Speaker Series

The Scheels Sports Speaker Series coincides with the Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield Sports & Fitness Expo on Friday, October 15 from 3 to 8 p.m. and Saturday, October 16 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Scheels Speaker Series sessions will be offered each day at the Polk County Convention Complex.

Athletes registered for any of the IMT Des Moines Marathon races are welcome to attend the Scheels Speaker Series sessions, which are free and also open to the public.

Scheels 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.

Have a comment or question? You may want to visit our Frequently Asked Questions page first. Please feel free to Contact Us if you are not finding the specific event information that you are looking for.

Speaker Series Schedule

Friday, October 15
3:00 p.m.
Creigh Kelley
IMT Des Moines Marathon opening remarks

3:15 p.m.
Chris Burch
Director of Racing and Events for the IMT Des Moines Marathon
IMT Des Moines Marathon – Course Presentation

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 2010 IMT Des Moines Marathon & Half Marathon course and the new Principal Financial Group 5K Road Race course. He will also provide on overview of the transition areas for the Bankers Trust Marathon Relay.

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 p.m.
Joani Matalone
American Cancer Society
Determination

5 p.m.
Dr. Luke Ballenger
Ballenger Chiropractic and Acupuncture, PLLC

Acupuncture - what exactly is it? Find out and learn about the amazing benefits it can have pertaining to the most common running injuries such plantar fascitis, runner's knee and ITB Syndrome. Discover how acupuncture can help alleviate fatigue, lack of energy, sore muscles, joint pain and even exhaustion.
Dr. Luke Ballenger is a native of Pella, Iowa and a graduate of one of the most elite chiropractic schools in the nation, Logan College of Chiropractic in St. Louis, Missouri. As a four-sport athlete, Dr. Ballenger obtained many injuries throughout his athletic career. After experiencing the power of chiropractic to treat his athletic injuries, he decided to pursue chiropractic as a career.

6 p.m.
Tim Vander Wilt MSPT
Mercy Clinics – Ankeny
Runner’s Injuries – Prevention and Rehabilitation

This session will identify factors that runners can avoid to prevent injury as well as proper strategies incorporated to keep the endurance runner going when injuries occur. Proper flexibility, stabilization, and basic acute care topics will be covered.

Tim is the Supervisor of Physical Therapy at Mercy Clinics – North in Ankeny. He knows runners because he is one. The popular and successful “Runner’s Evaluation Program” presented by the Mercy Clinics – North staff has kept the running community in Ankeny on their feet and ready to go!!! Come here what Tim has to see to keep you at your best!!!

7 p.m.
Scheels

Saturday, October 16
10:00 a.m.
Creigh Kelley
IMT Des Moines Marathon welcoming remarks

10:15 a.m.
Chris Burch
Director of Racing and Events for the IMT Des Moines Marathon
IMT Des Moines Marathon – Course Presentation

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 2010 IMT Des Moines Marathon & Half Marathon course and the new Principal Financial Group 5K Road Race course. He will also provide on overview of the transition areas for the Bankers Trust Marathon Relay.

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 a.m.
Jennifer DeWall RD, CSSD, LD
Sports Dietitian - Iowa Department of Public Health
Top Foods to Fuel You to the Finish Line

How you fuel your body in the 24 hours before and after a race is critical to your success. Find out what foods are best to eat leading up to the race and which foods are best for post race recovery.

12 p.m.
Kirk Neustrom, DPM
Metro Foot and Ankle
Running Injuries, Barefoot, Fitness Shoes, Black Toe Nails & More

Kirk Neustrom is the finish line medical tent director for the IMT Des Moines Marathon. He also serves as medical director for Dam to Dam and has worked the medical tent at a variety of Ironman competitions. Kirk will address many of the questions he typically receives from runners including the latest in running topics such as running barefoot, shoes 'designed' to tone you faster, why your toe nails turn black etc. You know...all of the questions you've been afraid to ask.

1 p.m.
IMT Des Moines Marathon Elite Athlete Presentation
Emceed by Creigh Kelley

A panel discussion led by Creigh Kelley will feature the IMT Des Moines Marathon & Half Marathon elite athlete field including members from Runablaze Iowa, an Iowa based elite distance running club.
Tim Ives - Runablaze Iowa

2 p.m.
Chris Burch
Director of Racing and Events for the IMT Des Moines Marathon
IMT Des Moines Marathon – Course Presentation

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 2010 IMT Des Moines Marathon & Half Marathon course and the new Principal Financial Group 5K Road Race course. He will also provide on overview of the transition areas for the Bankers Trust Marathon Relay.

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.

3 p.m.
Scheels

4 p.m.
Running America
On September 13, 2008 Running the Sahara's Charlie Engle teamed up with Ultra-Marathoner Marshall Ulrich for his next expedition to press the human physical and mental strengths to their limits. This time the challenge was 3,063 miles in 45 days, starting in San Francisco and running to Times Square in New York. To accomplish this record breaking milestone, the runners would have to average close to SEVENTY miles each day.

Within the first steps of the journey, the story set out to be captured had changed. The country beneath Charlie and Marshall began to change. This expedition delivered breathtaking running footage across the distinctive portraits of the U.S. landscape. It delivered Charlie and Marshall, two superhuman icons, experiencing humanizing emotions that can be related to by the experienced and novice running enthusiast. Running America captures one of the most defining and difficult years in American history as the platform and backdrop for an amazing and unpredictable expedition.

Purchase Tickets
Running America will be shown in Des Moines at the Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield Sports & Fitness Expo in conjunction with the Asics Pasta Dinner. The film will begin at 4 p.m. followed by the Asics Pasta Dinner a 6 p.m.

You can purchase a ticket to Running America with an introduction to the film and meet and greet with Marshall Ulrich for $10 or you can purchase a ticket to Running America and a ticket to the Asics Pasta Dinner for $23.

Tickets for the Asics Pasta Dinner are $15 for adults and $8 for children. You are encouraged to buy your tickets in advance, as the dinner typically sells out. Purchase Tickets Now!

Polk County Convention Complex | 501 Grand Avenue | Des Moines, IA 50309

Sports & Fitness Expo Schedule

Friday, October 15
Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield Sports & Fitness Expo
3 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Scheels Speaker Series
3 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Saturday, October 16
Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield Sports & Fitness Expo
10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Scheels Speaker Series
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Running America
4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Asics Pasta Dinner
6 p.m. to 8 p.m.