Speaker Series

The MidAmerican Energy Speaker Series coincides with the Scheels Sports & Fitness Expo on Friday, October 14 from 3 to 8 p.m. and Saturday, October 15 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Athletes registered for any of the IMT Des Moines Marathon races are welcome to attend the MidAmerican Energy Speaker Series sessions, which are free and also open to the public.

MidAmerican Energy Speaker Series presentations will focus on the sport of running and active participation in healthy lifestyles. Topics include official IMT Des Moines Marathon course presentations, the benefits of personal trainers and coaches, proper stretching, finding the right shoe for you and a national keynote speaker.

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Speaker Series Schedule

Friday, October 19, 2012
3:00 p.m.
Creigh Kelley
BKB Productions

Opening Remarks
Receive an official welcome to the Schels Sports & Fitness Expo from race emcee Creigh Kelley. He will introduce you to IMT Des Moines Marathon activities including the MidAmerican Speaker Series. Stop by the MidAmerican Speaker Series meet and greet table for trivia questions and prize give aways over the course of race weekend.

3:15 p.m.
Chris Burch
IMT Des Moines Marathon

Course Presentation & Medical Coverage
Receive an official welcome to the IMT Des Moines Marathon from Chris Burch, Director of Racing and Events. He will present a mile by mile ‘run through’ of the 2012 IMT Des Moines Marathon & Half Marathon and Bankers Trust Marathon Relay course, as well as an overview of The Principal Financial Group 5K Road Race course.

Rich Green, First Aid Station Director, will also identify Mercy Medical Center First Aid services offered and what to do in the event of an emergency on race day.

4:00 p.m.
Matt Migonis
Scheels

The Importance of Wearing the Right Shoes
What makes running shoes different? Matt Migonis is a four time USATF All-American and is the women's athletic shoe manager at Scheels. He is also a Brooks Inspire Daily and PowerBar Team Elite sponsored athlete. In this session, he will lead you through an informative discussion on the importance of finding the correct shoe for you. He will show examples of how running shoes vary by stability and function so that you can become more informed about your next purchase.

5:00 p.m.
Chris Gillespie
Team 413

RELENTLESS PURSUIT - GRACERUNNER JOURNEY 2011
On May 12-21, 2011 Chris Gillespie, Founder & Executive Director of TEAM 413 - GRACERUNNER Ministries, embarked on the greatest running challenge of his life.... GRACERUNNER JOURNEY - One Man, 10 Days, 413 Miles, One Goal! To Glorify God!
You will be inspired by the amazing story of how this journey not only changed his life but the lives of thousands along way.

6:00 p.m.
Bart Yasso
Runner's World

Never Limit Where Running Can Take You
Bart Yasso presents a collage of photos from races he's done across the globe for the past 34 years. There are shots of Mount Kilimanjaro marathon, running from a disgruntled rhino in Chitwan National Park in Nepal, and running sans clothes across the finish line at the Bare Buns Fun. Bart Yasso gives valuable and practical advice on how to become a runner for life and continually draw joy from the sport of running.

7:00 p.m.
Marshall Ulrich

Running on Empty - An ultra marathoner's story of love, loss, and a record-setting run across America
In 2008 at the age of 57, Marshall Ulrich ran across the United States, completing the mind-bending and body-breaking equivalent of 117 back-to-back marathons in 52.5 days, running an average of more than 400 miles a week. Marshall's Running on Empty speaking message and the metaphor of the run are universal, whether you're an athlete or not. It's about facing forward and taking the next step. It's about not flinching when the road gets rough or you miss a turn, and about finding another way when the bridge you planned to cross has collapsed. It's about goal setting and doing what you say you'll do and not letting anything or anyone stop your progress. Ultimately, it's about facing the toughest challenges, enduring crushing setbacks, accepting friendship and love, and finding fulfillment.

Saturday, October 20, 2012
10:00 a.m.
Creigh Kelley
BKB Productions

Welcoming Remarks
Receive an official welcome to the Schels Sports & Fitness Expo from race emcee Creigh Kelley. He will introduce you to IMT Des Moines Marathon activities including the MidAmerican Speaker Series. Stop by the MidAmerican Speaker Series meet and greet table for trivia questions and prize give aways over the course of race weekend.

10:15 a.m.
Chris Burch
IMT Des Moines Marathon

Course Presentation & Medical Coverage
Receive an official welcome to the IMT Des Moines Marathon from Chris Burch, Director of Racing and Events. He will present a mile by mile ‘run through’ of the 2012 IMT Des Moines Marathon & Half Marathon and Bankers Trust Marathon Relay course, as well as an overview of The Principal Financial Group 5K Road Race course.

Rich Green, First Aid Station Director, will also identify Mercy Medical Center First Aid services offered and what to do in the event of an emergency on race day.

11:00 a.m.
Bart Yasso
Runner's World

Never Limit Where Running Can Take You
Bart Yasso presents a collage of photos from races he's done across the globe for the past 34 years. There are shots of Mount Kilimanjaro marathon, running from a disgruntled rhino in Chitwan National Park in Nepal, and running sans clothes across the finish line at the Bare Buns Fun. Bart Yasso gives valuable and practical advice on how to become a runner for life and continually draw joy from the sport of running.

12:00 p.m.
Marshall Ulrich

Running on Empty - An ultra marathoner's story of love, loss, and a record-setting run across America
In 2008 at the age of 57, Marshall Ulrich ran acrossran across the United States, completing the mind-bending and body-breaking equivalent of 117 back-to-back marathons in 52.5 days, running an average of more than 400 miles a week. Marshall's Running on Empty speaking message and the metaphor of the run are universal, whether you're an athlete or not. It's about facing forward and taking the next step. It's about not flinching when the road gets rough or you miss a turn, and about finding another way when the bridge you planned to cross has collapsed. It's about goal setting and doing what you say you'll do and not letting anything or anyone stop your progress. Ultimately, it's about facing the toughest challenges, enduring crushing setbacks, accepting friendship and love, and finding fulfillment.

1:00 p.m.
Creigh Kelley
BKB Prouctions

Elite Athlete Presentation
A panel discussion led by Creigh Kelley will feature the IMT Des Moines Marathon & Half Marathon elite athlete field. Runablaze Iowa, an Iowa based elite distance running club will also be featured.

2:00 p.m.
Rebecca Meyer
NBC's Biggest Loser

Finding Your Run
Not everyone begins life as a natural athlete. Some runners are born, but others work to become runners. That's Rebecca Meyer. After struggling with her weight for most of her life, Rebecca, the $100,000 at-home winner on Season 8 of NBC's The Biggest Loser, "found her run." If you are an everyday athlete, or a novice runner, you'll be interested in hearing what Rebecca has to share about motivation, mechanics, and the mental vs. physical changes needed to transform yourself from a couch potato into a bona fide runner.

Veterans Memoral Auditorium | 833 5th Avenue | Des Moines, IA 50309