Marathon
Experience the IMT Des Moines Marathon on Sunday, October 20, 2013. Register Now!
The IMT Des Moines Marathon starts at 8 a.m.
The race starts & finishes on the Locust Street Bridge | 100 Locust Street | Des Moines, IA 50309
Race Day Street Closures Combined Course Map Race Day Information
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Packet Pick Up
Registered athletes complete the IMT Des Moines Marathon race registration process by attending the Scheels Sports & Fitness Expo on Friday, October 18, from 3:00 - 8:00 p.m. or Saturday, October 19, from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
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 packet pick up is not offered on race day.
The Scheels Sports & Fitness Expo takes place in Hy-Vee Hall located in the Iowa Events Center.
Iowa Events Center | 730 3rd Street | Des Moines, IA 50309
Start
The IMT Des Moines Marathon starts in downtown Des Moines on the Locust Street Bridge and heads 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 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 Companies Baggage Claim booth for assistance.
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 Marathon finishes where it started, on the Locust Street Bridge. Athletes crossing the finish line will be greeted by key volunteers from the Mercy Medical Center First Aid Station. Athletes will be assisted in the removal of the Sportag™ timing device from their shoe.
All finishers in the IMT Des Moines Marathon & Half Marathon, Bankers Trust Marathon Relay, and Principal Financial Group 5K Road Race will receive a finisher medal.
MarathonFoto will be on hand to take post race candid 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 in the post race finish area.
Massage
Free race day massages will be available after crossing the finish line 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 100 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
Course Highlights
The IMT Des Moines Marathon showcases a rejuvenated downtown, quaint neighborhoods and lush city parks. The route features a start line on the Locust Street Bridge 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.
   
Marathon Marathon Marathon Marathon Start Mile 1 Mile 2 Mile 3
The IMT Des Moines Marathon course splits from the IMT Des Moines Half Marathon course just before Mile 3 at Grand Avenue and Fleur Drive. It continues west on Grand Avenue past Terrace Hill, home of the Governor of the State of Iowa.
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. You are encouraged to incorporate some sort of hills training, at least once a week, into your marathon training program for this race.
   
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 IMT Des Moines Marathon course does flatten out at Mile 8 and there after for the remainder of the race. Spectators will cheer you on through the Waterbury, North Ingersoll, and Drake Neighborhood Associations. A true highlight of race day for many athletes is a loop around the historic Jim Duncan Track at Drake University, home of the Drake Relays.
   
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 Mile12 Marathon Mile 13 Marathon Mile 14 Marathon Mile 15
Elevation 913 feet Elevation 960 feet Elevation 962 feet Elevation 942 feet
After completing 12 miles through some of Des Moines' most scenic neighborhood districts, the IMT Des Moines Marathon course 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. Please be cautious of slower IMT Des Moines Half Marathon runners and walkers as you enter Water Works Park.
   
Marathon Mile 16 Marathon Mile 17 Marathon Mile 18 Marathon Mile 19
Elevation 904 feet Elevation 810 feet Elevation 798 feet Elevation 792 feet
   
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 Park is complete, the IMT Des Moines 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 and then onto Locust Street for the finish on the Locust Street Bridge.
  
Marathon Mile 24 Marathon Mile 25 Marathon Mile 26.2
Elevation 779 feet Elevation 793 feet Finish
   
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