History of Penny’s Pieathlon
We have all lost family and friends to cancer. Penny Milburn created an event to raise awareness and fight Cancer.
The world’s first Pieathlon was hosted in Adel, Iowa in June of 2007. Similar to a mini triathlon but with pie instead of swimming. Participants chose between a 5K or 10K run and/or a 10, 20 or 30 mile bike ride. A less strenuous option was literally a 1 mile walk in the park, Adel’s Kinnick City Park. There were no official times, or qualifications but everyone got a slice of home made pie.
People from Iowa and surrounding states had fun and raised money to fight cancer. Mercy Cancer Center and John Stoddard Cancer Center each got $780, nearly $2,000 was raised for the Lance Armstrong Foundation and $1,138 was used for Ovarian Cancer Research in Des Moines.
Adel City Manager Chad Bird and the folks in Adel thought we said Tri instead of Pieathlon and offered the city pool so in 2008 we added swimming events. Still no stop watches, this event combines pie, food and drinks with outdoor activities somewhat like Ragbrai but much shorter in time and distance. The purpose was to have fun, promote healthy activities, the Raccoon River Valley Trail, and raise money to fight cancer, support the Lance Armstrong Foundation, Cancer research, Mercy Cancer Center and John Stoddard Cancer Center, and local hospitals across Iowa.
Penny’s Pieathlon returned to Adel in 2009. A month before the big ride across Iowa, the Pieathlon was a great training day or a “taste of Ragbrai” for those that didn’t want to spend that much time on a bike. Runners did a 5 or 10K run and bike too if they want. Swimmers choose a number of laps in the pool while non-athletes and others covered the one mile walk in the park. Of course, everyone could eat pie!
Penny’s Pieathlon moved to Waukee in 2010 and was hosted by the Waukee Family Y. A health fair was added and helped boost participation. Proceeds continued support of LIVESTRONG and 3/4 of the funds going to local beneficiaries; John Stoddard Cancer Center, Mercy Cancer Center and the YMCA for cancer related programs.
The most common request from participants was for a “triathlon” and to have times recorded so a sprint Tri was added for the May 14th, 2011 event. Other events include individual run, walk or bike rides, Health Expo and, of course, pie!