12/31/2024
A little sentimental journey……
I’ve lived in and around Ida Grove, IA most of my life and have spent a lot of time at Moorehead Park. Started as a young child. I remember when you could drive the double track as they were dirt roads and you could actually drive your car back in the timbers. First with my mom as a young child and advancing to a teenager on beer runs. 🤪 As the years passed and the park progressed those roads were shut down and were made accessible by foot. Slowly single track trails were added connecting deer tracks with walking trails. Eventually a mountain bike group started adding to and grooming single tracks that make up a majority of our trails to this day. I didn’t actually discover all the park had to offer until 2002. I quit smoking and decided to get in shape by walking/running. My brother, who lived in Oregon believe it or not, introduced me to the trails in my own backyard. And so the journey began. I was in awe with what we had and the fact that 99% of our community didn’t even know it existed. I had my own private trails available to me whenever my heart desired. Through the years I tried to introduce the trails to the community by hosting a 1k/5k/10k event. 1/5/10 mile event. Unfortunately it ended up being a lot of work for me with very few runners. One year it was me and three of my friends that felt obligated to come 🤪.
I joined the conversation foundation in 2015 and suggested we host a marathon on our trails as a fund raiser to introduce our wonderful trail system to a wider audience. Well, that went over like a lead balloon. 🫤 so I suggested I do it on my own and turn the proceeds over to the foundation, I raised $2500 that first event. My dream became reality. Needless to say they jumped on the boat the next year. This has definitely been a labor of love for me. Who knew we’d attract runners from all over the United States 🙃
2025 will mark our 10th year anniversary for the running of The Moorehead Park Trail Mazathon. In 2017 we introduced an ultra event to coincide with the Mazathon and The Trail of the Dragon was added and embraced by many of you. I had no idea I’d be carrying on with this at the ripe old age of 65 but here we are…..
We hope to make our 10th anniversary a memorable one. Thanks to all of you who have joined us in the past and a warm welcome to those who will join us for the first time in 2025.
Happy Trails to you,
Sue Knop RD
