Half Marathon

Course Maps
IMT Des Moines Marathon - Half Marathon Course Description 

IMT Des Moines Marathon - Half Marathon Course Map (may take a moment to download)

IMT Des Moines Marathon - Half Marathon Combined Course Map (may take a moment to download)

IMT Des Moines Marathon - Half Marathon USATF Course Certification Map
USATF Certification - IA07010 MF     USATF Sanction - 0740027 

Course presentations will be offered race weekend at the Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield Sports & Fitness Expo.  Visit the Mizuno Speaker Series page for times and details.

Course Highlights
The IMT Des Moines Marathon - Half Marathon 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.  It may be difficult to establish a race pace in the early miles of the race.

                             
Half Marathon                Half Marathon                Half Marathon                Half Marathon Start                            Mile 1                          Mile 2                           Mile 3

The Half Marathon splits from the 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 Marahton
Mile 4                           Mile 5                           Mile 6                           Mile 7

The Half Marathon enters Water Works Park just before mile 4 and follows the park road for the next 5 miles of race until the race enters 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 is complete, the Marathon returns to the downtown area for the final stretch along Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway before turning up 3rd Street to 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

Course presentations will be offered at the Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield Sports & Fitness Expo.  Visit the Speaker Series page for times and details.

Frequently Asked Questions         

Tips For First Timers        

Race Day Information

Any athlete who wishes to use their own pacer must have the pacer register for the race.  If a personal pacer does not have a race number/bib or a Sportag™ timing device, they will be removed from the course by race officials and you may face disqualification from the race. 

Pacers for the Van Meter Industrial Pace Team are provided for the Half Marathon from the 1:30 hour to 2:30 hour mark.  IMT Des Moines Marathon pace times mirror Boston Marathon qualifying times.

Van Meter Industrial - Half Marathon Pace Team Bios

Van Meter Industrial Pace Team - Frequently Asked Questions

Contact Us for more information on the Van Meter Industrial Pace Team or to volunteer as a pacer.

---

Awards

Overall awards and cash prizes are offered to the top three male and female finishers and top male and female Master's finishers in the Half Marathon.  The IMT Des Moines Marathon does not duplicate or ‘double-dip’ cash or trophy awards.

Age division awards are offered to the top three male and female finishers in each of the following age groups: 14 and under, 15-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75-79 and 80 and over.

The awards ceremony will take place at Nollen Plaza at 11:30 a.m. 

Overall and age division awards will be mailed out after race results are official and at least two to four weeks following the race.   
  
Course Records         

Prize Money 

Elite Athlete Information     

---

Registration

Sports & Fitness Expo
You may register for any of the IMT Des Moines Marathon races at the Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield Sports & Fitness Expo on Friday from 3 - 8 p.m. or Saturday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. 

Polk County Convention Complex
730 3rd Street
Des Moines, IA 50309 

Please note that athlete registration and/or athlete packet pick up is NOT offered on race day.

Packet Pick Up
Athlete packet pick up will also take place at the Wellmark Blue Cross & Blue Shield Sports & Fitness Expo.  Your athlete packet includes your race number/bib, last minute race updates, sponsor product samples & information and your IPICO timing device (Sportag™).

You are requested to pick up your OWN athlete packet to complete your registration process.  You will also need to verify the information stored in your personal IPICO Sportag™.  The End Result will activate your IPICO Sportag™ timing device to complete the registration process. 

Once your registration is complete, you will be able to pick up your race shirt and souvenir guide.  Please take time to relax before the big race on Sunday by enjoying the festivities at the Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield Sports & Fitness Expo.

Parking
There are a variety of free 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 free 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 ride sharing 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!"