DES MOINES, Iowa (March 4, 2021) — Officials from the Drake Relays presented by Xtream powered by Mediacom and Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield announced the return of the Wellmark Set the Pace Challenge.  The challenge encourages Iowans to develop sustainable, healthy habits throughout 2021 — starting with participating in the virtual Grand Blue Mile presented by Wellmark that runs April 17 through 25 to coincide with the 111th running of the Drake Relays presented by Xtream. 
 
As part of the challenge, the community in Iowa with the highest percentage of its residents participating in the virtual Grand Blue Mile — measured by the number of registrants for a given ZIP code against its total population — will be awarded $10,000 to use on a project that promotes safe, inclusive and accessible places in which to be active, such as a park, playground or trail.
 
"At a time when improving our personal and collective well-being is so important, we're hopeful the return of this challenge can serve as a springboard for Iowans to prioritize their fitness," said Chris Verlengia, Wellmark's senior brand marketing manager and Grand Blue Mile co-race director. "Wellmark is passionate about promoting community health and this award provides a great incentive for residents to rally around in making a positive difference for Iowa. The benefits are two-fold: participants will be engaging in a fun, physical activity, all while making a concerted effort to better their communities."
 
"Drake Relays presented by Xtream is proud to support Wellmark in their continuing initiative to prioritize the health and well-being of all Iowans," said Blake Boldon, Franklin P. Johnson Director of the Drake Relays. "With the Grand Blue Mile being virtual only this year, it presents the opportunity for every community across Iowa to be involved in the Set the Pace Challenge. We're excited to see how communities of all sizes come together to run their very own Grand Blue Mile in their hometowns."
 
Previous winners of Wellmark's Set the Pace Challenge include Urbandale, Lohrville and Odebolt. These communities successfully rallied their residents to take the top prize — each investing the award in projects that improved their built environment and encouraged physical activity. Additional information and resources, including past project videos and a digital toolkit for communities are available here.
 
Register today
Registration for the 2021 virtual Grand Blue Mile presented by Wellmark is now open at grandbluemile.com. For just $10 each, participants receive a 2021 Grand Blue Mile event shirt and race bib shipped directly to their door. As part of Wellmark's commitment to improving the health of Iowans, all proceeds benefit Iowa Kidstrong youth fitness programs and support student participation in the annual Drake Relays.
 
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About the Grand Blue Mile
Grand Blue Mile, a Drake Relays event, is an annual one-mile fitness run/walk presented by Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield to engage individuals at all stages of fitness, encourage healthy habits and celebrate personal achievement. The annual wellness event, established in 2010, includes recreational, competitive and invitational events featuring a field of elite male and female track and field athletes from around the world. Proceeds from the event benefit Iowa Kidstrong, Inc., an organization dedicated to promoting healthy, active lifestyles among youth. For more information, visit grandbluemile.com.
About the Drake Relays
The Drake Relays presented by Xtream powered by Mediacom has served as "America's Athletic Classic" since its first running in 1910. The annual competition, hosted by Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, is recognized internationally as a destination for the world's premier track & field athletes across multiple professional and amateur divisions. In 2020, the Drake Relays was named a Silver Level event on the World Athletics Continental Tour, one of only two meets in the United States to earn Silver Level status. In addition to its signature stadium competition, the Drake Relays includes two marquee road running events open to the general public — the Grand Blue Mile presented by Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield and the Drake Road Races. For more information, visit drakerelays.org.
About Wellmark
Wellmark, Inc. (Wellmark.com) does business as Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Iowa. Wellmark and its subsidiaries and affiliated companies, including Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield of South Dakota and Wellmark Health Plan of Iowa, Inc., insure or pay health benefit claims for more than 2 million members in Iowa and South Dakota. Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Iowa, Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield of South Dakota, and Wellmark Health Plan of Iowa, Inc. are independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.