Des Moines Marathon
Des Moines, United States · October · Independent
Why people love it
- 400 m (quarter mile) lap on Drake Stadium's track around mile 12 (19 km).
- Downtown start and finish with hotels within walking distance.
- Frequent aid, bike support and plentiful toilets reported by many runners.
- Seven hour limit and a 2024 course with fewer hills suit first marathoners.
- Open entry; registration rose 40% for 2025.
Watch out for
- The finish chute backs up and post-race food is poorly signed.
- The older course climbed miles 3 to 9 (5 to 14 km); the 2024 route is still called tough.
- Quiet trail stretch around miles 14 to 22 (22 to 35 km).
- Water every 3.2 km (2 mi) felt sparse late in 2024.
- 2026 jacket and hat swag drew complaints.
Race
How racers feel about it, how well it is run, and how it treats a first timer. Counts for 28% of the overall score.
Toughness: Tough
- Racer satisfactionLoved4.2
RaceRaves 4.5 out of 5 from 501 ratings and MarathonGuide 4.7 from 6. Dings: cramped finish chute, mixed swag and a quiet back half. · Medium confidence
- OrganizationWell run4.1
Well-run expo, parking within 0.8 km (0.5 mi), good toilets and bike aid. Dings: no corral gates in 2024, a backed-up finish chute. · Medium confidence
- First timer friendlyFriendly4.0
A 7 hour limit, plentiful toilets and volunteers, and a 2026 runner called it ideal for a first marathon. Older-course hills temper that. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialAverage3.2
Organisers sell the 2024 redesign as flat and fast, yet a 2024 runner still called it tough. 168 Boston qualifiers (8.9%) in 2025. · Low confidence
Course
Scenery, road surface, closures, and room to run. Counts for 20% of the overall score.
- Course sceneryBeautiful3.8
RaceRaves scenery 4.1 out of 5: downtown, a Drake track lap and river trails. Trail miles 14 to 22 (22 to 35 km) feel isolated. · Medium confidence
- Room to runSome pinch points3.4
One runner disliked the out-and-back sections, the 2024 start had no corral gates, and the half and full courses split. · Low confidence
- Road surfaceGood3.6
Mostly asphalt with about 60% shade in a 2019 report plus long paved trail sections. No pothole complaints in the reviews read. · Low confidence
- Road closuresMostly closed3.8
City streets and trails with bike and volunteer marshals, and no traffic complaints in any review. Closure detail is not published in the sources read. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Course flatnessRolling3.3
No elevation gain is published. The older course climbed through miles 3 to 9 (5 to 14 km); the 2024 redesign removed many hills. · Low confidence
- Net downhillEven3.0
Start and finish are both downtown, so net change is close to zero. Boston qualifier, not a net-downhill course. · Low confidence
Support
Crowds, aid stations, the start, and pacers. Counts for 20% of the overall score.
- Start logisticsSmooth3.7
Hotels are within walking distance, toilets are plentiful and the downtown start is easy to reach. Corral entry confused one 2026 runner. · Medium confidence
- Pacers and timingGood3.6
A 2023 reviewer mentions pace groups; chip timing and free race photos are praised. Little other detail. · Low confidence
- Crowd supportStrong3.8
Spectators and neighbourhood cheering for about the first 26 km (16 mi), then thinner crowds in wooded park sections. · Medium confidence
- Aid stationsGood4.2
Frequent, well-stocked stations with water, sports drink, gels and fruit, plus bike support. A 2024 runner found stops too sparse after 32 km (mile 20). · Medium confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 14% of the overall score.
- WindMostly calm3.6
Wind is not raised in any review read. Open lake and river sections are exposed. · Low confidence
- Air temperaturePleasant4.2
Mid-October starts around 6 to 12 °C (43 to 54 °F), mostly ideal. A 2019 start was 6 °C (43 °F); 2024 was warmer. · Medium confidence
- Weather reliabilityVariable3.4
Reports range from cold and sunny in 2019 to unusually warm in 2024, and rain the day before in 2019. Iowa autumn can swing. · Low confidence
- Spectator friendlyEasy3.9
Start and finish sit in front of the Civic Center, and a downtown loop and the Drake lap give several viewing points. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeLow4.4
Des Moines sits at about 290 m (950 ft). · High confidence
Stay and travel
Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 10% of the overall score.
