Des Moines Marathon
Des Moines Marathon race day weather
Cool start, gradual warm-up
Runners will face a temperature rise from 46°F at the start to 59°F by midday, with humidity at 57%. Wind will be a factor, with headwinds from miles 2-6 and 14-20, making pacing adjustments necessary in these segments. A tailwind from miles 7-10 and 21-26 will provide opportunities for faster splits, while maintaining hydration is crucial throughout the race.
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Des Moines Marathon route and elevation
The Des Moines Marathon course has about 876 ft (267 m) of climbing and 877 ft (267 m) of descent, and finishes near the elevation it starts. It is hillier than 66% of the marathon courses racecast.io has mapped, measured by what the hills cost in time. The hardest mile is mile 8, with 131 ft (40 m) of climbing and a 1.7% average grade.
Biggest climbs
- Miles 1.4 to 4.2: climbs about 200 ft (60 m).
- Miles 5.5 to 6.5: climbs about 115 ft (36 m).
- Miles 7 to 7.5: climbs about 90 ft (28 m).
What the hills cost
- 3:30 on a flat course is about 3:31 here (1 minute slower).
- 4:00 on a flat course is about 4:02 here (2 minutes slower).
- 4:30 on a flat course is about 4:32 here (2 minutes slower).
Hills only, priced mile by mile on the course map. The pace calculator above adds the race-day weather.
Even-effort splits for a 3:30, 4:00 or 4:30 finish
| Mile | Climb | Descent | 3:30 | 4:00 | 4:30 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 55 ft | 64 ft | 7:54 | 9:02 | 10:10 |
| 2 | 51 ft | 35 ft | 8:05 | 9:14 | 10:23 |
| 3 | 44 ft | 5 ft | 8:17 | 9:28 | 10:39 |
| 4 | 100 ft | 4 ft | 8:46 | 10:01 | 11:16 |
| 5 | 75 ft | 105 ft | 7:50 | 8:57 | 10:05 |
| 6 | 76 ft | 120 ft | 7:47 | 8:54 | 10:00 |
| 7 | 88 ft | 84 ft | 7:59 | 9:07 | 10:16 |
| 8 | 131 ft | 42 ft | 8:43 | 9:58 | 11:12 |
| 9 | 25 ft | 19 ft | 8:00 | 9:08 | 10:17 |
| 10 | 32 ft | 43 ft | 7:54 | 9:03 | 10:10 |
| 11 | 27 ft | 33 ft | 7:55 | 9:03 | 10:11 |
| 12 | 13 ft | 56 ft | 7:47 | 8:54 | 10:01 |
| 13 | 60 ft | 14 ft | 8:20 | 9:30 | 10:42 |
| 14 | 34 ft | 25 ft | 8:01 | 9:11 | 10:19 |
| 15 | 29 ft | 36 ft | 7:55 | 9:02 | 10:11 |
| 16 | 27 ft | 82 ft | 7:45 | 8:51 | 9:57 |
| 17 | 21 ft | 112 ft | 7:37 | 8:42 | 9:47 |
| 18 | 11 ft | 27 ft | 7:53 | 9:01 | 10:08 |
| 19 | 17 ft | 22 ft | 7:56 | 9:04 | 10:12 |
| 20 | 8 ft | 0 ft | 8:01 | 9:10 | 10:19 |
| 21 | 11 ft | 20 ft | 7:54 | 9:02 | 10:10 |
| 22 | 19 ft | 24 ft | 7:56 | 9:04 | 10:11 |
| 23 | 25 ft | 20 ft | 7:59 | 9:08 | 10:17 |
| 24 | 21 ft | 29 ft | 7:55 | 9:02 | 10:11 |
| 25 | 24 ft | 14 ft | 8:02 | 9:11 | 10:19 |
| 26 | 12 ft | 4 ft | 8:01 | 9:10 | 10:18 |
| Last 0.2 | 3 ft | 0 ft | 1:48 | 2:03 | 2:19 |
Explore the Des Moines Marathon course with the weather and your pace along the route, or compare it with other races.
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About the Des Moines Marathon
The IMT Des Moines Marathon is a marathon held annually in downtown Des Moines, Iowa. It serves as a qualifier for the Boston Marathon. Race weekend includes the IMT Marathon, IMT Half Marathon, Bankers Trust Marathon Relay, and Bankers Trust 10K, plus the Healthiest State Initiative 5K presented by HealthPartners, all held Sunday. A free Kids Run presented by the Des Moines Children's Museum takes place Sunday afternoon. Wikipedia
