Two Washington residents are running the Heartland 50, a 50-mile race on gravel roads in Kansas today. Ben Stanton and Kierstan Peck are running the out and back race and have been preparing for months, including two 30-mile runs, one on the Kewash and one from Washington to Iowa City. Stanton says he runs not only because he enjoys it, but also because he feels it makes him a better person by keeping him fit and dedicated to achieving a goal. Peck states long runs are therapeutic, using the time to clear her mind. She predicts this run will take around 13 hours with a plan to alternate between jogging and walking.

The winner of last fall’s race did it in approximately 8 hours.