Races Marathon · Des Moines, USA
Des Moines Marathon
Des Moines Marathon is a rolling marathon in Des Moines, USA, held each October. Gently rolling Midwest streets and river trails. Mid-October is 3-13C. With Des Moines Marathon's constant undulation, pace by effort rather than the watch: even effort beats even splits here.
Page rebuilt 2026-10-01 · race facts not independently verified — confirm dates and entries on the official race site
When
October
every year
Course
rolling
Marathon
Conditions
Mid-October is 3-13C.
Racing this course well
Gently rolling Midwest streets and river trails.
With Des Moines Marathon's constant undulation, pace by effort rather than the watch: even effort beats even splits here.
Pick your goal for Des Moines
Pace charts, weekly structure and timelines for the most common marathon goals:
We don’t hold a confirmed date for this edition, so any countdown comes from the date you enter here.
Build your training around Des Moines Marathon.
RunV works backwards from race day to today and rearranges the weeks when life interrupts. It does not adapt to this specific course — the pacing guidance above is where the course knowledge is.
Everything above stays free and complete — this is an optional next step, not a paywall.
Asked often
- When is the Des Moines Marathon?
- It is held each October in Des Moines, USA. Check the official Des Moines Marathon site for the exact date and entry windows.
- Is the Des Moines Marathon course flat?
- Gently rolling Midwest streets and river trails.
- How should I train for the Des Moines Marathon?
- Train specifically for Des Moines — terrain, conditions, goal pace — and let the plan flex around real life. That's exactly what RunV's engine does after every run you log.
Not sure what to target? Predict your marathon time from a recent race →
More marathon races
Build for Des Moines — around your actual life
RunV engineers your block backwards from race day in October — and rebuilds it every time training doesn't go to script.
