What is Race America's purpose?
The purpose of the race is to generate funds for the construction of a Community Wellness / Fitness Centre which will serve a number of towns and communities in Northeast Iowa. The Center will offer a variety of activities and facilities for residents of all ages, from the youngest preschooler to our eldest senior citizen.

Is Race America a non-profit venture?
Absolutely. All qualifying donations to/for Race America receive 501c3 tax credit status.

Who will be taking part in Race America?
The runners who will be participating in Race America are not superstar athletes... they're just run-of-the-mill American kids. Just like the kids next door in any rural neighborhood, with one exception: they are kids who are willing to put forth an extraordinary effort to reach a worthwhile goal for their school and community. Some are second year runners and some first time participants.
The runners, however, are certainly not the only ones who have been involved in bringing Race America about. Scores of local residents have volunteered time, money, materials and expertise in a community wide effort to make Race America happen.
Many from our community and others nationwide are thoroughly behind Race America and very excited about the possibilities. In fact, entire families have thrown themselves headlong into the project. Some have incorporated Race America into their vacation plans to allow everyone to be part of something they believe in so strongly.

What about Race America itself?
This race is a relay.  There will be one runner running at a time with a lighted escort vehicle along side at all times. Over twenty runners will go through the initial training process to prepare for the race, ultimately logging between 10,000 and 12,000 miles of road work.. They will be wearing sunburst yellow uniforms and illuminite clothing at night. To further insure their safety, lighted vehicles will accompany the runners during the entire race. The race will be run with high school runners and Valley Community School cross country coach Lowell Lyngaas. Other adults drive and chaperone the trip. The runners are expected to average around seven miles per hour.  The total distance of the race will change each year, averaging 2000 miles per year.  The race continues 24hrs. per day.
The runners will be monitored throughout the race for food and fluid intake. A number of communities along the route have also expressed an interest in having local runners accompany Race America participants during part of their journey.
The Race America route has been thought out well and driven in advance. Local authorities and police departments have been contacted and have been enthusiastic in their support. Race organizers have received many helpful ideas and invite continued input as the project unfolds.

What about the Community Wellness / Fitness Centre?
The main purpose of Race America may be to generate funds for construction of a Community Wellness / Fitness Centre, but the race is also designed to promote the beauty and tranquility of Northeast Iowa and to encourage physical fitness as a whole.
The Centre itself will be a place for everyone, providing facilities and equipment for all who wish to use it, students and area residents alike. Initial plans include space for aerobics and health classes, an indoor track, weight training equipment and aerobics machines. there will also be space provided for classes and meetings. The number and types of equipment and overall size of the facility will be directly proportional to the funds Race America generates.
That is perhaps the most unique feature of the Race America concept. Only after the final tally of all funds generated, will the construction of the Community Wellness Centre begin. No tax dollars will be required and no other sources of funding will be sought at the conclusion of Race America. That means the Wellness / Fitness Centre will begin operation with no debt.
Money generated by Race America will go directly toward the construction and promotion of the Centre. When coupled with the fact that pledges for labor, material and equipment from area residents and businesses have already begun to pour in, race organizers are certain that each dollar will be stretched to its fullest capacity.
The scope and size of the Wellness Centre will change only in accordance with the amount actually generated by Race America. Therefore, construction plans call for the structure to be modular in nature, allowing the building to be expandable.... but only as the money for any proposed expansion becomes available.

Race America's premise has always been that:
The Wellness / Fitness Centre is meant to be a gift to Northeast Iowa.…..not a burden.


Is there educational value in the Race America concept?
There are learning experiences to be found at every level of Race America! The entire community, from top to bottom, will be thoroughly involved, gaining wide-ranging experience as Race America participants traverse the country year after year.

Adults     

Since it is designed to benefit the entire community, Race America organizers have gone to great lengths to involve as many community members as possible. And since nearly everyone involved with Race America is just "plain folk", we continue to learn valuable lessons every day.
    Local high school coaches, sponsors, business people, health practitioners, rehabilitation experts and parents were asked to help design the facility, offering suggestions on how to best serve their students, athletes and community members in general.
    Local builders and  contractors were asked to aid in planning the complex. Many community members helped  with organizing the actual Race America route, contacting local authorities in towns from start to finish. Another committee concentrated on finding sources of funding, both locally and from the world at large. A media committee will coordinate publicity and public relations. There's even a Float Committee, involving area students of all ages, working to create and appear on floats, which will be entered in various parades to help publicize Race America.

Elementary Students

Elementary teachers will incorporate the Race America route into their curriculum in a variety of ways. Students will follow the runners' progress on large maps, putting stick pins into a new location on the map each day. That will allow students to calculate the number of  miles runners have covered, teaching math and computation skills. And as Race America  passes through each new part of the country, students will study that area's history, geography, and agriculture.
         Students will also be learning valuable communication skills, since they will be establishing "pen pal" relationships with other elementary school children from various schools along the Race America route through the raceamerica.org website. Students will have fun and learn many valuable lessons during the course of Race America, and may even forge some lifelong friendships in the process.

High School Students

Valley high school students will also gain a great deal from the experience, even if they aren't directly involved in running the race. They can get involved and learn through social studies classes, science classes, communications classes, math classes, etc. The list of possibilities for class involvement is endless.
Graphic design, desktop publishing, journalism and computer classes have also been involved, preparing press releases and promotional materials, and helping update this internet site to provide the most current information to interested people from around the world, before, during and after the race.

How can your organization, group, family, class, church, team, ..............etc. help?
Race America is meant to be an inspiration to communities across the country, especially rural communities. We want to show what a group of individuals can do when they gather together in support of a worthwhile venture. We hope to become an example to the entire world, showing that even rural farm communities can accomplish great things if citizens will put their heads and hearts into the pursuit of a dream and then work hard to make it come about.

In the end, that's really the bottom line: Race America is a quest.

It is a quest by a rural community to realize a dream. We will happily accept whatever help you or your organization may offer in pursuit of this quest. We're hoping you'll offer your ideas and suggestions ... we promise to listen.

 

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