Des Moines Marathon

Des Moines, United States of America 19 Oct, 2025

The marathon held annually in Des Moines, Iowa, began in 2002 and is notable as a Boston Marathon qualifying event with consistent participation growth and regional prominence. Historically, its establishment contributed to promoting Des Moines as a city for active lifestyles, offering multiple race distances to include participants of various ages and abilities.

The route is designed as a flat, fast loop that starts and finishes in downtown Des Moines, traversing city parks, residential neighborhoods, and showcasing the city skyline. In 2024, the course was altered to remove many hills, making it more appealing to runners aiming for personal records or Boston qualification by reducing elevation challenges. Significant crowd support and passage through vibrant city areas distinguish the race atmosphere.

What sets this marathon apart is its Boston-qualifying flat course, strong local community engagement, and a continually updated race experience, including unique runner amenities and keepsakes selected each year. The event typically features a race weekend with various distances and family-friendly activities, reflecting a strong community focus and inclusivity, with recent years reporting substantial economic impact and increased registrations, highlighting its cultural and social importance to the region.

Generic Marathon Time This represents the time you would expect to run a "generic" marathon in. This is a marathon with around 250 m (800 ft) of elevation gain and a temperature around 10°C (50°F). For best results, use our Race Predictor.

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Des Moines Marathon Time


Statistics

Elevation
Elevation Gain 199 m 653 ft
Elevation Low 246 m 807 ft
Elevation High 295 m 968 ft
Weather
Expected Temperature (Low) 6°C 43°F
Expected Temperature (High) 15°C 59°F
Chance of Rain 25%

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The marathon held annually in Des Moines, Iowa, began in 2002 and is notable as a Boston Marathon qualifying event with consistent participation growth and regional prominence. Historically, its establishment contributed to promoting Des Moines as a city for active lifestyles, offering multiple race distances to include participants of various ages and abilities.

The route is designed as a flat, fast loop that starts and finishes in downtown Des Moines, traversing city parks, residential neighborhoods, and showcasing the city skyline. In 2024, the course was altered to remove many hills, making it more appealing to runners aiming for personal records or Boston qualification by reducing elevation challenges. Significant crowd support and passage through vibrant city areas distinguish the race atmosphere.

What sets this marathon apart is its Boston-qualifying flat course, strong local community engagement, and a continually updated race experience, including unique runner amenities and keepsakes selected each year. The event typically features a race weekend with various distances and family-friendly activities, reflecting a strong community focus and inclusivity, with recent years reporting substantial economic impact and increased registrations, highlighting its cultural and social importance to the region.

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