Marathon Relay Challenge
Experience the 5-Person Marathon Relay Challenge on Sunday, October 18, 2009. Register NOW!
Verify your IMT Des Moines Marathon registration.
Have a comment or question? Contact Us if you are not finding the specific race information that you are looking for.
Race Overview
The 5-Person Marathon Relay Challenge is designed to offer a team experience to what has historically been regarded as an individual endurance event. This race is limited to sixty teams and is intended for running teams of all skill levels and speeds.
The 5-Person Marathon Relay Challenge is not intended for walking teams. We encourage you to participate in the Principal Financial Group 5K Road Race or the IMT Des Moines Marathon or Half Marathon if you are interested in walking on race day.
The first 4 team members of the 5-Person Marathon Relay Challenge team will complete a 5 mile leg of the IMT Des Moines Marathon course. The fifth team member will complete the final 6.2 miles the course. A final transition area will be set up past mile 25 so that 5-Person Marathon Relay Challenge team members may run the last mile of the race together and cross the finish line as a team if desired.
Teams Registered as of June 4, 2009
5 Hot Mamas Cranky Gnome Athletic Club Family Stone
Kitchen Collage of Des Moines Leadfoot Mustang Mamas
New Heights Skosh Design Team Rasgorshek Team Town for Parkinsons
The Doggers The Super Sassy Striders Vegeta Walking On Sunshine
Team MWH 1 Team MWH 2
Staging
Work Systems Rehab will host the 5-Person Marathon Relay Challenge staging area at their downtown Des Moines clinic for the third year in a row.
Marathon Relay Challenge athletes are offered a warm place to stretch, meet with their team and learn about last minute relay details. Bathrooms, along with water and Endurance Formula Gatorade will be provided.
Work Systems Rehab
515 3rd Street, Suite 100
Des Moines, IA 50309
Transition Areas
Relay Transition Areas will be controlled by the IMT Des Moines Marathon. Each team that registers must provide their own vehicle for use on race day.
The following links provide essential information for registered teams:
Event Overview
Transition Areas
Vehicle Assignments
If you have questions regarding the 5-Person Marathon Relay Challenge please contact the IMT Des Moines Marathon office.
Course
Resources
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 RRCA Course Map (features elevation level at each mile mark)
IMT Des Moines Marathon USATF Course Certification Map
USATF Certification - IA07009-MF USATF Sanction - 0740027
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.
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 presents itself between miles 3 and 4. Elevation rises and declines over the next 4 miles can and will challenge you in this portion of the race. Athletes have previously referred to this section 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.
The Marathon does flatten out at Mile 8 and for the remainder of the race. Spectators will cheer you on through the North Ingersoll and Drake Neighborhood Associations. A true highlight for many athletes is a loop around the historic track at Drake University.
After completing twelve miles through scenic neighborhood districts, the race offers twelve 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.
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 on 3rd Street to finish at Nollen Plaza.
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 you may face disqualification from the race.
Van Meter Industrial Pace Team pacers are provided for the 5-Person Marathon Relay Challenge from the 3:00 hour to 5:30 hour mark. IMT Des Moines Marathon pace times mirror Boston Marathon qualifying times.
Van Meter Industrial - 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
Cash prizes in the 5-Person Marathon Relay Challenge will be awarded to the following divisions:
5-Person Marathon Relay Challenge Male Team - 1st Place $175, 2nd Place $100
5-Person Marathon Relay Challenge Female Team - 1st Pace $175, 2nd Place $100
5-Person Marathon Relay Challenge Co-Ed Team (minimum of 2 females) - 1st Place $100
5-Person Marathon Relay Challenge Corporate Team – 1st Place $100
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.
Hy-Vee Hall
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 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!"
   
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