Runner Completed 5,000th GPS Sketch in Iowa
Rik Zortman marked his milestone by mapping the name of a local Kid Captain through a 3.14-mile run.
Updated on Oct. 1, 2026 in Running
Runner Rik Zortman has reached a milestone of 5,000 GPS-mapped sketches after nine years of project work. His 5,000th run honored Iowa football Week 5 Kid Captain Eliana Gaul.
Why it matters
Zortman uses his GPS running project to maintain his mental acuity and commemorate his late son, Armstrong Zortman. The endeavor has taken him across 37 states and through every one of Iowa's 99 counties.
Zortman has completed 5,000 GPS sketches across 37 states, including at least one in every one of Iowa's 99 counties. His 5,000th commemorative run covered exactly 3.14 miles.
The players
Rik Zortman
He is an endurance runner who uses GPS tracking applications to create artistic sketches of names and words while traversing street grids.
Eliana Gaul
She is a 10-year-old athlete serving as the Iowa football Week 5 Kid Captain who has been diagnosed with spina bifida and epilepsy.
The details
To create the digital sketches, Zortman maps names and words by running along street grids and pausing his app to manually draw diagonal lines. The 10-year-old Kid Captain he featured, Eliana Gaul, has been diagnosed with spina bifida and epilepsy.
Timeline
2009: Armstrong Zortman died.
September 2026: Zortman reached his 5,000th sketch milestone.
October 3, 2026: Eliana Gaul serves as Kid Captain against Ohio State.
Season Trajectory
This tribute highlights the personal stories often elevated by the Iowa football Kid Captain program. The program serves as a central fixture of the state's football season, connecting the team with young fans facing significant health challenges.
The 3.14-mile route serves as a practical example of how GPS mapping can transform standard training runs into creative endeavors. Readers may note that Eliana Gaul will be featured during the upcoming Iowa versus Ohio State game.
The takeaway
Zortman's project illustrates how personal grief can be channeled into long-term fitness goals and community-focused art. Setting a specific, incremental target can help maintain motivation over multi-year endurance pursuits.
Further reading
For more on endurance events in the state, visit Running.
Source note: This article includes information reported by KGAN.
