Half Marathon
Experience the IMT Des Moines Marathon on Sunday, October 21, 2012. Register Now!
The IMT Des Moines Half 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
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Packet Pick Up
All registered athletes will complete the race registration process by attending the Scheels Sports & Fitness Expo on Friday, October 19, from 3:00 - 8:00 p.m. or Saturday, October 20, from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Make sure you don't leave the Scheels Sports & Fitness Expo without your race number/bib, Sportag timing device, athlete packet, and race shirt. Please note that athlete registration and/or athlete packet pick up is NOT offered on race day.
Veterans Memorial Auditorium | 833 5th Avenue | Des Moines, IA 50309
Course Highlights
The IMT Des Moines Half Marathon course showcases a rejuvenated downtown and lush city parks. The route features a start line at Nollen Plaza with a view of the Iowa Capitol. The first few miles will keep runners and walkers in a pack through the East Village, Court Avenue, and Western Gateway districts of downtown Des Moines. View the course map.
   
Half Marathon Half Marathon Half Marathon Half Marathon Start Mile 1 Mile 2 Mile 3
The IMT Des Moines Half Marathon course splits from the IMT Des Moines Marathon course just before Mile 3 at Grand Avenue and Fleur Drive and will turn left onto the Fleur Drive underpass.
Half Marathon Half Marathon Half Marathon Half Marathon
Mile 4 Mile 5 Mile 6 Mile 7
The IMT Des Moines Marathon Half Marathon course enters Water Works Park just before mile 4 and follows the park road for the next 5 miles of race until Gray's Lake Park. The autumn colors and wooded backdrops allow you to really find yourself mentally and physically in this portion of the race.
Once a loop around Gray's Lake Park is complete, the IMT Des Moines Marathon Half Marathon course returns to the downtown Des Moines area for the final mile stretch along Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway before turning north up 3rd Street for the finish at Nollen Plaza.
Half Marathon Half Marathon Half Marathon Half Marathon
Mile 8 Mile 9 Mile 10 Mile 11
 