- Hotel availabilityGood4.3
Downtown hotels within walking distance and a shuttle from hotels on MLK Blvd were recommended. A state capital has deep hotel stock. · Medium confidence
- Hotel valueGood4.0
Reviewers say staying in suburban hotels saves money and call the race an affordable Iowa option. · Medium confidence
- WalkabilityWalkable4.4
Walk from downtown hotels to the start, and parking is within 0.8 km (0.5 mi) of start and finish. · Medium confidence
- Travel easeEasy3.9
Des Moines airport (DSM) is about 6 km (4 mi) from downtown and I-35 drivers dominate the field, but it is not a major hub. · Low confidence
- LogisticsSimple4.2
Two-day expo at Two Rivers Park, packet pickup with ID, and a mailed postcard were praised. Bag drop details are thin. · Medium confidence
- Town and foodGood3.6
Post-race pizza, beer and massages are praised, and downtown East Village is walkable. Reviewers say little about restaurants. · Low confidence
Entry
How hard it is to get a place, and what you get for the fee. Counts for 8% of the overall score.
- Getting inOpen entry4.5
Open entry through RunSignUp, registration grew 40% for 2025 with no sell-out reported. · Medium confidence
- Value for moneyGood value3.8
Fee not published (one runner says over $100). Big medal and jacket praised, but the 2026 jacket and hat were called cheap. · Medium confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Des Moines, Iowa, United States
- Typical month
- October
- Latest or next date
- 18 October 2026
- Organiser
- Independent
- Field size
- About 1,889 athletes
- First held
- 2002
- Distances
- 42.2 km (26.2 mi)
- Course type
- loop
- Cutoff
- 7 hours
- Boston qualifier
- Yes
- Surface
- Asphalt and paved trail
- How to get in
- open
- Sells out
- Rarely
- Air temperature
- 5–15 °C (41–59 °F)
- Humidity
- Moderate
- Altitude
- 290 m (950 ft)
- Nearest airport
- Des Moines International (DSM), 6 km (4 mi) away
- Where to stay
- Downtown Des Moines, East Village, MLK Parkway
- Booking
- Downtown hotels walk to the start; suburban hotels cheaper.
What racers and reviewers say
- RaceRaves Des Moines Marathon reviewsRaced 2026 · aggregator · Positive
4.5 out of 5 from 501 ratings; difficulty 2.8, scenery 4.1, production 4.5, swag 4.2. Runners agree it is scenic, well supported, with plentiful aid and walkable hotels. The common complaint is a cramped, backed-up finishers chute. 2026 swag (jacket, hat) was criticised; one half runner measured the half long at 21.5 km (13.37 mi).
“a top notch experience”
- Marathon Maniacs member reviews (14)Raced 2022 · aggregator · Positive
14 members over 2018 to 2025. Consistent: well organised, great volunteers and bike support, plentiful toilets. Hills in miles 4 to 9 (km 6 to 14), crowds thin on trails, post-race party closes about 5.5 hours in, post-race food poorly signed. Best-suited to completing Iowa, not a PR bid.
“Beautiful course with uphill running for the first 8 or so miles”
- MarathonGuide race reviewsRaced 2025 · aggregator · Positive
Six reviews averaging 4.7. Praise for race-director communication, clear course markings, aid and the Drake track lap near mile 12 (19 km). Complaints: no formal start corrals, a congested late start in 2023, and a plain medal.
“Course markings and directions were clear the entire way”
- Marathon Training Academy race recapRaced 2015 · blog · Positive
State marathon number 31. Hilly from miles 3 to 9 (km 5 to 14) with a steep climb near mile 5 (8 km), then fall foliage and about 45 entertainment spots. Aid included gels, gummies and fruit. 4 to 6 °C (low 40s °F) start; the finish had space blankets, food and free massage.
“It was hilly from miles 3-9”
- RaceRaves review by polmstead1982Raced 2024 · forum · mixed-positive
Ran the redesigned 2024 course: fewer hills than before, but still tough. A long isolated trail stretch around miles 14 to 22 (km 22 to 35), water every 2 miles (3.2 km) felt too sparse after mile 20 (32 km), congested start without corral gates, warm weather. Rates difficulty 4, production 3, scenery 3, swag 5.
“Overall, it was a good race, well-organized, with lots of runners and spectators.”
Show 1 more
- Business Record: registrants up 40%Raced 2025 · article · neutral
Reports that 2024 organisers removed many hills to attract Boston qualifier chasers, and that 2025 registration rose 40%. About 2,000 took part the prior year. The race director credits good value versus bigger October marathons. Press piece rather than a runner review.
Raced Des Moines Marathon? Your notes on the course, conditions and logistics help the next athlete decide.
Sources
Pages we used for facts and ratings. See how we rate.
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