“So where are you from?”
It’s an inevitable question when traveling, asked in hostels, during long-distance bus rides and of course over drinks at the local watering hole. Much of my late twenties was devoted to international travel and so this question came up a lot and my attempts to answer it were pretty varied.
Most often I’d say its close to Chicago. Sometimes I’d mention the Iowa caucus or that we were a very agricultural state. When all else failed, I’d say Ashton Kutcher was from our state. None of these answers were satisfying and on a drive home from work one day I realized why. I really didn’t know my own state.
Despite extended trips to Latin America I’d never truly lived anywhere else besides Iowa. I’d grown up in Cedar Rapids, moved to Adel (Tiger Pride!), gone to school in Iowa City and settled in Des Moines but I couldn’t say I really knew the state beyond that.
My experiences with western Iowa were driving on the interstate to Omaha or Colorado. Northern Iowa was trips to visit friends at University of Northern Iowa.
I didn’t know my own state. And I had to change that.
The idea that I hatched on, running a mile and drinking a beer in all of Iowa’s 99 counties, would combine three things that are important to me: exercise, travel and craft beer.
Since March 2008, I have run at least a mile every day, running through sprained ankles and blizzards, waking up early to run before catching a bus and more often than I’d like to admit running on a treadmill.
And craft beer, with it’s myriad styles and deep connections to local communities, is just a great way to hydrate post run.
Finally, I set a goal: I had to finish run at least a mile and drink a beer in every county before I turned 30. That gave me just under half a year.
So, on a 60 degree day in January I suggested to my sister Valerie to go for a run at Grey’s Lake and grab a beer at Confluence Brewing Company afterwards. I printed out a map of Iowa showing each county and began crossing them off as I went.
I researched places on interest in each county and went out on weekends or after work, daylight and weather permitting.
I explored an abandoned coal mining town once inhabited primarily by African American residents. I explored incredible state parks such as Maquoketa Cave, Wildcat’s Den and Backbone.
I talked with bewildered locals in main street bars and explored Iowa’ burgeoning craft beer scene in every corner of the state.
When I did this I was a graduate student working for a non-profit and I knew that my international travel opportunities would be limited. Finding so much that was so interesting, so beautiful and sometimes very quirky so close by really affirmed the joy of travel, no matter the budget.
Whether in Cusco or Keokuk, Bali or Burlington there is always something to explore, something to add wonder to the routine our daily lives. And sharing some of those local wonders with strangers on the other side of the planet is very rewarding.
Follow Run Drink Iowa on Instagram to watch the journey continue to unfold as Zach finds other craft beers in unique places around the state!