Half Marathon Half Marathon
Turn Out and Back Mile 12
Parking
There are a variety of parking options in downtown Des Moines. You do not have to put money in the parking meters on the street after 6:00 p.m. on Friday, or at any time on Saturday or Sunday.
We invite you to take advantage of parking at many of the downtown parking ramps on Saturday and Sunday. City of Des Moines parking ramps are located at 4th Street/Grand Avenue, 5th Street/George Watson Powell Parkway, 5th Street/Locust Avenue, and 7th Street/Locust Avenue.
Do not attempt to park in the 3rd Street/Court Avenue parking ramp on race morning.
Parking is also available at Principal Park, home of the Iowa Cubs, six blocks south of Nollen Plaza.
Principal Park | One Line Drive | Des Moines, IA 50309
Please be respectful of No Parking signs in the downtown area, especially on race day. Chances are likely that the No Parking signs are posted on our behalf. Your vehicle will be towed.
Ride Share
Interested in ridesharing to the IMT Des Moines Marathon? Sign up here for an account and become members of a growing and dynamic community. It is free to join and PickupPals can track the number of rides they have given or taken, the number of km they have traveled via ride sharing and we can as an IMT Des Moines Marathon group keep track of the amount of emissions we have reduced as a result!"
StartThe IMT Des Moines Half Marathon starts in downtown Des Moines at Nollen Plaza and head east towards the Iowa State Capitol along Locust Street. Athletes will pass through the East Village and Court Avenue Districts while running on the downtown streets of Des Moines during the early miles of the race.
Start/Finish Line Map Course Information Course Maps
Push Rim athletes will line up in front of seeded elite athletes and the rest of the IMT Des Moines Marathon & Half Marathon and Bankers Trust Marathon Relay field. Please self select your starting point, or where you line up, at the start line based on your predicted finish time. A general rule of thumb to follow for first-timers is to let faster runners to the front followed by slower runners and then walkers to the back of the pack.
The IMT Des Moines Half Marathon will feature signage with minute per mile pace signs that can assist you in self selecting your start.
It is not always easy to determine who is a faster runner and who is a walker before the race has begun. Don't be afraid to ask an IMT Des Moines Marathon Race Committee member or a Running Room Pace Team Leader for assistance in determining where to line up at the start. You can also stop by the Race Information, Volunteers, or Lint Van Lines Baggage Claim booth located at the south end of Nollen Plaza along Walnut Street.
Bicycles, inline skates, roller skates, baby strollers, scooters, wheeled vehicles (except event registered wheelchairs), and dogs/pets are not allowed on the IMT Des Moines Marathon course.
Finish
The IMT Des Moines Half Marathon finishes back at Nollen Plaza. Athletes crossing the finish line will be greeted by key volunteers from the Mercy Medical Center First Aid Station. You will be assisted in the removal of the Sportag™ timing device from your shoe after crossing the finish line.
All finishers in the IMT Des Moines Marathon Half Marathon will receive a finisher medal.
MarathonFoto will be on hand to take post race photos. You can click here to be notified when your photos are available for purchase following the race.
Race To The ULTRA
Michelob ULTRA supports golf, running, and cycling events across the country, encouraging adults to "Live life to the ULTRA" by leading active lifestyles. The "Race To The ULTRA" extravaganza at the Post Race Party offers runners of legal age with ID the opportunity to sample a refreshing, ice cold ULTRA (while supplies last).
A superior low-carbohydrate light beer, Michelob ULTRA has 95 calories, 2.6g carbs, 0.6g protein and 0.0g fat per 12 oz. serving. Visit www.michelobultra.com for access to the Michelob ULTRA Pathfinder running application on Facebook. This application provides mapped running routes in more than 50 U.S. cities, allowing users to share routes, photos and experiences with friends.
Physical Therapy provided by Des Moines University
The Des Moines University Doctor of Physical Therapy Program is providing complimentary physical therapy services to facilitate recovery for athletes following the race. Third year Doctor of Physical Therapy students in conjunction with staff physical therapists from the University will be providing osteopathic treatments and physical therapy services to include stretching, soft tissue mobilization and release, ice massage, posture and flexibility screening, as well as individual stretching and strengthening advice.
Osteopathic Manual Treatment provided by Des Moines University
Des Moines University students will be providing free osteopathic manual treatments at the finish line. OMT treatments focus on reducing pain and encouraging the body to heal itself. By providing gentle manipulation to the body’s tissues, and aligning the skeleton and tissues to a balanced state, osteopathy reduces the amount of strain on the body and improves healing from exercise, trauma, and life’s daily stresses.
Look for the Des Moines University signs and tables underneath the Capital Square awnings.
Massage
Free race day massages will be available after crossing the finish line at Nollen Plaza from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Massage speeds recovery time by flushing wastes from muscles and stretching to improve mobility. Strokes are designed to flush toxins and stretching is done to aid in recovery and flexibility. Licensed therapists experienced in soft tissue work will tailor their techniques to the runner's needs. Sign in after the race for a 10-minute massage on a "first come-first served" basis. Sponsored by Personal Best Massage.
Acupuncture
The IMT Des Moines Marathon is the only midwest marathon to offer Acupuncture at the finish line! Race recovery begins the minute you cross the finish line. Des Moines Acupuncture Clinic Owner, Abby Miller is a Board Certified Licensed Acupuncturist who will provide contemporary integrative Acupuncture with an orthopedic approach. Don’t miss this opportunity to start your post race recovery. The speed at which you recover can be drastically improved by Acupuncture. Treatments will last between 1-3 minutes. Get more information about Acupuncture at www.DesMoinesAcupunctureWorks.com.
Post Race Party
Celebrate your accomplishment with family, friends and other athletes at the official post race party hosted by El Bait Shop from 2 to 5 p.m.
El Bait Shop has more than 107 beers on tap and features American made micro-brew beers. El Bait shop will offer a free taco bar for IMT Des Moines Marathon athletes on race day as well as free beer samples from the Iowa Brewers Association and Belgium Wheat Fat Tire.
El Bait Shop | 200 SW 2nd Street |Des Moines, IA 50309
   
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