october 15, 2023
race maps
The IMT Des Moines Marathon courses are known for showcasing the city’s skyline with a scenic route, including quaint neighborhoods, university campuses, city parks, and a downtown festival atmosphere waiting at the finish line.
For City of Des Moines road closures and traffic reroutes, click here.
IMT Des Moines Marathon
| USATF CERTIFICATE | COURSE ELEVATION |
| IA17305MF | meters above sea level: Start; 245 Finish; 245. Highest; 303. Lowest, 242 |
course description
Your crisp, fall morning will begin right in the heart of downtown Des Moines. Runners will run the streets of downtown, past the sculpture garden, before heading out to the west. Test your grit with the “Grand” climbs during the next part of the marathon before enjoying the welcoming neighborhood on Kingman Blvd. Next, runners will run the “Blue Oval” of Drake University. Run on the same ground as past, present, and future Olympians as your fans cheer in the grandstands! Once runners get back downtown, they will run the beautiful roads of Water Works Park. Make sure to save some energy for the ”Fitness Sports Speed Zone” where the fastest times of each age group in that 1.5 mile loop will win a big prize provided by Fitness Sports! After you set a new 1.5-mile PR, runners will enjoy a flat and fast cruise to the finish line. Get the much needed and deserved final push from the energy the spectators and volunteers will be giving all day!
IMT Half Marathon
| USATF CERTIFICATE | COURSE ELEVATION |
| IA17304MF | meters above sea level: Start; 245 Finish; 245. Highest; 248. Lowest, 242 |
course description
Ready to set your half marathon PR? This is the course for you!
Your crisp, fall morning will begin right in the heart of downtown Des Moines. Runners will run the streets of downtown, past the sculpture garden, before heading out to the beautiful Water Works Park. Make sure to save some energy for the ”Fitness Sports Speed Zone” where the fastest times of each age group in that 1.5 mile loop will win a big prize provided by Fitness Sports! After you set a new 1.5-mile PR, runners will enjoy a flat and fast cruise to the finish line. Runners will follow the river around Grays Lake, down the trail to the famous Mullets, and finally back to the finish line. Get the much needed and deserved final push from the energy the spectators and volunteers will be giving all day!
Bankers Trust Marathon Relay
| USATF CERTIFICATE | COURSE ELEVATION |
| N\A | meters above sea level: Start; 245 Finish; 245. Highest; 303. Lowest, 242 |
course description
#Squadgoals
Lace up with 4 of your best friends and conquer the streets of Des Moines together! Segments will be broken down as follows: 4-mile, 6-mile, 4-mile, 6-mile, and the final 6.2-mile distances. Who wants to run the “Grand” climbs? Who wants to run the Blue Oval of Drake University where Olympians were made? Who wants to run the “Fitness Sports Speed Zone”? And who wants all the glory at the finish line? I’ll let you decide but either way, you’ll all be able to enjoy the post-race festival together! More Info
Principal 5K
| USATF CERTIFICATE | COURSE ELEVATION |
| IA22002MF | meters above sea level: Start; 245 Finish; 245. Highest; 250. Lowest, 243 |
course description
Flat, fast, scenic, downtown…. What else could you want out of a beautiful, fall 5K?
Start and finish right in the heart of downtown Des Moines. Runners will spend their entire 5K surrounded by sky-scrappers (Des Moines version), sights of the Capitol building, past the sculpture park and down the energy-filled Court Ave.
