Des Moines is Known For More Than the Hy-Vee Triathlon

I was in Des Moines to visit my parents recently.  There is a sculpture garden in downtown Des Moines that I have been wanting to visit.  Pappajohn Sculpture Garden page here. 

This allowed me a convenient opportunity to spend some time with "The Fergus."  He was probably a little sore from running Chicago, but he was still up for a little clowning around.

A sculpture garden is a great way to find some quiet time and feed your soul.  

This horse sculpture is one of two in this exhibit.  It looks like wood but it is really made of bronze.  There is one like it in front of the art museum in Chattanooga.

A view looking up.

The Fergus in front of Snowmen.

This sculpture is the shape of a kneeling person.  It is made up of letters that remind me of the graphics in The Matrix.

A view from inside.

Standing inside I felt really powerful.

Des Moines is known for something else powerful.  The Hy-Vee Triathlon is a one-of-a-kind race.  For the last three years it has been the only domestic ITU World Cup race.  In 2008 it hosted the Olympic Trials.  And on the amatuer side, it has a huge citizens race.  The community of Des Moines and the Hy-Vee Food Stores Corporation really get behind this event, and truly make it a focus of the community.  In fact, I have never seen a triathlon with this much community awareness.  It is similar to when a Rock 'n' Roll Marathon is hosted in a city.

September 4, 2011
5150 Age Group Race
5150 Age Group World Championship
5150 Elite World Championship

The only race that could compare to the organization of the Hy-Vee Triathlon is the Ironman corporation(WTC.)  Iron-ically, the WTC has rolled out it's nationwide 5150 series, and Hy-Vee is affiliated.  Check out the race website, and don't forget to visit the Pappajohn Sculpture Garden when you visit.