WASHINGTON

Distance runners live by numbers. The number of minutes and seconds it takes them to run a mile. The number of miles they run in a week, a month, a year. The number of 5Ks, 10Ks, half marathons, or marathons they’ve finished. The number of sparkling finisher medals hanging on their walls.

They like completing challenges. For example, running a half marathon in every state.

In Iowa, runners have more than 30 half marathons to choose from over the course of a year. Some of them are big-city road races like those in Des Moines and the Quad Cities that draw competitive racers from all over the world. Others are smaller, with more unique draws.

The Kewash Trail Half Marathon is one of the later.

“It’s such a unique route,” Amy Schulte, CEO of the YMCA of Washington County, says. “It starts in our downtown, they get to run under the railroad underpass, right down our boulevard, run through our beautiful city park, and run out on the beautiful Kewash Nature Trail. There’s a lot of scenery, a lot of neat things to see.”

Like a truss and trestle bridge. Spring wildflowers poking up. A set of badger tracks.

And once a runner has torched a half-days’ worth of calories propelling themselves down the trail and back, a volunteer hands them a hot pork burger.

“Runners who come from out of state have never tried one before, and you know, they really enjoy it,” Schulte says.

Sitting on the curb, content with food and drink in hand, chatting with fellow runners while gazing out at Washington’s town square, one knows they are nowhere near Des Moines or the Quad Cities. It isn’t going to take them 30 minutes of walking thorugh a maze of glass, steel and concrete to get back to their vehicle, and another 30 stuck in traffic looking for a restaurant for lunch.

“The small-town Iowa feel is what makes it great for everyone to feel welcome and enjoy a great day,” Schulte concludes.

The Kewash Trail Half Marathon has all the production values of a bigger race. The swag is there: high quality shirts and finisher medals whose designs highlight a different aspect of the area each year. Top three and age group awards like mugs, pint glasses, and cash that are worth putting in the effort. Thanks to Washington State Bank, runners even have the opportunity to win $1,000 if they break the course record.

But runners outside of Iowa may not even know about it. In 2023, 13% of runners who finished the half marathon came from out of state.

That’s an issue the race, which will be run for the 11th time this year, now has an opportunity to address.

The YMCA of Washington County was recently awarded a $4,000 grant from Enhance Iowa’s Sports Tourism Program, which is offered through the Iowa Economic Development Authority. The YMCA will use the funds to promote the Kewash Trail Half Marathon’s next race on Saturday, April 27; 5K and 10K distances are also part of the event.

“The funds are specific to help us market to a broader audience,” Schulte says, noting that runners from 14 different states ran the races last year. “The goal would be to attract even more individuals to come to Southeast Iowa to run our event and enjoy downtown Washington and our parks and our trail and everything that we have to offer here.”

The grant funds will be used specifically for direct marketing, Schulte says. Packets will be going out to YMCAs in surrounding states, digital marketing campaigns are underway, and advertisements are being placed with local print, radio and other media. Direct email to past runners will be sent as well to encourage them to return.

The race has economic value for the area; surveys distributed to runners indicate about 50% of them shop or dine locally, but only 30% stay overnight. “That’s something we’d like to see increase,” Schulte says, “because the longer they stay here, the more they can enjoy the different amenities the community has.”

The community is a strong supporter of the race: high school athletic groups, for example, volunteer to help with the race, and conservation and city parks staff help prepare and set up for the event as well. And the race reciprocates: half of the proceeds go to community groups. Last year, that was $11,300 put into the hands of local organizations.

The Kewash Trail Half Marathon has had a good run, starting with the germ of an idea for a local race in the heads of Shawn Loy, Michelle Driscoll, and Becky Harkema. The route has been refined and USATF certified, supporters and sponsors have emerged, and the date has found itself a comfortable home in early spring.

Perhaps the best is yet to come.

We’ll have to look at the numbers.