The two have completed 43 counties.

By Daren Schumaker, community contributor

We never thought it would arrive.

We thought it had been postponed. When would the waiting end? When would spring finally arrive? Tired of snow and tired of waiting, we headed south to look for the spring that had not yet arrived.

We didn’t have to travel as far south as you might think before we encountered the spring-like weather that we had been looking for.

On March 31, Team 99 Counties found spring in Ringgold County.

The temperature was slowly climbing toward 60 degrees, the sun was shining and the wind was at our backs. We started off just north of Clearfield and followed the highway into and out of Diagonal before rolling south on Highway 169 for about one mile and turning east onto 150th Street.

The temperature made us bold. The wind at our back encouraged us. We knew at the start we were moving too quickly. We knew we were running too fast. Despite that knowledge, we ignored our bodies and kept pushing harder and harder. Before we knew it, we had crossed Ringgold County in 3:39:33 via a hilly 26.53-mile route.

We survived, but did so recklessly.

Simply stated, we ran too fast. After spending months nursing injuries, we should have eased into things. We should have just been happy that we were out there. We should have given ourselves time to prepare. Instead, we let the weather get the best of us and risked injury by running too fast.

The moral of the story, if there is one, is to not rush things. After a winter where you might not have taken care of yourself or exercised like you should have, the spring can be a dangerous time. When you decide to get active you may end up doing too much too soon.

When the spring arrives, remember that many beautiful days are ahead of you. Take things easy. Gradually get back into the swing of things. Don’t start too fast like we did. Life isn’t a track meet, it’s a marathon. Consistency is the key.

Inspiration through perspiration. Become active or make a donation to the AHA to help fight heart disease.

l To make a donation or follow the team, check out more to these stories at Team 99 Counties on Facebook or at www.team99counties.com

Bryan Cline, a sophomore at Cedar Rapids Washington, poses with instructor Pat Costello after earning his Bronze Level coaching certificate. (Cline family photo)

Editor’s note: Rob Cline is an arts professional and freelance writer. His usual contributions to The Gazette are reviews of books and arts events. However, given his son’s intense, ongoing participation, he’s surprisingly knowledgeable about bowling, too.

By Rob Cline, community contributor

Plenty of teenagers have a specific goal in mind when they turn 16.

For one, it’s time to get licensed to drive.

But Bryan Cline, a sophomore at Cedar Rapids Washington, was driven to achieve a less typical goal on his 16th birthday. He wanted to earn his Bronze Level Coaching Certification from the United States Bowling Congress (USBC).

To do so, he traveled to Dacula, Ga., to complete the required course, which wrapped up on his birthday, March 24.

“I’ve been a certified coach for a couple of years, coaching kids at the Cedar Rapids Bowling Center and working with some of the guys on my high school team, but I had to wait to turn 16 before I could earn the Bronze Level certification,” Cline said.

Pat Costello, one of 24 active Gold Level coaches in the country and a member of the USBC Hall of Fame, oversaw the training sessions in Dacula, which included classroom time and on-lane sessions with developing bowlers.

“It was great to learn from someone like Pat,” Cline said. “Gold Level coaches have so much knowledge to share and Pat was really encouraging to all of us who were there for her class.”

Cline was inspired to pursue coaching certification because coaches have been key to his personal success on the lanes. Since taking up the sport as a kindergartner, Cline has received individual coaching from Iowa State USBC Woman’s Bowling Association Hall of Famer Sue Strasburger and Andy Diercks, a Silver Level coach who coaches at Linn-Mar High School and Mount Mercy University.

He also has attended bowling camp at Wichita State University, receiving coaching from Gordon Vadakin (Gold Level) and Mark Lewis (Silver Level), coaches of the most successful collegiate bowling program in the country — a program Cline hopes to be a part of in a few years.

“I’m working hard to develop my game so I can earn the opportunity to contribute to that team,” Cline said of the Shockers. “It’s been another important goal of mine for a long time.”

l What’s your story? Contact J.R. Ogden at jr.ogden@thegazette.com to become a community contributor

By Shania DeShaw, Monticello junior

MONTICELLO – Every day millions of people post where they are or what they are doing on some type of social media site. But do you realize that posting things on social media web pages is very dangerous?

People, including myself, don’t usually think about these types of things. When posting about an upcoming vacation you are basically telling people that your house will be unoccupied. There are people out there who have stalkers, and this is a perfect bit of information for them.

Twitter is a social media site that tells people where you are and what you are doing. Some tweets have a location device that shows a map of where you are. You may think you have things protected so strangers cannot see them, but in all honesty they probably can. Putting your phone number on social media sites is a big no-no. Anyone can see this on your profile, especially if you add and accept people you don’t know.

Yes everybody does these things every day, and we just don’t realize how dangerous it is.

Facebook was created for users to reconnect with people and keep in touch. A lot of people put their home addresses on their information page. If you don’t have that secured, anyone can see it. I bet you didn’t think about that did you? I know I didn’t.

With the technology we have today, it’s not hard to find anyone. Simply type in a name to Google and you can pretty much see anything you are looking for.

There is no such thing as privacy anymore.

Just think, some stranger could be looking through your pictures on Facebook right now. So before you sign up for any online social media, make sure you know how to make things secure, to keep your family and yourself safe.

The Gazette’s Jeff Johnson interviews Cedar Rapids Manager Jake Mauer about the Kernels’ start.

By Faith Brehm, Monticello senior

MONTICELLO – It was the day I had been waiting and training for since November.

The day of state solo and ensemble contest for music students across the state of Iowa. It gives music students in high school the chance to show off their individual talents.

This year I was going to receive a Division I rating, the highest, and I wouldn’t accept anything less from myself.

Already at 8 in the morning on April 6, students with different instruments and different vocal styles were filing into the school, warming up for their coming events. The Monticello High School gymnasium was alive with sound. Rooms were blocked off as performance centers as judges prepared for a long day.

The day started off well for everyone, Division I and II ratings already being written down on the large announcement boards in the gym. I had seven events to perform throughout the day. Four for choir and three for band, two of which were solos. To say I was nervous is an understatement. It was that band solo that was really weighing me down.

I had been chasing after that Division I rating for three years with my saxophone. Three years of disappointment at seeing a II or even III next to my event when all was said and done. It’s my senior year, my last chance, I knew I couldn’t let myself down again.

When the afternoon came around, my nerves spiked. I met Janice, my accompanist, just minutes before I was to perform before the judge. Our practice before was short, we just barely ran through the entire song together before it was time to go. I worried as I stood outside the door to my performance center that everything would go wrong. I would miscount my entrances, my fingers would fumble over the long running notes, my saxophone would be out of tune, I’d run out of energy before the end of the song, and completely botch the entire ending.

When I stepped into the performance center, I couldn’t stop shaking. Both my band directors were there in the audience, right up front. My judge mentioned that the song I had chosen to play was one he enjoyed – making me even more nervous. I hoped I would be able to play it well enough for him.

The piano part started, and I took a deep breath to calm myself down. The song began and the momentum picked up. My nervousness began to flake away as I easily slid my fingers through the first few runs. Before I knew it, the song was over, complete. I’d lost myself in the music somewhere along the way.

I waited avidly in the gym for my rating. Center Five, Monticello, my eyes were practically glued to that one line. Finally, finally, someone came to post the next set of rating. I almost couldn’t watch, that nervousness having come back.

And there it was, printed bold. “I.” I nearly cried. Three years – three years of dedication, of struggle – and I’d finally reached it. My Division I.