Course

Experience the IMT Des Moines Marathon on Sunday, October 21, 2012. Register Now!

The IMT Des Moines Marathon starts at 8 a.m.

The race starts and finishes at Nollen Plaza | 400 Locust Street | Des Moines, IA 50309

Race Day Street Closures Combined Course Map Race Day Information

Have a comment or question? You may want to visit our Frequently Asked Questions page first. Please feel free to Contact Us if you are not finding the specific event information that you are looking for.

Course Protection

The IMT Des Moines Marathon offers all athletes a closed course on race day. The City of Des Moines has placed No Parking signs and barricades/traffic cones at key intersections along the course to ensure that you will always have the right of way. Escort services are provided for the first and last athlete in each race. Your safety on the course is a top priority to race officials.

The City of Des Moines Police Department and IMT Des Moines Marathon course marshals are stationed at key points, mile markers and aid stations, while race in progress signs are posted to assist you in staying on course. Ultimately as a participant in the race, it is your responsibility to know the course.

Time Limit
The IMT Des Moines Marathon course is open for 7 hours. This allows for a 16 minute per mile pace for the Marathon. Race day services such as course marshals, aid stations, bike support and entertainment have been asked to prepare for a 7 hour day. They have been asked to provide as much support for the last walker as the first elite runner that passes by on the course.

If you are unable to keep a 16 minute per mile pace on the Marathon course, we encourage you to consider participating in the Half Marathon. If on race day you are unable to maintain a 16 minute per mile pace, and would like to finish the race, we encourage you to do so. You will not be removed from the course. However, it is very important that you understand that volunteer services along the course may not still be in place.

You are encouraged to carry a course map with you if you are concerned about maintaining a 16 minute per mile pace. The last 8 miles of the Marathon course take place on paved park roads and trails. The IMT Des Moines Marathon will not pack up and leave you. Members of the Mercy Medical Center first aid stations and sag wagons along with the Bike Iowa support team will remain on the course until every athlete crosses the finish line, receives a finisher medal, official time and post race nourishment.

Marathon Pace Chart - Median Finish Time Marathon Pace Chart - Course Limit

Headphones
USATF Rule 144.3(b) prohibits the use of technical devices in USATF sanctioned races. i-Pods, Walkman's and other earpiece music players fall within the guidelines of Rule 144.3(b).

Rule 144.3(b) applies to sanctioned track and field events and is intended to serve as a guideline for road races. The ruling is being enforced by some road races. We encourage you to educate yourself about the safety hazards associated with the use of music devices while running and whether or not a race that you are interested in participating in allows headphones.

The IMT Des Moines Marathon is a USTAF certified course and USATF sanctioned race. The IMT Des Moines Marathon does adhere to the Rules of Competition as laid out by USATF and will not allow anyone racing (elite athletes) with the intent to win cash or overall awards to wear headphones.

You will not be disqualified or removed from the course for using a personal music device.

Please be extra cautious and mindful of the volume of your music and your presence on the course as it relates to athletes and spectators around you.

Hydration
Aid Stations are available at least every 2 miles along the course. Each aid station will be stocked with Crystal Clear Bottled Water and Endurance Formula Gatorade. Some of the aid stations along the course will have additional items such as oranges, pretzels, tissues and vaseline.

Many of the aid stations are staffed with employees from race sponsors and nonprofit organizations. Please be courteous of their time and efforts to ensure you have the best possible race experience.

Please be good to our neighbors along the course. Try to be mindful of litter and place your waste in appropriate trash containers along the course and at each aid station. Check your parking area after the race for litter as well. Recycle or reuse your plastic bottles when possible.

First Aid
If you need medical assistance for any reason while on the course, we ask that you try to make it to the nearest aid station. If this is not possible, please stop where you are at on the course and a course marshal or member of the Bike Iowa support team will come to you. They will alert Mercy Medical Center First Aid volunteers who will drive you back to Nollen Plaza if you wish to discontinue with the race.

Mercy Medical Center First Aid Stations will be located at Nollen Plaza for use during start/finish line activities, Mile 12 on the Marathon course, Mile 20/7 in Water Works Park, Mile 23/10 in Gray's Lake Park and Mile 25/12 on West Martin Luther King JR Parkway.

A Mercy Medical First Aid volunteer will also monitor your progress on the Bill Riley Bike Trail and on the Meredith Trail elevation rise, just before the George Washington Carver Bridge on West Martin Luther King JR Parkway.