Marathon

Experience the IMT Des Moines Marathon on Sunday, October 17, 2010.  Register Now!

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

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

Des Moines Street Closings on race day.

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

dmm marathon map3 2009

Course Maps
IMT Des Moines Marathon Course Description 

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

IMT Des Moines Marathon Combined Courses Map (may take a moment to download)

IMT Des Moines Marathon USATF Course Certification Map 
USATF Certification - IA07009-MF     USATF Sanction - 0740027 

dmm elevation chart

Course Highlights
The IMT Des Moines Marathon showcases a rejuvenated downtown, quaint neighborhoods 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.

mile 1          half mile 2          half mile 3          marathon mile 3
Marathon                      Marathon                      Marathon                      Marathon Start                            Mile 1                          Mile 2                           Mile 3
  
The Marathon splits from the Half Marathon course just before Mile 3 at Grand Avenue and Fleur Drive and will continue west along Grand Avenue.

A steady 100 foot elevation rise will introduce the 'hills portion' of this course to you between Mile 3 and 4.  Elevation rises and declines over the next 4 miles can and will challenge you in the early stages of the race.  Athletes have previously referred to this area of the course as having more than 'rolling hills' and 'the early hills taxing them at later miles in the race'. 

Do not let what you think you know about Des Moines fool you.  We encourage you to incorporate some sort of hills training, at least once a week, into your marathon training program for this race.

dmm marathon mile 4          dmm marathon mile 5          marathon mile 6          marathon mile 7
Marathon Mile 4             Marathon Mile 5              Marathon Mile 6             Marathon Mile 7
Elevation 937 feet          Elevation 928 feet          Elevation 880 feet          Elevation 879 feet

The Marathon does flatten out at Mile 8 and for the remainder of the race.  Spectators will cheer you on through the Waterbury, North Ingersoll and Drake Neighborhood Associations.  A true highlight for many athletes is a loop around the historic Jim Duncan Track at Drake University. 

marathon mile 8          marathon mile 9          marathon mile 10          marathon mile 11 
Marathon Mile 8             Marathon Mile 9              Marathon Mile 10            Marathon Mile 11
Elevation 953 feet          Elevation 969 feet          Elevation 961 feet           Elevation 957 feet

marathon mile 12          marathon 13          marathon mile 14          marathon mile 15
Marthon Mile12              Marathon Mile 13            Marathon Mile 14            Marathon Mile 15
Elevation 913 feet          Elevation 960 feet          Eleveation 962 feet         Elevation 942 feet

After completing 12 miles through scenic neighborhood districts, the Marathon offers 12 miles on paved park trails in Greenwood Park, Water Works Park and 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.  Previous participants have referred to this section of the course as the true test of the marathon distance.

mile 16          mile 17          mile 18          mile 19
Marathon Mile 16            Marathon Mile 17            Marathon Mile 18            Marathon Mile 19
Elevation 904 feet          Elevation 810 feet           Elevation 798 feet          Elevation 792 feet

mile 20          mile 21          mile 22          mile 23
Marathon Mile 20            Marathon Mile 21            Marathon Mile 22            Marathon Mile 23
Elevation 800 feet          Elevation 791 feet           Elevation 786 feet          Elevation 795 feet

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.

mile 24          half mile 12   
Marathon Mile 24            Marathon Mile 25
Elevation 779 feet          Elevation 793 feet
           
Frequently Asked Questions         

Tips For First Timers        

Race Day Information 


Pace Teams

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 the registered athlete may face disqualification from the race.

Pacers from the Van Meter Industrial Pace Team are provided for the Marathon from the 3:00 to 5:30 hour mark.  IMT Des Moines Marathon pace times mirror Boston Marathon qualifying times.

Van Meter Industrial - Marathon Pace Team Bios 

Van Meter Industrial Pace Team - Frequently Asked Questions

IMT Des Moines Marathon - Marathon Pace Chart Based on 2009 Average Finish Time

IMT Des Moines Marathon - Marathon Pace Chart Based on 7 Hour Course Limit

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 Marathon.

A cash prize is offered to the top male and female finisher from Iowa in the Marathon.

An award is offered to the top male and female finisher who can break the course record in the Marathon.

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.

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

The IMT Des Moines Marathon does not duplicate or ‘double-dip’ cash or trophy awards.

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

Prize Money 

Elite Athlete Information     


Race Weekend

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
501 Grand Avenue
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 Sportag™ 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 and entertainment 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 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!" 
  
pickuppal 3


          marathon     marathon 2     marathon 3     marathon 4      
 

imt insurance

     mediacom    

Wellmark BlueCross BlueShield

 principal financial

capital 106.3
 

ABC 5

scheels sports

asics

fitness sports be fit

    

kum and go

 

jethros bbq

       

crystal clear

gatorade

aarons

lint van lines resize

mcdonalds

michelob

 

 

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