Paxton Bennett

Paxton is very active in the local running community and, having previously served on the Striders Board, is excited to join again. In his prior tenure on the Striders Board, he served as Treasurer and Loop the Lake Race Director.

He has also served as an assistant coach for the Roosevelt Cross Country team for many years.  In addition, he has served as a pacer in multiple half- and full-marathons.

Paxton enjoys competing in races from 800 meters to the marathon

Logan Egeland

Logan is completing his first term on the Striders Board and welcomes the challenge of a second.  During his time on the Striders Board, Logan has been active in sponsor outreach and recruitment.

Logan’s love of running began in 7th grade when he joined the track team, and it has continued ever since. He ran and coached cross country and track and field at Simpson College.

Now living in Waukee, Logan is always willing to drive to some of his favorite running spots, including Raccoon River Park, Center Trails, and the gravel roads around Booneville.

While his favorite races were on the college track, Logan believes his best running is still ahead. This year, he plans to run his first marathon at the Des Moines Marathon.

Vanessa Gray

Vanessa is completing her first term on the Capital Striders Board. During her time on the Striders Board, she is the author of the weekly newsletter, redesigned the new Capital Striders website, and leads the Iowa Trail Run Series.

She is a lifelong runner and a former Division I track and cross-country athlete at the University of Utah. Her favorite runs are early-morning trails, especially anything over 15 miles.

Her most embarrassing running moment involved her dog Chester, a fall, a bag of dog poop, and the unfortunate realization that she had unknowingly smeared it on her hands, arms, and face.

She enjoys the Capital Striders for their sense of community and genuine encouragement. Vanessa lives in Adel with her husband, two dogs (Chester and Olive), a cat (Willow), and fish (Walker's Aquarium).

Paul Grinvalds

Pail is completing his second term on the Striders Board and is looking forward to a third.  During his time on the board, he has served as Treasurer and Loop the Lake Race Director.

Paul started running track in 9th grade and has run fairly continuously since then. His first marathon was in Los Angeles in 1987, a bucket-list item. However, when he moved to Iowa, he fell in with some bad influences, people who ran marathons on a regular basis, and Paul went down the same dark road. He has now run over 100 marathons and isn’t done yet. While Paul has run more marathons than any other distance, his race range spans 50 meters to 50 miles.

Paul lives in West Des Moines and does most solo runs at Raccoon River but greatly prefers group runs. After two surgeries in the past six years that sidelined him for a few months, Paul didn’t really miss running. However, he did miss running with friends.

Paul has been involved with the Capital Striders for over 20 years and enjoys meeting runners of all ages and abilities, hearing their stories.

Jason Hahn 

Jason is completing his second term as a Striders Director and is pleased to stand for election a third time.  He has served as race director for the Sycamore 8 Trail Race for the last four years and as club President for the last three.

Jason has been a runner for as long as he can remember. What started with high school track and cross country, and a brief stint of collegiate running, evolved into a lifelong passion that’s taken him everywhere from the 200‑meter start line to ultramarathon trails. Over the years, he’s tackled races of all distances, including four Boston Marathons, always chasing the next challenge. Turning 50 didn’t slow him down; he celebrated the milestone the only way he knew how, by running 50 miles.

Some of Jason’s favorite miles have been spent with his loyal running buddy, Charlie the Golden Retriever, his constant companion and the undisputed champion of enthusiasm.

Today, Jason continues to lace up daily and remains an active part of the Des Moines running community. Whether chasing goals or simply enjoying the movement, running remains one of the threads that connect the chapters of his life.

Ty Kloft

Ty is a new candidate for the Striders Board. He is excited to support the Capital Striders by helping recruit and organize volunteers, ensuring events run smoothly, and everyone feels welcomed.

He looks forward to assisting with planning and leading training runs, as well as providing guidance, encouragement, and a positive experience for runners of all levels.

Ty is also eager to help with club races by supporting logistics, aid stations, and course management to ensure events are safe and enjoyable. By contributing to these areas, he hopes to strengthen the club’s programs and foster a vibrant, engaged running community.

 Over the past year as a Capital Striders member, he has become increasingly involved in the club by regularly attending social events and connecting with fellow runners. He also started participating in the Wednesday morning workouts, which have given him a great opportunity to engage with the community, learn from experienced runners, and contribute to a positive and supportive training environment. These experiences have deepened his connection to the club and inspired him to take a more active role in supporting its programs and events.

Ty is a physical therapist with over two years of professional experience and is passionate about helping people achieve their movement and fitness goals. He has been a runner since 7th grade and competed at the Division III collegiate level, giving me a lifelong perspective on training, discipline, and community in the sport.

Outside of running, he enjoys spending time outdoors, including fishing and exploring nature. Combining his professional background with my love of running and the outdoors, he is motivated to support others in reaching their personal fitness and movement goals while contributing to a positive, active community.

Sarah Kromminga

Sarah is standing for election to the Capital Striders Board for the first time. If elected, she hopes to support the club’s scholarship program and strengthen youth outreach, so it continues to reach deserving young runners.

She is also interested in expanding member engagement and community connection. Returning to the Saturday long runs last summer reminded her how welcoming and energizing the group is. Sarah hopes to help create more opportunities for members to connect, welcome newcomers, and ensure every runner feels they belong.

Through years of volunteering at races and water stops, Sarah has gained a strong understanding of what it takes to execute successful running events. She enjoys being part of the team that helps make these events possible.

Professionally, Sarah works as an insurance broker at Marsh McLennan Agency, where relationship-building is central to her work. She collaborates with a wide range of clients and partners and believes those skills translate well to supporting the Capital Striders community.

Sarah has been involved with Capital Striders since high school. Her father encouraged her and her sister to run with the group and get involved. She was also a recipient of a Capital Striders scholarship as a high school graduate.

After some time away, Sarah moved back to Iowa last summer and reconnected with the club. She now regularly attends the Saturday long runs and says returning to the group felt like coming home.

She has also worked at a running store, helping others get started in the sport, and has volunteered at many races and water stops.

Outside of work and running, she enjoys spending time with her husband and their two dogs, playing piano, reading, and practicing yoga.

Tim Schott

Tim is completing his first term as a Striders Director and is excited to serve a second. He believes that having a strong, welcoming running club in Des Moines is part of what makes a vibrant city, and he wants to do his part.  

During his first two years on the board, he has learned much from his fellow runners and gained perspective on what makes our club unique. Tim is the race director for To Grandmother's House We Go, serves on the Scholarship Committee, secured access to the Roosevelt track + assists with the weekly track workouts, supports the Saturday morning runs, and participates in volunteer work supporting other races.

Tim found running in high school a convenient excuse to avoid playing football, and has been hitting the streets, trails, and tracks ever since as a way to stay sane and socialize with like-minded folk.  

After raising three avid runner daughters, Tim's favorite runs are those spent with them, their friends, and now their children. His favorite recent races were half marathons done individually with each of his daughters. 

Capital Striders has been an immediate source of support for decades since moving to Des Moines, and continues to inspire through the ever-changing mix of older veterans and those brand new to the sport.  Tim appreciates Capital Striders as the established community-focused running group in the Metro and wants to help that continue for the next generations of runners.